The CIPS Level 4 course enables students to develop knowledge and skills in purchasing and supply chain management to develop solutions to unpredictable problems, evaluate and use information to develop effective strategies, show effective judgement skills in planning activity and meeting quality standards.
CIPS Level 4 is an intermediate level purchasing course, designed to develop the student's existing purchasing skills and introduce new ways of working, improving their purchasing knowledge.
My tutor gave me a structured timetable and provided feedback on my work as I went along. He was very good at explaining things to me.
Paul Knight
Who is this course for?
The course is designed for those who have two or more years experience in a purchasing and supply role, or who have completed previous CIPS purchasing courses and wish to progress further.
The negotiation process (targets, BATNA, walk away, straw issues)
Commercial agreements & contracts
International contract law
EU procurement directives
E-tendering
Supplier assessment and selection
Outsourced relationships
Managing supplier relationships
How does the course work?
Study Time:
You can study at a pace to suit you. Your tutor will create a timetable for you, and will set you work and assignments to complete each week.
If you can spend around 3 hours a week studying, you should be able to complete the course in 30 months. If you can spend more time studying than that, you could fast-track and complete the course faster.
Course Structure:
The course is made up of five compulsory units.
Assessments
You will sit a three hour written exam for each of the five units. CIPS exams must be sat at an approved CIPS centre.
Qualification Received:
You will receive the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Purchasing and Supply.
Your Course Fee Includes:
Tuition
Study Materials
12 Month Institute Membership
VAT
Course Details - Unit Breakdown
Compulsory units
You must complete all the compulsory units listed below.
Effective Negotiation in Purchasing and Supply
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The unit is designed to provide students with the ability to apply a variety of theories relating to negotiation in respect of preparation, planning and participating in the negotiation process. Students will undertake activities such as cost and market analysis, using information to support the planning of negotiation with suppliers to achieve best value. Students also apply their knowledge of various legal implications affecting negotiations. Negotiating is often a finely balanced activity and involves managing a range of complex relationships, and students should be prepared to effectively manage those relationships, avoiding conflict while maintaining the balance of power. By the end of this unit, students should be able to plan, prepare and undertake effective negotiations, demonstrating high levels of personal effectiveness and achieving best value within the supply chain.
Developing Contracts in Purchasing and Supply
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This unit is designed to help students to gain an appreciation of the complexities of both the legalities and commercial issues of contractual arrangements entered into with external organisations. The unit provides an underpinning knowledge of the legalities of the formation of contracts as well as the key ingredients of any commercial arrangement - a specification, the contractual terms and key performance indicators. Students will be able to apply a variety of terms to contracts in given situations, and will be aware of the significance of a range of different contractual terms that are typically applied to a range of procurements affecting both direct and indirect expenditures. The unit also analyses the processes used for tendering or for requests for proposals from external suppliers through to contract award.
Measuring Purchasing Performance
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This unit is designed to help students to measure the effectiveness of the supply chain and its contribution towards aiding the competitiveness and effectiveness of the organisation. Students taking this unit should be able to apply a range of measurement techniques used to monitor the performance of a variety of individual suppliers, how they perform financially versus target, compliance to contract/specification, and potential risks that they may present. Measurement will take place on three levels, organisational, functional and individual. Students should be able apply a range of techniques and provide results that evaluate supplier performance, and make suggestions for future improvements.
Managing Purchasing and Supply Relationships
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This unit is designed to enable students to focus on developing and managing effective relationships, old and new, within the supply chain. Students will be able to review and develop existing relationships and identify opportunities for establishing new relationships that will enhance the performance of the supply chain, while exploring the benefits and risks of establishing such relationships. By the end of this unit, students should be able to develop new relationships, manage existing relationships and exploit opportunities in both, that will maximise the effectiveness of the supply chain.
Purchasing Contexts
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This unit is designed to enable students to apply the fundamental principles of purchasing and supply in a variety of different contexts, including a range of private sector organisations, including multi-nationals and small/medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), plus the public sector; national and local government; the NHS; and the not-for profit sector including charities and the voluntary sector. Students will be able to consider the procurement cycle as it applies to a diverse range to purchased products and services including raw materials, commodities, components, utilities and services, both domestically and in an international context. This unit will tackle the different challenges faced by a wide range of organisations and sectors as they strive to achieve best value, quality, effectiveness and competitiveness within the broader supply chain. Successful students will be able to apply sound principles of purchasing and supply management to a diverse range of sectors and organisations and will be able to employ and develop transferable best practice where appropriate.
