PMAC accreditation program receives international recognition

Training meets the highest standards for developing supply chain management professionals with the knowledge and skills needed in business

TORONTO, March 25 /CNW/ - The Purchasing Management Association of Canada's (PMAC) professional accreditation program has received recognition from the international purchasing body as meeting the highest global standard in supply chain education, and is the only program in Canada to achieve this distinction.

The International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM), a union of 43 national supply chain associations, has awarded PMAC's Strategic Supply Chain Management Leadership Program (SSCMLP) its Certificate of Competence. This affirms that the PMAC program, which leads to accreditation as a Certified Professional Purchaser (C.P.P.), reflects current practices, learning methodologies and assessments.

"External recognition such as this helps PMAC to differentiate its education and accreditation programs from others in the marketplace," said Bob Dye, president of PMAC. "Having our programs assessed by key outside bodies provides endorsement for the high quality of the program content and instruction."

IFPSM's Certificate of Competence outlines 12 areas of competence that an accredited program needs to cover, including financial impact of procurement, data analysis, use of technology, strategic sourcing, competitive bidding and contract management, supplier relationship management, inventory management, distribution and dispute resolution. Accredited programs also need to cultivate an understanding of the contribution that supply chain management makes to the organization as well as the wider global context in which the organization operates.

"PMAC's accreditation program is among the best being offered around the world and joins an exclusive group that has earned the Certificate of Competence," said Charles Holden, director-general of IFPSM. "The Certificate acts as a form of 'quality control,' validating programs that develop the essential skills and knowledge required of good supply chain practitioners."

The endorsement from IFPSM comes on the heels of PMAC programs receiving external accreditation from the Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council (CSCSC). In December 2009, the SSCMLP as well as PMAC's Supply Management Training were among the first to be recognized under the sector council's new National Accreditation Program (NAP).

The NAP was established to accredit supply chain-related education that meets the CSCSC's national standard. The standard includes requirements for course or program needs assessment, design, development, delivery and student evaluation.

To maintain both IFPSM and CSCSC accreditation, providers must submit evidence of continued compliance with the standards. It is individual programs and courses that are accredited, not the providers that offer them.

Through external accreditation, students, practitioners and employers are able to readily identify that PMAC programs meet demanding national and international standards, said PMAC's Dye. He added that graduates of PMAC programs also benefit directly from having the value of their training recognized.

"As the field of supply chain management increases in status, a growing array of courses and programs are being developed," Dye said. "In this environment, everyone is seeking to distinguish among the options and identify which offerings best meet industry needs."

About PMAC

The Purchasing Management Association of Canada (PMAC) is the leading professional association in Canada for supply chain management professionals. With more than 40,000 members and program participants working in all sectors of the Canadian economy, PMAC is the principal source of training, education and professional development for supply chain management professionals in Canada. The highest achievement in professional supply chain management education in Canada is the Certified Professional Purchaser (C.P.P.) designation.

For further information: Sharon Ferriss, vice-president of public affairs and communications, PMAC, [phone] or [email protected]