Newsletter 1

Volume 14, Issue 2 June 2020 Newsletter

The Presidents Message

This has been a very difficult quarter for everyone due to the Coronavirus pandemic. We hope you; your family, and extended family are healthy, safe, and coping the best you can during this time of social distancing and isolation.

Thank you for being affiliated with the APICS Fairfield County Chapter community. The board and I appreciate your continuing involvement.

Thank you for downloading and reading our latest edition of our newsletter! We hope you find it to be both interesting and beneficial.

As I mentioned in our last newsletter, your board has been hard at work. We made great strides in four key areas: programs, education, finance, and communications.

Programs

We continue to collaborate with the APICS Danbury Chapter to bring you a unique Lunch & Learn on-line learning experience. We’ve delivered, so far this year, four webinars featuring great speakers and topics. We are in the process of finalizing our schedule through March of 2021.

Please participate. You don’t need to travel or take time away from your family. It’s a great way to enhance your body of knowledge, keep informed, and earn maintenance points towards your certification.

Unfortunately, we decided to place a hold on our in-person professional development meetings (PDM’s), plant tours, and our workshop due to the pandemic. Hopefully, we can begin to hold in-person educational and networking events in the fall.

Education

We are currently holding a spring web-based CSCP certification course Why not register for our fall course which starts on September 28.and earn your CSCP by year end. It’s a great way to enhance your career.

Inside This Issue President’s Message

Lunch&Learn Webinars

Our Certified Members

Earn Your Certification

CSCP & CPIM Review

Low Cost Reference Books

Chapter Members Honored

On-Site or Web-Based Education

Cycle Count Workshop Rescheduled

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Your Board of Directors

President Jennifer L Sciglimpaglia e-mail: president@apics-fairfield.org

Vice President - Website and Compliance George Philips e-mail: webmaster@apics-fairfield.org

Treasurer Stephen J Rogan e-mail: treasurer@apics-fairfield.org

Director of Membership Jim Collins e-mail: membership@apics-fairfield.org

Director of Education Howard L Forman email: pimassociates@yahoo.com or Education@apics-fairfield.org

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Newsletter 2

Finance

The chapter continues to remain in sound financial shape.

Communications

We’re publishing a web newsletter and using social media posts to keep you informed. Remember to check out our website and LinkedIn Group for up-to-date news and events.

To those of you who recently joined our chapter or renewed your membership, THANK YOU! If you haven’t joined or renewed, we would appreciate getting your feedback, so we can address any concerns you may have. Remember, APICS membership earns you six maintenance points per year towards keeping your certification.

Thank you, once again, for being affiliated with the APICS Fairfield County Chapter community. Please don’t hesitate to contact me, or any board member, if you have any feedback, comments, or improvement suggestions I encourage you to reach out to me at the following email: president@apics-fairfield.org. It’s important to let us know how we’re doing. Stay healthy, safe, and take care of yourself and your family. Best Regards. Jenny Sciglimpaglia President APICS Fairfield County Chapter n

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Volunteers Needed

We’re are seeking volunteers to serve on your board of directors. The time commitment can be minimal, just two hours each month. Your involvement and support will help keep our chapter strong and active.

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Last Minute Reminder to Check Your New Year’s Resolution List

Did you remember to: • Renew your APICS membership? • Attend one of our on-line educational events? • Visit our revamped website to keep abreast of the latest news and events? • Let us know if you are interested in volunteering, teaching, speaking, or participating in any

Chapter event n

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Presidents Message continued from page 1

Newsletter 3

Programs Lunch & Learn Webinar The APICS Fairfield County and the APICS Danbury Chapters are collaborating to bring you a unique Lunch&Learn webinar educational experience. We have a dynamic monthly speaker lineup planned for you. Our webinars are held on Wednesday’s from noon to 1:00 EDT. These are free events and both APICS members and non-members are welcome to participate. Why not join us for our next webinar? It’s an easy way to earn one certification maintenance point. n

Date Topic Speaker Jan 22 Inventory Optimization – Lets Reduce Our Inventory

Levels Howard Forman

February 5 Developing a Lean Attitude? Mike Walsh March 4 Inventory Dynamics Anthony Zampello April 1 Strategic Sourcing for Successful Supplier Relationships Mike Ford May 6 How to Manage Quality in a Lean Organization Dr. Joseph DeFeo June 3 TBD September 9 Theory of Constraints and its implications for Master

Scheduling Hank Barr

October 7 TBD November 4 Will a Robot Take My Job? Bob Collins

Did you miss our March and April Lunch &Learn webinars? Jim Collins wrote a great summary of each presentation. Click on below links to access them: https://apicsfairfield.starchapter.com/images/downloads/webinar_20200304_inventory_dynamics.pdf https://apicsfairfield.starchapter.com/images/downloads/webinar_20200401_strategic_sourcing.pdf --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Certified Members We would like to recognize the following individuals who are affiliated with the APICS Fairfield County Chapter and have earned one or more APICS CSCP, CIRM, SCOR-P, or CPIM certifications.

Brzoska, Elise Cortigiano, Christophe Dvoynos, Svetlana Forman, Dave Forman, Howard Gaal, Thomas Gaglioti, Steven Galente, Michael

Hendrick, Robert Hillsberg, Brett McGovern, Anna Pujol, Roger Satram, Madhavi Sciglimpaglia, Jennifer Tam, Calvin Tropea, Joseph Tsoi, Yu Ching

Also remember that you earn six maintenance points for each year you remain an APICS member. Don’t forget to renew your membership. n

Newsletter 4

Education Earn Your APICS CSCP Certification Do you have the required skill set to stay ahead of the supply chain learning curve? Did you notice new opportunities that specify an APICS CSCP certification as a requirement? Did you notice how coworkers who earn their certification earn more, advance more rapidly, get promoted, or find new opportunities? So, why don’t you earn your APICS CSCP certification so you don’t get left behind? Our spring CSCP web-based certification course is on-going. Our fall course starts on September 26. You may obtain additional information regarding pricing or how to register for it at https://apics-fairfield.org/meetinginfo.php?id=74. Register for the fall CSCP course bundle by August 20 and receive a free copy of APICS CSCP Exam Success - A Guide to Achieving Certification on Your First Attempt. Interested in earning your APICS CLTD or CPIM certification? The chapter will be offering web-based courses starting this fall. Details will be posted shortly. Please contact Howard Forman at pimassociates@yahoo.com or call (973) 760-6736 if you have any questions regarding earning any certification, to learn more about when and where the courses will be held, or to schedule an in-house or web-based certification course. n

Course 2020 Course Schedule Spring Apr 18 May 2, 16, Jun 6, 13, and 27 Fall Sep 26, Oct 10, 24 Nov 7, 21 and Dec 5

n --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- APICS CSCP Exam Success, A Guide to Achieving Certification on Your First Attempt Register for APICS Fairfield County Chapter fall CSCP certification course by August 20th and receive a free copy of the APICS CSCP Exam Success, A Guide to Achieving Certification on Your First Attempt. It’s designed to help explain critical concepts, and provide on-going support as students prepare to take the certification exams. It explains over 1,000 key terms, concepts, calculations, and relationships. The book provides online access to over 700 practice questions, enabling users to perform practice tests by CSCP group and/or simulate actual full exams, with feedback on incorrect answers. It also reviews over 50 calculations with workable examples. To view this book go to: https://lnkd.in/eiKq8vr or https://lnkd.in/egFUXAU. n

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Newsletter 5

CSCP and CPIM Part 2 Readiness Review Sessions

The APICS Fairfield County and Danbury Chapters in conjunction with PIM Associates Inc. conducted two web-based, exam readiness courses. The first was an open session for two evenings to help individuals planning to take their CSCP exam. It reviewed practice questions to identify participants body of knowledge gaps. Participants attended from across the U.S., Canada, Singapore, and Europe.

The second was an open session for three evenings. It was designed to assist participants who didn’t pass their CPIM Part 2 exam. It reviewed a number of key concepts, terms, and practice questions to help prepare them to retake their exam. Participants attended from four different states and Germany. n

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APICS Certification Reference and Non-Reference Books Do you wish you could obtain inexpensive books to help you better understand selected concepts referenced in the APICS CSCP, CLTD, or CPIM Learning Systems? However, you find the purchase cost exceeds your limited budget. There is an easy way to obtain inexpensive books. Look around for library book sales (when it’s permitted). One never knows what one might find. A few of our past finds include: 1. The Goal by Goldratt and Cox 2. Supply Chain Architecture by Walker 3. Customer Centered Growth by Whiteley and Hessan 4. The Deming Route to Quality and Productivity by Scherkenbach 5. A Jumpstart to World Class Performance by Garwood and Bane 6. Introduction to Materials Management by Arnold, Chapman, Clive 7. Operation Management – A Value-Driven Approach by Melnyk and Denzler They may not be the latest edition, and some may not be the APICS stated reference, but they all help to explain concepts in greater detail, give examples, provide exercises, and sometimes multiple-choice questions. The cost for each book was approximately fifty cents. Remember, read one of these or any 200-page supply chain book and earn five maintenance points towards your certification. n --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quotes to Think About

“The supply chain stuff is really tricky.” ~ Elon Musk

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” - Henry Ford n

Newsletter 6

Chapter Members Honored The APICS Fairfield County Chapter is proud to recognize our outstanding volunteers for their hard work and service. Please join us in honoring those who so generously share their time and talents with our Chapter. Congratulations to:

Ø Volunteer of the Year- Jim Collins

Ø Instructor of the Year- David Forman

Ø Company of the Year- PIM Associates Inc.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CSCP Globally Recognized

Over 24,000 supply chain professionals from 100 different countries have earned their APICS CSCP certification since the first exam was given in March 2006. In addition, many local and global organizations strongly encourage their employees to earn their APICS certification. n ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We Provide On-Site or Web-Based Education

The APICS Fairfield County Chapter can deliver web-based APICS CSCP, CLTD, or CPIM certification courses for your company. We also have a portfolio that includes over 25 seminars, workshops, and courses. Courses can range from a four-hour overview session to a forty-hour workshop. We provide flexible class scheduling designed to fit your company’s work schedule. Courses can be taught during the workday, after work, or as a combination of both.

A few of our topics include basics of supply chain management, cycle counting, inventory accuracy, inventory reduction, MRP concepts, sales and operation planning concepts, demand management / forecasting, lean concepts, and warehouse management concepts. In addition, our courseware can be tailored to fit your particular company, industry, or ERP system. We can focus on your critical applications, functions, features, concepts, and terminology. Our classes consist of a combination of lectures, interactive discussions, and group activities. A few of the benefits of holding an APICS Fairfield County Chapter web-based course include: • Easier to attend • Reduction in travel expenses • Conduct on-line courses with as little as 3 students • Provide scheduling and rescheduling flexibility • Tailor courseware topics to meet your company’s unique requirements • Web-based 2+ hour sessions makes it easier to fit learning into everyone’s busy schedule n

Newsletter 7

Workshop Rescheduled Workshop: Cycle Counting – The road to enlightenment We have rescheduled our cycle counting workshop until the fall due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Check our website for information on the new date. If your company can’t wait till the fall let us know. We can conduct a web-based workshop just for your company. Contact our Director of Education at education@apics-fairfield.org. n ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Workshop Overview In these competitive times companies face many challenges as they attempt to improve productivity, eliminate non-value costs, and reduce inventory levels. The road to improvement is often a long, winding, and time-consuming journey. A wrong turn becomes an invitation to frustration, conflict, delay, and unanticipated expense. Poor inventory accuracy is a major impediment that hinders companies in achieving their business goals. The road to enlightenment begins with the establishment of a cycle counting trip plan. The plan starts with the identification and examination of ten critical activities needed for this trip. The plan then illustrates how to avoid common obstacles and pitfalls that might detour the journey. The plan next explores the various costs of this journey. Finally, before the journey ends, we will explore the question “Are We There Yet” and did we meet our goal.

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will learn:

• The building blocks of cycle counting

• The cycle counting reconciliation process

• How to improve your inventory accuracy by 40% within 30 days

• How to implement a cycle counting improvement workplan

• How cycle counting can resolve process issues and enhance inventory accuracy

Who should attend this workshop?

• Cycle counters

• Financial analysts

• Buyers and planners

• Supply chain analysts

• Warehouse or stockroom personnel

• Or anyone else who has a desire to improve their cycle counting process n