Occupational Skills Standard 

Occupational Code: 24-08-08-02

Intelligent Procurement Manager

(2024 Edition)

Formulated by American Procurement and Supply Chain Certification Association

Intelligent Procurement Manager

International Occupational Skill Standards

(2024 Edition)

Explanation

In order to adapt to the development needs of intelligent procurement in the AI era, standardize the professional behavior of intelligent procurement practitioners, improve the comprehensive professional ability of practitioners, cultivate craftsmanship, and promote the healthy development of the intelligent procurement ecosystem, the International Procurement and Supply Chain Management Association (IPSCM), in collaboration with leading global enterprises and after extensive research and argumentation, has formulated the "International Occupational Skill Standards for Intelligent Procurement Managers (2024 Edition)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Standards") in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

1. The "Standards" are based on IPSCM's relevant occupational classifications and are strictly compiled in accordance with the international occupational skill standards compilation procedures. Guided by the concept of "oriented by occupational activities and centered on occupational skills", a set of scientific, systematic, and internationally advanced intelligent procurement occupational standards system has been formed. The "Standards" closely focus on the work practice of intelligent procurement, covering aspects such as intelligent analysis of procurement demand, intelligent selection of suppliers, intelligent contract management, intelligent optimization of procurement processes, and intelligent control of procurement risks, fully reflecting the professionalism, systematization and complexity of intelligent procurement work. The "Standards" provide a detailed and comprehensive description of the occupational activities of intelligent procurement practitioners and clearly stipulate the theoretical knowledge and professional skills that practitioners at each level should possess.

2. According to the "Standards", this occupation is divided into three levels:

Intelligent Procurement Specialist: Master the basic knowledge and skills of intelligent procurement, and under the guidance of superiors, use digital tools to carry out basic procurement work such as procurement demand analysis, supplier sourcing and inspection, contract review and execution, etc. Able to independently handle routine procurement business, discover and solve general problems, and possess a certain level of digital application and innovation awareness.

Intelligent Procurement Manager: Systematically master the theoretical knowledge of intelligent procurement, skillfully use digital tools to optimize the entire procurement process, formulate scientific procurement strategies, gain insight into potential risks, promote supplier collaboration, and drive the intelligent transformation of procurement. Possess strong capabilities in demand analysis, negotiation and decision-making, project management, and innovation and adaptability.

Chief Intelligent Procurement Officer: Profoundly understand cutting-edge procurement concepts, be proficient in digital technologies, possess a global perspective and strategic vision, coordinate internal and external resources, lead and promote the digital transformation of procurement, build an efficient and transparent procurement ecosystem, lead industry benchmarking practices, and navigate complex and ever-changing market environments. The helmsman of enterprise procurement work.
The three levels are distinct, with clear definitions of responsibilities, paving a clear path for the career development of intelligent procurement talents.

3. The "Standards" consist of three major parts: basic requirements, work requirements, and weights table:
The basic requirements clarify the scientific and technological literacy, professional ethics, physical and mental qualities, etc. that intelligent procurement practitioners should possess, with particular emphasis on the cultivation of key qualities such as digital capabilities, innovation awareness, communication and coordination, and responsibility.
The work requirements comprehensively refine the seven major occupational functions of intelligent procurement, namely demand analysis, supplier management, procurement strategy, process optimization, contract management, logistics quality control, and cost optimization. Each function is specified in terms of work tasks, skill requirements, and related knowledge. Among them, the assessment of the application of digital tools, the use of data analysis, and the application of innovative methods has been increased, highlighting the competency-based approach.
The weights table is competency-oriented and reasonably sets the assessment weights for theoretical knowledge and practical skills, and further refines the weight distribution for each skill, fully reflecting the scientific, advanced, and operability aspects.

4. The "Standards" were jointly formulated by IPSCM in collaboration with more than 30 global leading enterprises, condensing the cutting-edge concepts and practical experience of industry benchmarks such as Amazon, Walmart, and Alibaba, representing the highest standards in the field of intelligent procurement. During the formulation process, opinions and suggestions from various stakeholders were widely absorbed, large-scale market research, argumentation and evaluation, and repeated revisions were carried out, which took nearly two years to finalize, in order to ensure the scientific, advanced, and applicable nature of the "Standards".

5. The official release of the "Standards" marks the entry of the global intelligent procurement field into the era of standardization, filling the gap of international standards in this field and representing a milestone in the development history of intelligent procurement. The implementation of the "Standards" will effectively standardize the professional behavior of intelligent procurement practitioners, accelerate the construction of a high-quality talent team, build a scientific evaluation system for the intelligent procurement ecosystem, and align with the world. IPSCM will take this opportunity to join hands with all sectors of industry, academia, and research to build an open, collaborative, and innovation-led intelligent procurement talent ecosystem, help the digital and intelligent transformation of global procurement and supply chain management, and contribute greater strength to promoting high-quality economic development.

Intelligent Procurement Manager

International Occupational Skill Standards

(2024 Edition)

1 Occupational Overview

1.1 Occupation Title

Intelligent Procurement Manager

1.2 Occupational Code

24-08-08-01

1.3 Occupational Definition

Compound talents who use new-generation information technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, blockchain, and Internet of Things to engage in work such as procurement demand analysis, supplier management, procurement strategy optimization, procurement process reengineering, and procurement risk control, realizing the digital, intelligent and refined operation of procurement business.

1.4 Occupational Classification

According to skill levels and scope of responsibilities, this occupation is divided into three levels:

Intelligent Procurement Specialist

Intelligent Procurement Manager

Chief Intelligent Procurement Officer

1.5 Occupational Environment

Mainly indoor office environment with long computer usage time. Some positions require frequent business trips and cross-departmental communication and coordination with suppliers. Fast-paced work with certain work pressure.

1.6 Occupational Ability Characteristics

Digital application ability, analytical decision-making ability, communication and coordination ability, and innovation and resilience are the core occupational abilities of intelligent procurement managers. In addition, they need to possess qualities such as a global perspective, strategic thinking, risk awareness, and the courage to change.

1.7 General Education Level

Associate degree or above, with preference for majors related to intelligent procurement.

1.8 Reference Hours for Vocational Training

A blended training model combining online and offline. 120 hours for specialists, 120 hours for managers, and 80 hours for directors.

1.9 Occupational Skill Assessment Requirements

1.9.1 Application Conditions

Intelligent Procurement Specialist: Associate degree or above, or more than 1 year of procurement-related work experience.

Intelligent Procurement Manager: Obtained the specialist certificate and engaged in related work for 4 years; or bachelor's degree or above and engaged in related work for 2 years.

Chief Intelligent Procurement Officer: Obtained the manager certificate and engaged in related work for 4 years.

1.9.2 Assessment Methods

A comprehensive evaluation method combining theoretical knowledge examination and practical skill assessment is adopted. The theoretical exam uses a written test, with a duration of 10 minutes, 100 multiple-choice questions, covering the basic knowledge that practitioners should master. The practical assessment adopts methods such as scenario simulation and actual combat exercises, focusing on examining key skills such as the use of digital procurement platforms, demand analysis, supplier evaluation, procurement negotiation, and process optimization, with a duration of no less than 90 minutes. A score of 70 or above in the theoretical exam and 60 or above in the practical assessment is considered qualified.

1.9.3 Ratio of Invigilators and Assessors

The ratio of theoretical exam invigilators to candidates is not less than 1:15, with no less than 2 people per session. The ratio of practical assessment judges to candidates is 1:5, with no less than 3 people in odd numbers. There shall be no less than 5 senior review committee members in odd numbers.

1.9.4 Requirements for Assessment Venue and Equipment

The theoretical exam is conducted in a standard examination room with corresponding facilities. The practical assessment is conducted in an intelligent procurement training room equipped with digital office equipment, procurement software systems, IoT sensors, VR/AR devices, etc., supporting intelligent procurement scenario simulation.

2 Basic Requirements

2.1 Professional Ethics

2.1.1 Code of Professional Ethics

(1) Integrity and law-abiding. Strictly abide by laws, regulations and professional ethics, do not engage in commercial bribery, and treat suppliers fairly.

(2) Objectivity and impartiality. Carry out work with a neutral attitude and eliminate any form of discrimination. Strictly keep business information confidential and avoid conflicts of interest.

(3) Dedication and focus. Complete one's job duties with a high sense of responsibility and strive for excellence in all aspects of procurement. Learn new professional knowledge and bravely innovate and reform.

(4) Collaboration and efficiency. Strengthen upstream and downstream coordination and promote efficient internal and external collaboration. Value team building and leverage collective wisdom.

(5) Sustainable development. Integrate green and environmental protection and social responsibility concepts into the entire procurement process. Pay attention to suppliers' performance in environmental and labor aspects, and work with suppliers to build a sustainable supply chain ecosystem.

2.2 Basic Knowledge

2.2.1 Intelligent Procurement Knowledge System

(1) Basic principles of procurement management. Definition and development of procurement, its position and role in business operations, relationship with supply chain management, procurement organization and processes, procurement performance evaluation, etc.

(2) The connotation, characteristics and development trend of intelligent procurement. Application scenarios, typical cases, and development trends of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, blockchain, and Internet of Things in the procurement field.

(3) Digital procurement systems and platforms. Functions and applications of mainstream ERPs and e-procurement systems (such as Ariba, Coupa), models and development of B2B procurement platforms, new trends in mobile procurement, social procurement, etc.

(4) Procurement demand management. Demand analysis and forecasting methods, Material Requirements Planning (MRP) principles, inventory management and replenishment strategies, demand and procurement plan matching and optimization, etc.

(5) Supplier relationship management. Supplier sourcing and development, supplier evaluation and performance management, supplier classification and differentiated management, supplier collaborative development, supplier negotiation, contract management and risk management, etc.

(6) Procurement process optimization. Procurement business process analysis and continuous improvement, e-procurement process design, procurement system integration and data sharing, etc.

(7) Procurement quality control. Procurement quality management, supplier quality assurance, quality cost analysis, nonconforming product control, etc.

(8) Procurement logistics management. Procurement logistics demand analysis, logistics supplier selection, logistics mode optimization, intelligent logistics collaboration, green logistics, etc.

(9) Procurement cost management. Procurement cost composition analysis, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis, price analysis and control, cost reduction and efficiency improvement methods, etc.

(10) Procurement risk management. Identification, assessment and response to procurement risks, supply disruption management, supplier financial risk prevention and control, compliance and antitrust, etc.

2.2.2 Big Data Analytics

(1) Data mining. Data collection, cleaning, storage and management, exploratory analysis, statistical analysis and modeling, etc.

(2) Visualization and reporting. Data visualization design, BI business intelligence tool application, automatic generation of procurement reports, etc.

(3) Big data analysis tools. Applications of tools such as Python, R, SQL, Hive, Tableau, etc.

2.2.3 Artificial Intelligence

(1) Machine learning. Principles and applications of supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms.

(2) Natural language processing. Text mining, sentiment analysis, knowledge graphs and other technologies and applications.

(3) Computer vision. Image recognition, video analysis and other technologies and applications.

(4) Intelligent speech. Speech recognition, speech synthesis, intelligent dialogue and other technologies and applications.

2.2.4 Cloud Computing

(1) Cloud computing concepts, features and service models. IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, etc.

(2) Cloud procurement. Characteristics and applications of private cloud, public cloud, and hybrid cloud procurement systems.

(3) Cloud security. Cloud data protection, access control, auditing and other security mechanisms.

2.2.5 Blockchain

(1) The architecture, working principle and characteristics of blockchain. Hash algorithms, distributed ledgers, consensus mechanisms, smart contracts, etc.

(2) Classification of blockchains. Public chains, consortium chains and private chains.

(3) Blockchain application scenarios. Supply chain finance, supplier identity authentication, product traceability, etc.

2.2.6 Internet of Things

(1) System architecture of the Internet of Things. Perception layer, network layer, application layer.

(2) RFID. Basic principles, system composition and application of radio frequency identification in procurement.

(3) Sensor technology. Working principles and applications of temperature and humidity, pressure, photoelectric and other sensors.

(4) Wireless communication technology. Short-range communication protocols such as NB-IoT, LoRa, Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc.

(5) Edge computing. Edge gateway technology, local data processing, real-time response, etc.