L6M2

The CIPS Level 6 Module 2 exam, typically titled "Supply Chain Strategy," focuses on developing and implementing effective supply chain strategies aligned with organizational objectives. The main points covered are usually grouped around these key areas:

• Strategic Supply Chain Management: Understanding the strategic importance of the supply chain, its alignment with overall business strategy, and the impact of different supply chain models (e.g., agile, lean, responsive). This includes understanding how to measure supply chain performance and the use of relevant KPIs. Analyzing the external factors influencing supply chain strategy (e.g., globalization, technological advancements, sustainability) is also crucial.

• Supply Chain Design and Planning: This section delves into the process of designing efficient and effective supply chains, considering factors like network design (location of facilities, transportation modes), capacity planning, inventory management, and risk management. Forecasting and demand planning are key elements. Understanding different types of supply chain structures and their suitability for different business contexts is essential.

• Supply Chain Relationships and Collaboration: Building and managing strong relationships with suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders is emphasized. This includes negotiating contracts, managing supplier performance, and fostering collaboration to achieve shared goals. The role of technology in enabling collaboration (e.g., through information sharing platforms) is also relevant.

• Supply Chain Technology and Innovation: Examines the role of technology in improving supply chain efficiency and effectiveness. This encompasses topics like digitalization, automation, data analytics, blockchain, and artificial intelligence, and how they can be leveraged for optimization, visibility, and decision-making.

• Sustainability and Ethical Considerations: Increasingly important, this section addresses the environmental and social responsibility aspects of supply chain management. This might involve topics like carbon emissions reduction, ethical sourcing, fair labor practices, and compliance with regulations. The importance of incorporating sustainability into strategic supply chain decisions is highlighted.

• Supply Chain Risk Management: Identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks throughout the supply chain is a central theme. This includes disruptions such as natural disasters, political instability, pandemics, cybersecurity threats, and supply chain vulnerabilities. Developing contingency plans and resilience strategies are critical.

It's important to note that the specific weighting and emphasis of these topics can vary slightly depending on the exam version and the CIPS curriculum updates. Always refer to the official CIPS study materials for the most accurate and up-to-date information.