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PMAC has put together answers to some frequently asked questions about designation change below.
For more information on how to earn the SCMP designation, please consult the Strategic Supply Chain Management Leadership Program section of the web site.
1. Are we replacing the C.P.P. with a new professional designation?
2. Why are we making this change?
3. Will all C.P.P.s be granted the new designation?
4. I am an accreditation candidate. What does this change mean to me?
5. Is there a maintenance requirement to continue to hold the new designation?
6. Why was the name SCMP – Supply Chain Management Professional chosen for the new designation?
7. Why is the new designation called the Certified SCMP (or CSCMP) in Ontario but SCMP in the rest of Canada?
8. What is the meaning of the new SCMP logo?
9. When will the new designation be implemented?
10. How will we raise awareness of the new designation brand?
11. What kind of consultation has there been with members and other stakeholders about the change?
12. Are there precedents for an association changing its professional designation?
13. How does designation change fit into PMAC’s overall strategic direction?
14. Now that we have a new designation name, are we also changing the PMAC organization name?
15. Where can I learn more?
Q: 1. Are we replacing the C.P.P. with a new professional designation?
A: Yes. The PMAC National Board of Directors approved in January 2009 that the C.P.P. designation be replaced by a new professional designation that better reflects the field of practice of strategic supply chain management. In June 2009, the name of the new designation, the SCMP – Supply Chain Management Professional was announced to members. Effective June 2010, PMAC’s Provincial and Territorial Institutes began to inform their members to start using the SCMP designation, subject to the status of any applicable legislation in their respective jurisdictions.
Q: 2. Why are we making this change?
A: PMAC is replacing the C.P.P. with the SCMP in order to position our members for success in a changing marketplace and to ensure that they are recognized as the pre-eminent authority in our field of practice of strategic supply chain management.
Purchasing has evolved to the next level. Supply chain management (SCM) now drives competitive advantage in global business. Today, it is expertise in multiple areas of SCM that enables professionals to see the big picture and meet their firms’ strategic objectives.
The roles of PMAC members are expanding. The expectations of employers are growing. The association has recognized this shift and is committed to demonstrating profession leadership and advancing world-class strategic supply chain management.
The key benefits of the change are:
- The new SCMP designation conveys that our profession is more strategic than it was regarded to be in the past and communicates the full range of knowledge and level of skill that accredited professionals possess.
- Prospective members are more likely to consider a career in supply chain management if offered a credential that reflects our entire field of practice and the strategic level of our accreditation program.
- The new designation also serves us in raising awareness of our profession as senior executives increasingly recognize the impact that supply chain management has on the competitiveness of their organizations.
A January 2006 survey confirmed that two-thirds of PMAC member organizations now see purchasing as part of their larger supply chain management function. A new designation will allow us to be inclusive of purchasing but broaden further into the strategic view of supply chain management.
Q: 3. Will all C.P.P.s be granted the new designation?
A: Yes. All C.P.P.s in good standing – which currently number about 3,000 – will be automatically granted the new designation. No additional courses or exams will be required to qualify for the new designation.
While all of the alternatives were thoroughly explored, the conclusion was that it was entirely appropriate to grant the new designation to existing C.P.P.s. The intent of the new designation is to more accurately reflect the enhanced and exceptional professional contribution that all accredited members make in our redefined field of practice of strategic supply chain management.
The new designation – which represents an elevated standard and a current body of knowledge – is intended to signify that its holders are bringing more to the table whether through our renewed accreditation program or continuing professional development.
Q: 4. I am an accreditation candidate. What does this change mean to me?
A: Strategic Supply Chain Management Leadership Program (SSCMLP) candidates who successfully complete the program will receive the SCMP designation.
Q: 5. Is there a maintenance requirement to continue to hold the new designation?
A: Yes. As with any group of professionals, there is an expectation that our designation-holders will undertake continuous professional development as the field of practice constantly evolves. A maintenance program ensures that all SCMPs meet a high level of competency, current knowledge and professionalism in supply chain management. Ongoing training and education is necessary to preserve the credibility of the new designation.
SCMPs will be required to accumulate credits every three years through professional development activities prescribed by PMAC’s Provincial and Territorial Institutes.
Q: 6. Why was the name SCMP – Supply Chain Management Professional chosen for the new designation?
A: In considering potential names for a new designation, PMAC identified the following criteria for a name to satisfy:
- Supportive of the advancement of PMAC’s mission and vision
- Reflective of our new field of practice of comprehensive, strategic supply chain management
- Aligned with the Strategic Supply Chain Management Leadership Program
- Unique and distinctive from any other credential in the marketplace
- Facilitates the association achieving its branding and promotion objectives
Many options were considered but SCMP was felt to best meet the criteria and communicate that our members are truly Professionals in the various aspects of SCM. The SCMP represents a more strategic, a more global and a more integrated value proposition.
Our June 2007 survey on credential change canvassed members on key words that might be included in a new designation name. The survey found that:
- 67% of members think a new credential should include the word “Professional” or “Certified,” with 21% indifferent
- 66% of members think it should include the phrase “Supply Chain Management, with 18% indifferent
- 50% of members think the words “Management” or “Manager” should be included, with 25% indifferent
PMAC's conclusion was that incorporating both the words “certified” and “professional” in the designation name was unnecessary and that “professionalism” was the more important idea to convey. All professional designations require a certification process, yet numerous well-known certifications such as P. Eng. – Professional Engineer and PMP – Project Management Professional omit the word “certified,” as it is implied. A more practical consideration was to avoid creating too lengthy an acronym.
Q: 7. Why is the new designation called the Certified SCMP (or CSCMP) in Ontario but SCMP in the rest of Canada?
A: As part of embedding the new designation in provincial legislation in Ontario, the Ontario Institute of PMAC was required by the provincial government to preface SCMP with the word “Certified.” (In Ontario, there is pre-existing legislation that governs OIPMAC and its regulation of the supply chain management profession. The Ontario government does not give organizations the authority to allow their members to use what the government considers to be a “generic” description of a profession as a designation (i.e. the term “professional”). Designation titles in Ontario must be preceded by a qualifier such as “Certified,” “Registered” or “Accredited”.) However, it is important to note that the new SCMP credential is the same in Ontario as it is in the rest of Canada, i.e. candidates go through the same accreditation process to be awarded the designation.
PMAC members in Ontario have been given the option of using the abbreviated SCMP/Supply Chain Management Professional designation title, or the full CSCMP/Certified Supply Chain Management Professional title, after their names.
In all national advertising and communications, the focus will be on building awareness of the SCMP designation to create a consistent brand identity across the country.
Q: 8. What is the meaning of the new SCMP logo?
A: A logo for the new designation has been designed to powerfully communicate the value proposition of the Supply Chain Management Professional:
Featuring an infinity symbol, the SCMP logo signifies an unbroken network that stretches from supplier to customer. The three links comprise the core areas of supply chain management: procurement, operations and logistics. Our colour scheme is dignified and professional, allowing us to build on the brand recognition of the teal C.P.P. logo. The new logo will be phased in over time as we responsibly use up existing marketing collateral and update our corporate identity materials.
Q: 9. When will the new designation be implemented?
A: PMAC’s Provincial and Territorial Institutes are in the process of rolling out the new designation. As of June 2010, they began to inform their members to replace the C.P.P. with the SCMP on their business cards and correspondence. C.P.P.s are also being advised when and how they will receive their new SCMP certificates. The exact nature and timeline for the implementation may vary based on the legal requirements in a province or territory.
During the transition period, some designated members may choose to continue to use the C.P.P. in addition to the SCMP. However, going forward, the SCMP will be PMAC's only designation and the one we are putting our resources behind promoting.
Q: 10. How will we raise awareness of the new designation brand?
A: Members tell us that they want a credential that is as widely recognized and respected as the CA, CMA or P.Eng. A new designation will serve to address this by enhancing the profile, influence and reputation of our members as strategic supply chain management professionals. Building on the brand equity in the C.P.P., the SCMP will elevate our brand to an exceptional standard of excellence.
Establishing a new brand will take time and a sustained financial investment. PMAC has developed a comprehensive marketing and communications plan that incorporates a variety of channels to raise the awareness of employers, prospective members and other stakeholders. We will invest significantly in future years to promote the new designation and the unique and distinctive competencies of our SCMPs.
Starting in September 2010, we are bringing our message of designation change to the market through advertisements in major business and trade publications and web sites, including Report on Business, Canadian Business and Affaires Plus. Communications with members will involve direct mail, e-blasts and face-to-face presentations at meetings. You will begin to notice updated marketing collateral and a refreshed web presence.
Q: 11. What kind of consultation had there been with members and other stakeholders about the change?
A: Member consultation has been an essential and ongoing part of the association’s consideration of a designation change. In June 2007, an online survey of members was conducted by a professional research firm. In the survey, four out of five PMAC members indicated they are in favour of a new professional designation that reflects their enhanced roles as the word "purchasing" becomes less and less descriptive of what they do.
A total of 1,261 members participated in the survey. The response rate was 22.5% among members with valid e-mail addresses. Of the respondents, 51.4% were C.P.P.s, 38.6% were working towards the designation and 10.0% were neither. According to the research firm, this is a very good response rate. Typical response rates for membership surveys sit between 15-18%.
Across all Provincial and Territorial Institutes, and demographic segments, survey results showed a clear preference for a modernizing of the credential identity:
- 82% in favour
- 15% not in favour
- 3% no opinion
However, of those 82% who were in favour of a change, 16% also indicated strong concern for how a change would affect their status as a C.P.P. or accreditation candidate and indicated that their support was dependent on being granted the new designation.
The PMAC Board of Directors set up a Designation Change Task Force, a group comprised of C.P.P.s and accreditation candidates. The task force was mandated to examine all aspects of a designation change. As part of the task force’s work, a series of online member focus groups were held in September 2008 to explore in-depth issues such as potential names for a new designation, implications for current C.P.P.s and timing of any change. That same month, employers and prospective members across Canada were also interviewed for their perspectives on designation change. The task force submitted its Final Report to the Board in December 2008 and recommended proceeding to launch a new credential.
Q: 12. Are there precedents for an association changing its professional designation?
A: Yes. The Certified Management Accountants (CMAs) used to be known as RIAs (Registered Industrial Accountants) up until the mid-80s. As with PMAC, the change was motivated by a number of compelling factors. First, the CMAs wanted to meet the evolving needs and expectations of the marketplace for a credential that would represent the strategic expertise required from accountants. Second, the group also wanted to distance itself from the increasingly dated term “industrial,” which was not inclusive of its members in the service and public sectors of the economy. Third, the organization intended to differentiate its professional members – and the unique competencies that they possess – from others in the marketplace.
Our U.S. counterpart, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), announced in 2005 that Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) would be its new professional credential. ISM stated that the CPSM will reflect the expanded education, skills and experience needed to be a successful supply management professional. Some asked ISM why it was making the change when the profile of its Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) designation was at an all-time high. The answer was to prepare the future leadership of supply management as the profession’s capabilities and responsibilities are experiencing unprecedented growth in importance within organizations. Moving forward, ISM intends to only grant the CPSM credential.
Q: 13. How does designation change fit into PMAC’s overall strategic direction?
A: The PMAC Board of Directors initiated a process of strategic renewal in 2004. The process embraced a change in focus for the profession “toward a strategic shift from purchasing to comprehensive supply chain management.” The renewal process identified four strategic priorities for PMAC:
- Defining a new field of practice
- Redesigning the product (C.P.P.)
- Branding and promoting the product (C.P.P.)
- Operating more like a business
We have already redefined our field of practice as strategic supply chain management, launched our Strategic Supply Chain Management Leadership Program and begun to build our brand profile. One of the key implications associated with branding and promotion was the need to explore a credential identity that better reflects our renewed focus.
The launch of the SCMP designation is also consistent with PMAC’s new Strategic Plan 2010-2013. The SCMP will strengthen PMAC’s leadership in the supply chain management space, and it will increase market awareness and understanding of the SCM profession and the value added to enterprises by the SCM professional.
Q: 14. Now that we have a new designation name, are we also changing the PMAC name?
A: Originally, the PMAC Board began to consider whether the association would need both a new designation name and a new association name to better reflect our redefined field of practice of strategic supply chain management. The Board decided to proceed first with the designation name as it was thought to be the more significant of the two, with the designation being our primary brand identity in the marketplace. Also, since PMAC consists of 10 Provincial and Territorial Institutes as well as the National office, each a separate legal entity, changing the association name would require more time. However, the intent is to revisit the question of association name change in future.
Q: 15. Where can I learn more?
A: A listing of National member communications, media releases and articles on designation change is available online.
Your PMAC Institute will also have additional information on the rollout of the designation in your province or territory.
Please direct any questions to your Provincial or Territorial Institute. A PMAC Discussion Forum on Designation Change on our National Member Portal remains open for member dialogue on the subject.
