President's Message
October 1, 2009
EXPECTATIONS
What are your expectations of Northern Sierra Chapter of APICS, the Association for Operations Management? Education? A method to collect continuing education credits to maintain your certification? A way to increase your knowledge and understanding of production/inventory management, or supply chain issues? To gain an awareness of up-to-date lean concepts or ways to improve efficiency in your organization’s supply chain? Networking with other professionals in the field of Operations Management?
The chapter is not an end in itself, but a means to an end. It is an organization of 160 members, give or take, who reside and work in businesses located all over Northern Nevada – Carson City, Dayton, Fernley, Gardnerville, Genoa, Herlong, McCarran, Minden, Reno, Sparks, Truckee, and VC Highlands.
The means provided include primarily education, via classes offered throughout the year, both in Reno and in the Carson Valley. The CPIM Certification is the most widely known program offered by APICS, and has educated more than 75,000 manufacturing professionals since 1973. Northern Sierra Chapter’s current membership includes thirty-four members that hold CPIM certification.
Another new certification offered by APICS within the last several years is the CSCP, Certified Supply Chain Professional. Information about this certification is available on our website or you can ask a board member. At our October board meeting, the NORS board will discuss whether to offer our first instructor-led CSCP class in northern Sierra. To prepare for the exam, APICS developed the CSCP Learning System, which includes four learning formats:
• Self-directed Learning Option, where you prepare at your own pace by using a combination of print and online resources.
• Instructor-led Learning Option (the one I mentioned that will be discussed at our October board meeting), which provides a classroom setting and one-on-one attention with an instructor.
• Online Learning Option, which is provided by Weber State University and Fox Valley Technical College
• Corporate or Group Learning Option, used when companies have many employees or groups of coworkers or friends in supply chain industry who create study groups; this option provides volume purchasing discounts
Attending any of the classes, seminars or our PDMs (Professional Development Meetings) throughout the year provides certification maintenance points and keeps your certification and knowledge of the industry cutting edge. Another way to earn points is by becoming a teacher for the classes, or volunteering to serve on the board. We have a seminar offered in November called Train the Trainer, a two-day workshop focused on improving the learner’s interactive presentation skills.
We look forward to seeing many of you at our future PDMs and events during the coming months, and you are all invited to attend our board meetings. All of these are listed on our website under the Calendar.
We would love to hear from you with feedback or to relate any other ways we can meet your expectations. Please contact any of our current board members:
• Linda McNeil, CPIM, President, 775-448-0175
• Jeff Lawrence, CPIM, VP
Communication, 775-856-5315
• Cornelius Rivera, CPIM, VP Education,
775-448-2114
• Ed Miller, CPIM, VP Finance, 775-343-9076
• Scott Hasterlik,
CPIM, VP Membership 775-250-5790
• Art Landacre, VP Programs, 408-202-0346
•
Mark Denninger, CPIM, VP Marketing, 775-448-2211
• David Steiger, CPIM, Past
President, 775-745-3986
Linda McNeil, CPIM President