Advanced Certificate in Procurement & Supply Operations (Level-3)
Your qualification
This is an entry level vocationally related qualification it is designed to follow on from the CIPS Level 2 Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations as learners are expected to develop, use and apply the professional language and skill sets introduced at Level 2 within a practical working environment. This qualification will prepare intermediate level learners looking to specialise in procurement and supply and to progress on to the CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply.Developed in close collaboration with experts from the procurement and supply profession and businesses, and with the providers who will be delivering the qualifications, CIPS Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations is designed for individuals who will be working at the Tactical but moving towards the Operational level of the CIPS Global Standard for Procurement and Supply. This is the first level of the CIPS qualifications structure where elective modules are introduced, giving learners the choice of a specific professional path such as Procurement or Supply Chain.
Who is it for?
This qualification will prepare intermediate level learners looking to specialise in procurement and supply and to progress onto the CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply.
What will I learn?
Learn how to apply factual, procedural and theoretical knowledge of procurement and supply. You will be able to completes tasks and address problems that are well-defined but may be complex and non-routine. You will understand what relevant information is required and how to interpret and review its effectiveness.
Entry requirements
This is the secondentry level qualification, there are no formal entry requirements.
Get Started your career track with the Certificate in Procurement and supply Operations.
Certificate Modules and Content
Procurement and Supply Environments [L3M1]
Module purpose
On completion of this module, learners will be able to identify the range of environments in which procurement and supply is expected to operate and the external factors that can impact on overall success.
Module aim(s)
Procurement and supply is to operate in a varied range of environments. As well as the public and private sectors, those responsible for the procurement and supply function may find themselves working with those in not-for-profit organisations. This module is designed for those who are involved in the procurement and supply function, who must recognise the wider environment in which they work and the impacts that different types of organisations can have on successfully meeting with overall organisational needs. They must know the importance of the external environment and also identify the procedures that regulate procurement and supply.
Learning outcomes, assessment criteria and indicative content(s)
1- Know the different sectors of procurement and supply
– Define the different types and functions of the private sector
– Describe the role and scope of procurement and supply in the private sector
– Describe the role and scope of procurement and supply in the public sector
– Describe the role &scope of procurement &supply in the not-for-profit & third sector
– Describe the role and scope of procurement and supply in the private sector
– Describe the role and scope of procurement and supply in the public sector
– Describe the role &scope of procurement &supply in the not-for-profit & third sector
2- Understand types of pricing arrangements in commercial agreements
– How pricing arrangements are used in agreements to ensure effective price and cost management
3-Know how products and services are received from suppliers and delivered to customers
– Identify the impact of the external environment on procurement and supply
– Describe how the implications of economic criteria impact on procurement and supply
– Describe how the implications of political and legislative criteria that impact on procurement and supply
– Describe how the implications of social criteria impact on procurement and supply
– Describe how the implications of economic criteria impact on procurement and supply
– Describe how the implications of political and legislative criteria that impact on procurement and supply
– Describe how the implications of social criteria impact on procurement and supply
4- Understand procedures that regulate procurement and supply
– Describe the types of documentation used in procurement and supply
– Explain how documented policies and procedures are used within procurement and supply
Ethical Procurement and Supply [L3M2]
Module purpose
On completion of this module, learners will be able to identify the significance of ethics for procurement &supply &define stage of the sourcing process, explaining how operational performance can be measured and improved in support of added value operations.
Module aim(s)
A successful organisation will strive to add value at every stage of its operations and will seek ways to measure and improve performance. This module is designed for those responsible for the application of ethical codes of conduct on the procurement and supply operation and who are expected to know how to address potential conflicts of interest. They must also define tasks associated with each stage of the sourcing process and identify the techniques available to achieve added value, recognising how operational performance can be measured and improved.
Learning outcomes, assessment criteria and indicative content(s)
1- The techniques that can achieve added value to organisational success
– Explain how to use techniques to obtain supplies to the purchaser’s requirements
– Identify the contribution that value for money has to make to organisational success
– Explain how to use techniques that are available to achieve quality supplies
– Identify techniques to secure required quantities within required timescales
– Identify the contribution that value for money has to make to organisational success
– Explain how to use techniques that are available to achieve quality supplies
– Identify techniques to secure required quantities within required timescales
2- Know tasks associated with each stage of the sourcing process
– Describe how procurement needs are established
– Identify criteria that should be applied in creating specifications
– Describe approaches to the sourcing of supplies
– Describe approaches to the formation of agreements with external organisations
– Identify criteria that should be applied in creating specifications
– Describe approaches to the sourcing of supplies
– Describe approaches to the formation of agreements with external organisations
3- Understand the significance of ethics for procurement and supply
– Explain the importance of the CIPS Code of Conduct in procurement and supply
– Describe the use of codes of ethics in procurement and supply
– Describe the use of codes of ethics in procurement and supply
4- Understand how operational performance of the procurement and supply function
– Recognise the importance of delivering customer service and how to improve
– Explain ways to measure cycle times for the sourcing process
– Explain methods to assess the performance of and control budgets
– Explain ways to measure cycle times for the sourcing process
– Explain methods to assess the performance of and control budgets
Contract Administration [L3M3]
Module purpose
On completion of this module, learners will be able to explain administrative processes behind contract development and how to measure contract performance. They will identify how to achieve competitive pricing and be able to describe how effective tendering is achieved.
Module aim(s)
In any organisation, a significant element of the procurement and supply function is based around the contracting process. This module is designed for those involved in the development and subsequent administration and performance monitoring of contracts. To ensure success, such individuals must demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of how to achieve competitive pricing and also how effective tendering is achieved.
Learning outcomes, assessment criteria and indicative content(s)
1- Know the administrative content and key tasks associated with commercial contracts
– Identify types of contracts and agreements
– Describe the purpose of the documents that compose a contract for the purchasing or supply of goods
– Describe the stages involved in forming contracts for the purchasing or supply of goods and/or services
– How to develop and present business cases to justify expenditure on supplies, services or projects
– Describe the purpose of the documents that compose a contract for the purchasing or supply of goods
– Describe the stages involved in forming contracts for the purchasing or supply of goods and/or services
– How to develop and present business cases to justify expenditure on supplies, services or projects
2- How to achieve competitive pricing and the role of negotiation in procurement and supply
– Explain the use and comparison of competition to obtain quotations on price
– Recognise the role of commercial negotiations in the work of procurement and supply
– Explain approaches to negotiate competitive prices
– Recognise the role of commercial negotiations in the work of procurement and supply
– Explain approaches to negotiate competitive prices
3- Know how effective tendering is achieved
– Identify the initial actions processes associated with the tendering process
– Describe initial tender process documentation and associated content
– Identify the tender evaluation and acceptance process
– Outline the regulations that can impact on the tendering process
– Describe initial tender process documentation and associated content
– Identify the tender evaluation and acceptance process
– Outline the regulations that can impact on the tendering process
4- Understand how to measure contract performance
– Describe the use of data as a contract performance measure
– Explain the use of Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
– Explain types of contractual risk and how to manage them
– Explain the use of Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
– Explain types of contractual risk and how to manage them
Team Dynamics and Change[L3M4]
Module purpose
On completion of this module, learners will be able to identify the influence that people and teams can have on procurement and supply success and recognise the challenges associated with and methods to achieve, rganisational change.
Module aim(s)
Individuals with responsibility for procurement and supply activity are to operate in a range of environments and within a correspondingly broad variety of teams. The influence of the individual and that of the team on overall organisational success should not be underestimated. Those who work in organisations will, more often than not be expected to cope with change be it small or large, and must therefore understand the triggers that lead to change, the associated responses and methods to ensure and maintain lasting change. This module is designed for those who are involved in the procurement and supply function, who must recognise the wider environment in which they work and the impacts that different types of individuals and team dynamics have to play on organisational success. They must also identify with need for and responses to change, and recognise the coping mechanisms which ensure and maintain change.
Learning outcomes, assessment criteria and indicative content(s)
1- Know how the individual can support overall organisational success in procurement and supply
– Identify the personal attributes required to support overall organisational success
– Describe the roles of staff with devolved responsibilities for procurement and supply
– Explain the importance of liaising with internal customers and other stakeholders
– Describe the roles of staff with devolved responsibilities for procurement and supply
– Explain the importance of liaising with internal customers and other stakeholders
2- Understand team dynamics and their influence on procurement and supply
– Describe the purpose and challenges of cross functional teams in procurement and supply
– Explain the contribution and challenges of team working
– Explain the contribution and challenges of team working
3- Understand the challenges associated with, and methods to achieve organisational change
– Describe the types of organisational change
– Describe triggers for change
– Explain organisational responses to change
– Identify and explain methods to achieve change
– Describe triggers for change
– Explain organisational responses to change
– Identify and explain methods to achieve change
Socially Responsible Procurement [L3M5]
Module purpose
On completion of this module, learners will be able to explain the concepts and implications of sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility and recognise the potential environmental impact of procurement and supply operations.
Module aim(s)
Company reputation can be severely damaged if the organisation or one of its suppliers, is seen to be neglecting sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Similarly, against a background of increasing public and governmental concern for the environment, organisations have come under increasing pressure to reduce the environmental impact of their operations. This module is designed for those working in procurement and supply who should recognise the responsibility which they have for ensuring sustainable and socially responsible practices and the importance of the environmental impact of their decisions and approaches.
Learning outcomes, assessment criteria and indicative content(s)
1- Understand the concepts of sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
– Explain the concept of sustainability and the practical implications for procurement and supply
– Explain the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
– Explain the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
2- Understand the environmental impact of procurement and supply
– Describe the impact of environmental sustainability
– Explain the environmental impact of transportation and storage
– Explain the role of government in promoting environmental sustainability
3- Know the implications of CSR for the procurement and supply function
– Identify procurement and supply processes and practices that the organisation may adopt to support CSR
– Describe the triple bottom line concept & how it should apply to procurement &supply
– Describe the key metrics that can be used to measure and report on sustainability
4- Understand methods to monitor Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in procurement and supply
Socially Responsible Warehousing and Distribution [L3M6]
Module purpose
On completion of this module, learners will be able to describe methods for the storage and movement of inventory and identify the environmental and social impact of warehousing and distribution operations.
Module aim(s)
Warehousing and distribution are key components of organisational success. The transport, storage and handling of products as they move from raw material, through production systems to the final point of sale has been fundamental to economic development for millennia. In more recent times, against a background of increasing public and governmental concern for the environment, organisations have come under increasing pressure to reduce the environmental impact of their warehousing and distribution processes. Similarly, company reputation can be severely damaged if the organisation or one of its suppliers, is seen to be neglecting sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). This module is designed for those working in procurement and supply who have responsibility for product storage and distribution. It takes as its focus the storage and movement of inventory but also recognises the impact of such operations on environmental sustainability and CSR.
Learning outcomes, assessment criteria and indicative content(s)
1- Understand the concepts of sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
– Explain the concept of sustainability and the practical implications for procurement and supply
– Explain the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
– Explain the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
2- Understand the environmental impact of procurement and supply
– Describe the impact of environmental sustainability
– Explain the environmental impact of transportation and storage
– Explain the role of government in promoting environmental sustainability
– Explain the environmental impact of transportation and storage
– Explain the role of government in promoting environmental sustainability
3- Understand methods for the storage and movement of inventory
– Recognise the principles of store and warehouse design
– Explain the different types and uses of warehousing equipment
– Explain the different types and uses of warehousing equipment
4- Understand the environmental impact of warehousing and distribution
– Explain the impact of environmental sustainability
– Explain the environmental impact of warehousing and distribution
– Explain the environmental cost of warehousing and logistics
– Describe the role of government in promoting environmental sustainability
– Explain the environmental impact of warehousing and distribution
– Explain the environmental cost of warehousing and logistics
– Describe the role of government in promoting environmental sustainability