APICS Certification: A Valuable or Vacuous Distinction? A Survey of Massachusetts Manufacturers.

A study investigated the value of professional certification within the context of Massachusetts manufacturing companies with reported sales of at least $10 million but no more than $25 million. The specific certification evaluated was that of Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) as awarded by the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS). Following a review of the background and standards of the certification and APICS, the data were gathered from 70 of 400 manufacturing managers and human resource professionals who responded to the survey of Massachusetts companies concerning their knowledge about and valuation of APICS certifications. The results of the survey showed that certification is a prerequisite qualification (required or desired) for employment in the field of production and inventory control in more than 40 percent of the companies responding. A majority of hiring managers surveyed equate APICS certification with the possession of two or more years of work experience and probably with two or more years of college-level study. The study concluded, however, that APICS should make additional efforts to publicize the CPIM designation and the certification program, because many respondents had never heard of the certificate. (Survey instruments and data and a 32-item bibliography are appended.) (KC)