First of all, a definition is important to start with. Within the supply chain management (SCM) philosophy, companies manage their sources of materials, information, and finances throughout the SC. Once a particular supply chain is established, the various companies involved in the chain share information with each other to synchronize their assets, coordinate their production techniques, and ensure continuous synchronization of supply and demand throughout the chain. . SCM has traditionally been concerned almost exclusively with maintaining the flow of actual products within the supply chain, but the advent of the Internet has also placed increasing importance on the flow of information along the chain.
Who are the NVQ levels of supply chain management for?
The types of candidates and their job functions for each level are listed below:
- Level 2: purchasing assistant, administrative/purchasing support.
- Level 3: Purchasing/Administration Officer, Junior Manager, Supervisor, Buyer.
- Level 4: Analyst, Consultant, Department Head, Purchasing Manager, Specialist Manager, Senior Buyer.
- Level 5: CEO, Director, Senior Manager, and Strategic Manager.
NVQ level 3.
This NVQ is an effective way to develop buying skills across a wide spectrum of activities. It is used, in some cases, by organizations that want their staff to demonstrate their level of purchasing skills. This can be in conjunction with internal promotion or the remuneration structure. NVQ 3 will require a broad understanding across the SC and will focus on best practice. To cover the supply chain, the NVQ also covers materials management and logistics.
In order to collect evidence of competency, each candidate must operate within a purchasing role, which is broad enough to encompass the selected optional units. An essential requirement is the knowledge and understanding associated with the chosen items and students are expected to demonstrate this at the time of assessment. Students are encouraged to join CIPS as a student or associate to support their development and access CIPS resources.
There are a limited number of NVQ providers across the UK that offer NVQ level 3 in SCM. All are Edexcel approved centers and operate under strict quality control procedures.
