🎯 Course Description:
This certification program equips professionals with the skills to develop and execute effective category management strategies that align procurement with business goals. Participants will learn to analyze spend, manage supplier portfolios, optimize costs, and drive innovation across categories.
The course emphasizes data-driven decision-making, supplier collaboration, and continuous improvement, enabling organizations to maximize value through strategic category planning and management.
👥 Who Should Attend:
-
Category managers and procurement specialists
-
Strategic sourcing professionals
-
Supply chain planners and analysts
-
Vendor and supplier relationship managers
-
Anyone responsible for managing product or service categories
🗓️ Day 1: Introduction to Category Management
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Course Introduction and Participant Orientation |
| 09:00 – 10:30 | Fundamentals of Category Management – Principles and benefits |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | ☕ Coffee Break |
| 10:45 – 12:15 | Category Segmentation and Classification |
| 12:15 – 01:15 | 🍽 Lunch Break |
| 01:15 – 02:45 | Spend Analysis Techniques |
| 02:45 – 03:00 | ☕ Coffee Break |
| 03:00 – 04:30 | Workshop: Conducting a basic spend analysis |
🗓️ Day 2: Category Strategy Development
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 08:30 – 10:00 | Developing Category Strategies Based on Business Objectives |
| 10:00 – 10:15 | ☕ Coffee Break |
| 10:15 – 12:15 | Supplier Market Analysis and Competitive Intelligence |
| 12:15 – 01:15 | 🍽 Lunch Break |
| 01:15 – 02:45 | Building Category Plans and Roadmaps |
| 02:45 – 03:00 | ☕ Coffee Break |
| 03:00 – 04:30 | Case Study: Creating a category strategy for a real-world category |
🗓️ Day 3: Supplier Relationship and Risk Management
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 08:30 – 10:00 | Supplier Segmentation and Performance Management |
| 10:00 – 10:15 | ☕ Coffee Break |
| 10:15 – 12:15 | Managing Supplier Risks and Compliance |
| 12:15 – 01:15 | 🍽 Lunch Break |
| 01:15 – 02:45 | Collaborative Supplier Development and Innovation |
| 02:45 – 03:00 | ☕ Coffee Break |
| 03:00 – 04:30 | Workshop: Supplier segmentation and risk assessment exercise |
🗓️ Day 4: Cost Management and Category Optimization
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 08:30 – 10:00 | Cost Drivers and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) in Categories |
| 10:00 – 10:15 | ☕ Coffee Break |
| 10:15 – 12:15 | Techniques for Cost Reduction and Value Creation |
| 12:15 – 01:15 | 🍽 Lunch Break |
| 01:15 – 02:45 | Leveraging Data Analytics for Category Performance |
| 02:45 – 03:00 | ☕ Coffee Break |
| 03:00 – 04:30 | Case Study: Category optimization through cost management |
🗓️ Day 5: Digital Tools, Trends, and Certification
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 08:30 – 10:00 | Digital Category Management Tools and Automation |
| 10:00 – 10:15 | ☕ Coffee Break |
| 10:15 – 12:15 | Sustainability and Ethical Considerations in Category Management |
| 12:15 – 01:15 | 🍽 Lunch Break |
| 01:15 – 02:45 | Final Presentation: Develop and Present a Category Management Plan |
| 02:45 – 03:00 | ☕ Coffee Break |
| 03:00 – 04:30 | Certification Exam, Feedback, and Certificate Ceremony |
📂 Course Materials Provided:
-
Certified Category Management Expert course manual
-
Spend analysis and category planning templates
-
Supplier segmentation and risk assessment tools
-
Case studies and real-world examples
-
Final exam and Certification of Completion
