Cheat sheet

CIPS Level 2 Cheat Sheet

Introducing Procurement and Supply

33%of exam

Five RightsProcurement CycleSourcing TypesSector Types

Procurement and Supply Operations

17%of exam

PO ProcessSpecificationsTenderingEthics

Stakeholder Relationships

17%of exam

Stakeholder MappingCommunicationConflictTeamwork

Systems Technology

17%of exam

P2P Systemse-ProcurementEDI MRP ERPData Records

Inventory, Logistics and Expediting

17%of exam

Inventory ControlStock TypesWarehousingIncoterms 2020

Quick Facts

Exam
CIPS L2
Credential
Cert. Procurement & Supply Ops
Modules
5 (L2M1-L2M5)
Pass mark
70% per module
Format
Objective response (MCQ)
Level
Entry / foundational
Credits
18 (6+3+3+3+3)
Delivery
Computer-based test centre

Five Rights Mnemonic

Quality, Quantity, Time, Place, Price

Q: right specQ: right amountTime: right momentPlace/Price: right spot, cost

Purchasing vs Procurement

Purchasing

  • Transactional
  • Order placing
  • Short-term focus

Procurement

  • Strategic
  • Whole cycle
  • Value and risk focus

Narrow task vs whole function

Sourcing Route Picker

  1. Only one capable supplierSole sourcing
  2. Maximise volume discountSingle sourcing
  3. Reduce supply riskMultiple sourcing
  4. Recurring similar needsFramework agreement
  5. One-off low-value buySpot purchase

Five Rights of Procurement

Right Quality
Matches specification exactly
Right Quantity
Amount actually needed
Right Time
Delivered when required
Right Place
Correct delivery location
Right Price
Best total value

Procurement Cycle Order

Need -> Source -> Order -> Review

Need: raise requisitionSource: find suppliersOrder: issue POReview: evaluate performance

Sole Sourcing vs Single Sourcing

Sole sourcing

  • Only supplier exists
  • No alternative available

Single sourcing

  • Chosen deliberately
  • Alternatives do exist

No choice vs chosen

Procurement and Supply Cycle

Define need
Raise requisition
Specification
Describe requirement
Sourcing
Identify suppliers
Tendering
Invite competitive bids
Contract award
Select winning supplier
Order & receipt
PO issued, goods received
Payment & review
Invoice paid, performance reviewed

Sourcing and Organisation Types

Sole sourcing
Only one capable supplier
Single sourcing
Chosen one, alternatives exist
Multiple sourcing
Several suppliers, spread risk
Public sector
Government funded, taxpayer accountable
Private sector
Profit driven, shareholder owned
Third sector
Not-for-profit, mission driven

Conformance vs Performance Spec

Conformance

  • Exact design
  • Fixed dimensions
  • Low flexibility

Performance

  • Required outcome
  • Supplier's method
  • More innovation

What it is vs does

Specification Type Picker

  1. Simple, standard itemConformance spec
  2. Outcome matters, not processPerformance spec
  3. Need exact drawingsConformance spec
  4. Want supplier's expertiseOutput spec

Procurement Process Steps

Requisition
Internal request raised
Check contracts first
Avoid duplicate sourcing
Purchase order (PO)
Formal buyer commitment
Order acknowledgement
Supplier confirms acceptance
Goods received note
Confirms delivery received
Three-way match
PO, GRN, invoice agree

Quality Control vs Assurance

Quality Control

  • Detects defects
  • After production
  • Inspection based

Quality Assurance

  • Prevents defects
  • Throughout process
  • System based

Detect vs prevent

Specification Types

Conformance spec
Exact design match
Performance spec
Defines required outcome
Output spec
Defines end result
Standard fastener example
Best fits conformance spec

Centralised vs Decentralised Procurement

Centralised

  • One team buys
  • Leverages total spend
  • Slower local response

Decentralised

  • Local teams buy
  • Fast, tailored
  • Less spend leverage

Control vs local speed

Tendering and Contract Terms

Blanket/call-off order
Regular deliveries, one contract
Framework agreement
Pre-approved supplier panel
Fixed price contract
No cost adjustment allowed
Delegated authority
Spend approval limits
Scoring matrix
Weighted tender evaluation
Subcontracting
Third party delivers scope

Procurement Ethics

Code of conduct
Sets ethical expectations
Conflict of interest
Personal gain risk
Bribery
Improper inducement offered
Ethical sourcing
Checks supply chain practices

Power-Interest Grid

Manage, Satisfy, Inform, Monitor

High/high: manage closelyHigh/low: keep satisfiedLow/high: keep informed

Stakeholder Response Picker

  1. High power, high interestManage closely
  2. High power, low interestKeep satisfied
  3. Low power, high interestKeep informed
  4. Low power, low interestMonitor, minimum effort

Stakeholder Types and Mapping

Internal stakeholder
Inside the organisation
External stakeholder
Outside the organisation
Power-interest matrix
Maps stakeholder priority
Manage closely
High power, high interest
Keep satisfied
High power, low interest
Keep informed
Low power, high interest

Communication and Conflict

Communication channel
Route message travels
Active listening
Confirms understanding fully
Conflict resolution
Resolves disputes constructively
Negotiating position
Weak if sole supplier
Market factors
Supply and demand shape price

Teamwork Basics

Cross-functional team
Mixed department members
Cohesive team
Shared goals, trust
Team induction
Orients new member
Team meeting
Shares updates, priorities

P2P and e-Procurement Systems

P2P system
Requisition to payment flow
e-Catalogue
Online supplier product list
e-Auction
Suppliers bid down price
Supplier portal
Self-service supplier access
e-Sourcing
Digital supplier identification
e-Tendering
Digital bid submission

Systems and Data Terms

EDI
System-to-system data exchange
MRP
Plans material requirements
ERP
Integrates whole organisation systems
Record-keeping
Audit trail evidence
Bill of materials (BOM)
Lists component parts

Incoterms Risk Ladder

EXW least seller risk, DDP most seller risk

EXW: buyer risk maxFOB/CIF: mid-point transferDDP: seller risk max

EOQ vs Reorder Point

EOQ

  • How much to order
  • Balances order and holding cost

ROP

  • When to order
  • Triggers at stock level

How much vs when

Inventory Method Picker

  1. Prioritise by spend valueABC analysis
  2. Automate reorder triggerReorder point
  3. Minimise total order costEOQ
  4. Cut waste and bufferJIT
  5. Check stock, no shutdownCycle counting

Inventory Control Methods

ABC analysis
Ranks stock by value
Reorder point (ROP)
Triggers new order
EOQ
Minimises total order cost
Cycle counting
Rolling partial stock check
JIT
Minimal buffer stock held
Vendor-managed inventory (VMI)
Supplier controls stock levels

FOB vs CIF

FOB

  • Seller loads vessel
  • Buyer insures onward

CIF

  • Seller loads vessel
  • Seller insures to port

Buyer vs seller insures

Incoterm Picker

  1. Buyer wants max controlEXW
  2. Sea freight, seller loadsFOB
  3. Seller insures to destinationCIF
  4. Seller bears max cost/riskDDP
  5. Any transport mode neededFCA or CPT

Stock Types and Costs

Safety stock
Buffer against demand spikes
Cycle stock
Normal operating inventory
Lead time
Order to delivery gap
Total cost of ownership
Full lifetime cost
Holding cost
Cost of storing stock

Warehousing and Logistics

FIFO
Oldest stock ships first
Cross-docking
No long-term storage
Kanban
Visual pull replenishment signal
Temperature-controlled storage
Preserves perishable quality
Expediting
Chases late deliveries

Incoterms 2020 Basics

EXW
Buyer takes all risk
FCA
Seller delivers to carrier
FOB
Seller loads named vessel
CIF
Seller insures to destination
DDP
Seller delivers, duty paid
CPT
Seller pays carriage, buyer risk

Common Traps

Purchasing vs procurement scope

Purchasing = task Procurement = whole cycle

Conformance vs performance spec

Conformance = exact match Performance = outcome only

QC vs QA timing

QC = after QA = throughout

Sole vs single sourcing

Sole = no alternative Single = chosen supplier

JIT vs safety stock

JIT = minimal buffer Safety stock = protection buffer

EXW vs DDP risk

EXW = buyer risk DDP = seller risk

Centralised vs decentralised control

Centralised = one team Decentralised = local teams

Last Minute

  1. 1.Memorise the five rights first
  2. 2.Cycle: need to review
  3. 3.Conformance = exact match spec
  4. 4.Performance = outcome, not process
  5. 5.70% pass mark per module
  6. 6.Five OR exams, all required
  7. 7.Power-interest: manage, satisfy, inform, monitor
  8. 8.P2P: requisition through to payment
  9. 9.Three-way match: PO, GRN, invoice
  10. 10.ABC: A items get tightest control
  11. 11.JIT means minimal buffer stock
  12. 12.EXW buyer risk; DDP seller risk
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