APICS Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM) Exam Guide
Validates knowledge of demand planning, supply planning, inventory management, scheduling, distribution and sales and operations planning.
CPIM tests whether you can apply ASCM’s planning and control framework, from strategy and S&OP down to detailed schedules and inventory. Expect concept questions, scenarios and calculations. Use the official Learning System or another current 9.0 resource, and learn the ASCM definitions rather than your company’s terms.
1Understand the exam
Syllabus
IAlign the supply chain to support the business strategy12%
AUnderstand the business environment and corporate strategy
BComprehend, align, and implement functional and operational strategies
CDesign processes to align with strategic goals
DDefine and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate performance in relation to the organization's strategic goals
EIdentify and manage supply chain risks
FSupport sustainability goals (environmental, economic, and social)
Example scenario: A company starts competing on customization with short lead times. How should its manufacturing environment and stocking point change?
IIConduct sales and operations planning (S&OP) to support strategy10%
AUnderstand the role of the S&OP process in the organization
BEvaluate the aggregate demand plan
CEvaluate the aggregate supply plan
DReconcile portfolio, demand, supply, and financial plans
IIIPlan and manage demand12%
ASupport customer needs and specifications
BUnderstand marketing and product management considerations
CEvaluate sources of demand
DSupport demand forecast processes
EEvaluate forecast performance and respond to demand variation or changes
Example scenario: A product family’s forecast has been above actual demand for six months in a row. What does that suggest, and what would you review first?
IVPlan and manage internal supply sources12%
ASupport master scheduling processes
BDevelop a rough-cut capacity plan
CManage the material requirements plan
DSupport the final assembly scheduling processes
EMonitor product costs
FManage changes and supply disruptions
Example scenario: A large order arrives inside the planning time fence. Which master schedule figures would you check before promising a date?
VPlan and manage external supply sources11%
AUnderstand supplier selection processes
BPerform supplier relationship management (SRM)
CPurchase/procure goods and services
DManage supplier changes and disruptions
VIPlan and manage inventory14%
AInventory planning
BInventory management
CMonitor and manage inventory costs
DInventory control
EManage returns and product disposition
Example scenario: Raising the service level for a C item would double its safety stock. How would you weigh the trade-off?
VIIPlan, manage, and execute detailed schedules12%
APlan detailed schedules
BCreate production and labor schedules
CImplement and manage detailed schedules
Example scenario: A bottleneck work centre is falling behind and two orders are late. What would you change in sequencing and priority?
VIIIPlan and manage distribution8%
APlan distribution
BManage customer orders
IXManage quality, continuous improvement, and technology9%
A planner wants to know whether a forecast has been consistently too high or too low over several months. Which measure shows this?
Cumulative forecast error
Mean absolute deviation
Safety stock
Economic order quantity
Show answer
A. Cumulative forecast error keeps the sign of each error, so it shows the direction of bias, while MAD only shows the size.
Work out a figure from the data given, such as a safety stock or an order quantity, then choose the matching option.
CertUp example
Annual demand is 1,200 units, ordering cost is $50 per order and carrying cost is $6 per unit per year. What is the economic order quantity?
50 units
100 units
141 units
200 units
Show answer
C. EOQ = square root of (2 x 1,200 x 50 / 6) = about 141 units.
Eligibility and booking
Create a free ASCM account, buy the exam and schedule it with Pearson VUE from My Account. An exam bought on its own must be taken within six months; an exam in a bundle within 12 months. After a failed attempt, wait 14 days to retest.
Read the Exam Content Manual and try its ten sample questions to see how familiar the terms and calculations are.
Most candidates spend 80–130 hours. Plan for the low end if you already work in planning and inventory; plan for the high end if supply chain terms or the calculations are new to you.
1Understand the examRead the syllabus and format, check you’re eligible and pick a target date.5 h
3Learn the core conceptsWork through one main course or book, topic by topic.60 h
4Practice with mock examsTake timed practice tests and review every mistake.30 h
5Prepare for exam dayBook the exam and check the ID and delivery rules.5 h
3Learn the core concepts
The official Learning System follows the current exam. Add a free video course if you want another explanation of a module.
One passer with little supply chain background scored 65 to 80 on first attempts at the module quizzes and found the real exam closer to the final practice exam. They suggest reaching the mid-70s to 80s on the 150-question practice test before booking.
In a 2026 thread, a commenter called five to six months realistic at about an hour on weekdays and more at weekends, saying the difficulty is the volume of material.
Best official courseCPIM Learning System
Best free courseCPIM 9.0 Comprehensive Course 2026