Next Level Purchasing Association (NLPA)

Introduction of Next Level Purchasing Association NLPA

The Next Level Purchasing Association (NLPA) is a membership and certification organization serving the procurement profession. Next Level Purchasing Association and NLPA are brands owned by Next Level Purchasing, LLC. The company is dedicated to procurement and supply chain professionals and the motto of Next Level Purchasing, LLC is Helping Purchasers Become Indispensable”. SPSM®, NLPA, Senior Professional in Supply Management®, SPSM®, SPSM2®, Strategic Procurement & Supply Management Body of Knowledge®, SPSM-BOK® are registered trademark of Next Level Purchasing, LLC. Other trademarks include SPSM3®, SPSM-BOK Mastery Model®, Procurement Funnel®, Leading-Edge Supply Management®. The current management is headed by Vivek Shally who President of Next Level Purchasing Association is, LLC.

History of NLPA

The origins of the NLPA began in 2000, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA by Charles Dominick and was incorporated as the business on January 1, 2001, under its original corporate name Next Level Purchasing, Inc.

Next Level Purchasing, Inc. steadily built a portfolio of online courses for procurement professionals. Some of the earliest courses developed were “Microsoft Excel For Purchasing Professionals,” “Supply Management Contract Writing,” “Microsoft Excel For Purchasing Professionals,” “14 Purchasing Best Practices,” and “Savings Strategy Development.” The organization offered online courses of two different lengths: “full-length courses” which were each comprised of eight lessons, and “Express Courses” which were each comprised of one lesson. Each lesson involves approximately one hour to complete.

In 2003, Next Level Purchasing, Inc. debuted its free bi-weekly email newsletter, PurchTips. PurchTips became well-known throughout the procurement profession for its short articles that were extremely action-oriented and beneficial. The NLPA also launched the full-length course, “Mastering Purchasing Fundamentals.”

By 2004, Next Level Purchasing, Inc. had developed six online courses that were extremely popular with customers. Many customers expressed that completing those courses was so challenging and beneficial that they felt that their accomplishments were worthy of a certification. In response, Next Level Purchasing, Inc. introduced on July 1, 2004 the Senior Professional in Supply Management (SPSM) Certification with its associated multi-version exam and application process. Next Level Purchasing, Inc. offered the SPSM Certification Program, a single-price program which provided certification candidates with all of the resources they would require to become certified: access to six specific online courses, one opportunity to take the SPSM Exam, and a pre-paid certification application.

In 2005, Next Level Purchasing, Inc. was one of the first procurement services companies to launch a blog, right around the same time the similar blog, Spend Matters , was launched. In 2006, Next Level Purchasing, Inc. became the first company to launch a podcast series, entitled The Purchasing & Supply Management Podcast Series.

With the SPSM Certification gaining recognition and Next Level Purchasing, Inc. utilizing the latest technology to distribute its educational content, the organization began winning awards. One of the awards won during this time was the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Innovative Business of the Year” award in 2006. This is also the time that Next Level Purchasing, Inc. began a multi-year run of being named to the Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100 – a list of the top service providers in the supply chain space.

In 2007, Next Level Purchasing, Inc. offered an alternate version of the SPSM Certification Program called the SPSM Certification & Enhanced Results Program. In addition to the deliverables of the SPSM Certification Program, the SPSM Certification & Enhanced Results Program also included an eBook, a one-on-one phone consultation with an instructor, and multimedia clips pre-loaded onto an iPod Touch – another ground-breaking procurement certification industry innovation. Later, an iPad was used instead of an iPod, continuing the organization’s propensity to be on the leading edge of incorporating the latest cultural advances in procurement education. Between 2004 and the end of 2007, the NLPA had added two new full-length courses, “Powerful Negotiation For Successful Buying” and “Expert Purchasing Management.” In this period BBB gave A+ rating to Next Level Purchasing

In 2008, Next Level Purchasing, Inc. launched two new full-length courses, “Basics of Smart International Procurement” and “Executing A Global Sourcing Strategy.” The organization also launched its YouTube channel.

In 2009, Next Level Purchasing, Inc. began expanding its certification offerings by offering multiple levels of certification for increasingly advanced studies. With the original SPSM Certification as a prerequisite, the next certification offerings became the SPSM2 Certification introduced on July 1, 2009, and the SPSM3 Certification introduced on July 1, 2012.

In 2010, Next Level Purchasing, Inc. began adding The Lifetime Purchasing Skills Retention Package at no additional charge to enrollments in its full-length courses. The Lifetime Purchasing Skills Retention Package is comprised of three components: downloadable Quick Reference Guides, monthly email refreshers on the course’s content, and quarterly live webinars. In this year, the organization also launched two new full-length courses, “Finance For Strategic Procurement, Part I” and “Finance For Strategic Procurement, Part II.” Next Level Purchasing, Inc. also made dramatic updates to its “Microsoft Project For Purchasing Professionals” course and renamed it “Professional Purchasing Project Management” to reflect the content now addressing all aspects of project management, not just the use of the software.

In 2011, Next Level Purchasing, Inc. released its first annual report on salaries in the purchasing and supply management profession. This report went beyond any purchasing salary study ever released and subsequent editions always introduce new metrics to retain Next Level Purchasing’s salary report as the gold standard in the profession.

On April 4, 2011, the organization began referring to itself as the Next Level Purchasing Association to reflect a major addition to its product offering. This offering utilized technology to replicate the deliverables offered by traditional associations, just in a digital world and for free. The deliverables – all accessed via the organization’s website using a member’s login credentials – included, but were not limited to, the following:

• An online networking area, designed in the style of the then-cutting-edge social media applications, such as Facebook and LinkedIn
• A monthly digital magazine, entitled Leading-Edge Supply Management
• Members-only webinars conducted approximately 10 times per year
• Access to a short online course
• Reports

All subscriptions to PurchTips were converted to a free basic membership in the NLPA and a free Basic Membership became required for new subscribers to receive PurchTips. In addition to the Basic Membership, the NLPA began offering low-cost Premium Memberships that included even more educational benefits.

Also in 2011, the NLPA won the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award For Marketplace Ethics. By this time, the NLPA was offering five Express Courses: “Managing Supplier Performance,” “Negotiation No-No’s,” “15 Rules For Ethical Supplier Interaction,” “Secrets of Painless Services Contracting, Part I” and “Secrets of Painless Services Contracting, Part II.”

In 2012, NLPA founder Charles Dominick continued to bring positive attention to the organization through the publication of a book that he had co-authored with Dr. Soheila Lunney. The book was entitled The Procurement Game Plan: Winning Techniques For Supply Management Professionals. The book was popular due to its value, action-oriented material, and fun-to-read writing style. This was also the year the NLPA Library was created. The NLPA Library is accessed by logging into the members’ area of the NLPA website. It consists of a variety of procurement templates, transcripts of interviews with procurement thought leaders, slide decks, and archived webinars. The organization launched two new full-length online course, “Profitable Inventory Management and Control” and “Improving Quality in the Supply Chain” in addition to three new Express Courses: “Increasing Your Personal Productivity, Part I,” “Increasing Your Personal Productivity, Part II,” and “Managing and Preventing Backdoor Selling.”

In 2013, the NLPA began holding conferences. The NLPA set itself apart in the procurement profession by having themed conferences and integrating such themes into virtually every aspect of the events: presentation titles, facilities, activities, décor, keynote speakers, and the like. The 2013 theme was “Make Procurement Rock.” It was held in Pittsburgh at the Sheraton Station Square with the networking event at the Hard Rock Café – Pittsburgh.

Also in 2013, the NLPA launched eight new Express Courses: “How To Plan For Outsourcing Success,” “7 Critical Steps For Effective Supplier Selection,” “Procurement KPI’s & Business Acumen, Part I,” “Procurement KPI’s & Business Acumen, Part II,” “Procurement KPI’s & Business Acumen, Part III,” “Procurement KPI’s & Business Acumen, Part IV,” “Tips For Regret-Free Supplier Communication,” and “How To Take Charge of Your Procurement Career.”

In 2014, the NLPA held its second conference in Pittsburgh. The theme was “Where Procurement MVP’s Are Made.” It was held at the Renaissance Hotel and Heinz Field. That same year, the NLPA began referring to its collection of educational materials and documented best practices as the Strategic Procurement & Supply Management Body of Knowledge, or SPSM-BOK for short. The NLPA described the SPSM-BOK as a framework for the activities that procurement departments do as they become more advanced and the skills needed to support those activities. A component of that framework is the SPSM-BOK Mastery Model, which divides procurement activities into four levels and draws an association between the levels and the NLPA’s certifications. Those levels are each comprised of four to six competencies. Also in 2014, the NLPA launched a new full-length course – “Exemplary Supply Chain Social Responsibility ” – and six new Express Courses: “Supplier Development Program Basics, Part I,” “Supplier Development Program Basics, Part II,” “Excel Basics For Buyers,” “Adding Procurement Value To Marketing Spend,” “Championship-Caliber Negotiation Preparation,” and “Creative Negotiation For Buyers.”

In 2015, the NLPA launched a new full-length course – “Strategic Supplier Diversity Best Practices” – and four new Express Courses: “How To Present A Case For Better Procurement,” “Making The Right Negotiation First Impression,” “Supply Market Intelligence 101,” and “Next Generation Procurement Talent Management.”

In 2016, the NLPA held its third conference in Pittsburgh. The theme was “Make Your Mark in Procurement History.” The event was held at the Heinz History Center. On November 16, 2016, founder Charles Dominick sold 100% of his ownership in the organization to an affiliate of Eli Global, the parent company of the Certitrek Group. Since that time, a newly-created subsidiary of the Certitrek Group – Next Level Purchasing, LLC – has operated the NLPA.

Post the acquisition, Next Level Purchasing, LLC has expanded its presence in 45 countries in one year’s time. NLPA brings together 280,000 purchasing professionals from across the world to form the world’s largest procurement association. Many Fortune 500 companies, from over 100 countries throughout North America, South America, the Carribean, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia have procured best practices from Next Level Purchasing, LLC.

NLPA Certification Programs

The NLPA offers the Senior Professional in Supply Management (SPSM) Family of Certifications. These certifications are their requirements are:

• SPSM Certification – The SPSM Certification is earned by passing the six online courses of the SPSM Certification Program, passing the SPSM Exam and submitting an application. There are no prerequisites to earning the SPSM Certification.
• SPSM2 Certification – The SPSM Certification is a prerequisite to earning the SPSM2 Certification. The SPSM2 Certification is earned by passing the four online courses of the SPSM2 Certification Program, passing the SPSM2 Exam and submitting an application.
• SPSM3 Certification – The SPSM and SPSM2 Certifications are prerequisites to earning the SPSM3 Certification. The SPSM3 Certification is earned by passing the four online courses of the SPSM3 Certification Program, passing the SPSM3 Exam and submitting an application.

NLPA Achievements

The NLPA has been awarded the following distinctions:

1. Named 2006 Innovative Business of the Year by the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce
2. Awarded the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics by the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania
3. Named to the Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100 numerous times

Publications

The NLPA published Leading-Edge Supply Management magazine monthly from April 2011 to March 2017.

Education

The NLPA’s primary educational offering – for both SPSM Certification candidates and those who enroll separately from certification pursuits – are its online courses. Those online courses are offered in two different lengths: “full-length courses” which were each comprised of eight lessons, and “Express Courses” which were each comprised of one lesson. Each lesson involves approximately one hour to complete.

The full-length courses include:

• Mastering Purchasing Fundamentals
• Microsoft Excel For Purchasing Professionals
• Supply Management Contract Writing
• Powerful Negotiation For Successful Buying
• 14 Purchasing Best Practices
• Savings Strategy Development
• Expert Purchasing Management
• Professional Purchasing Project Management
• Basics of Smart International Procurement
• Executing A Global Sourcing Strategy
• Finance For Strategic Procurement, Part I
• Finance For Strategic Procurement, Part II
• Profitable Inventory Management & Control
• Improving Quality in the Supply Chain
• Exemplary Supply Chain Social Responsibility
• Strategic Supplier Diversity Best Practices

The Express Courses include:

• Managing Supplier Performance
• Negotiation No-No’s
• 15 Rules For Ethical Supplier Interaction
• Secrets of Painless Services Contracting, Part I
• Secrets of Painless Services Contracting, Part II
• Increasing Your Personal Productivity, Part I
• Increasing Your Personal Productivity, Part II
• Managing and Preventing Backdoor Selling
• How To Plan For Outsourcing Success
• 7 Critical Steps For Effective Supplier Selection
• Procurement KPI’s & Business Acumen, Part I
• Procurement KPI’s & Business Acumen, Part II
• Procurement KPI’s & Business Acumen, Part III
• Procurement KPI’s & Business Acumen, Part IV
• Tips For Regret-Free Supplier Communication
• How To Take Charge of Your Procurement Career
• Supplier Development Program Basics, Part I
• Supplier Development Program Basics, Part II
• Excel Basics For Buyers
• Adding Procurement Value To Marketing Spend
• Championship-Caliber Negotiation Preparation
• Creative Negotiation For Buyers
• How To Present A Case For Better Procurement
• Making The Right Negotiation First Impression
• Supply Market Intelligence 101
• Next Generation Procurement Talent Management

Products & Services

The NLPA offers the following products and services:

• Online courses
• The SPSM Certification Program: A single-price program that provides access to all of the resources one needs to earn the SPSM Certification, including six online courses, one attempt at taking the SPSM Exam, and a pre-paid certification application. An Enhanced Results version of this program is available. The Enhanced Results program includes additional resources such as a phone consultation with an instructor and an iPad preloaded with dozens of multi-media clips which provides additional educational details on the material covered in the program.
• The SPSM2 Certification Program: A single-price program that provides access for eligible individuals to all of the resources one needs to earn the SPSM2 Certification, including four online courses, one attempt at taking the SPSM2 Exam, and a pre-paid certification application. An Enhanced Results version of this program is available. The Enhanced Results program includes additional resources such as a phone consultation with an instructor and an iPad preloaded with dozens of multi-media clips which provides additional educational details on the material covered in the program.
• The SPSM3 Certification Program: A single-price program that provides access for eligible individuals to all of the resources one needs to earn the SPSM3 Certification, including four online courses, one attempt at taking the SPSM3 Exam, and a pre-paid certification application. An Enhanced Results version of this program is available. The Enhanced Results program includes additional resources such as a phone consultation with an instructor and an iPad preloaded with dozens of multi-media clips which provides additional educational details on the material covered in the program.
• The PASS Program: PASS is short for “Purchasing’s Assessment of Skills for Success.” The PASS Program is a purchasing skills assessment available to qualified organizations. It involves each member of the organization’s purchasing team answering 63 multiple choice questions online. From that input, the NLPA can generate several reports to measure each individual’s proficiency in nine competencies, benchmark the organization against other organizations who have participated in the PASS Program, and present four recommended options for closing the organization’s skill gaps.
• On-Site Training

Principles & Standards

The NLPA has developed a number of procurement models since its inception. These procurement models were designed to help procurement professionals apply world-class principles, adhere to professional standards, focus on objectives, communicate strategies more effectively, and succeed in areas once considered overly complicated.

The NLPA’s procurement models include:

• The Dominick Formula (established 2006) - The Dominick Formula is a procurement model that provides a way to score prices for comparison in a multiple criteria supplier scorecard. The Dominick Formula is built on this principle: the penalty to a supplier’s pricing score should be proportionate to the degree that its price varies from the Lowest Qualified Bid.
• The Procurement Funnel (established 2012) - The Procurement Funnel is a procurement model that graphically represents how various factors influence the actual cost savings an organization can realize on its “bottom line.” It is designed to help procurement leaders focus on the critical factors and metrics that can help a procurement team reach its cost savings potential.
• The 25 New Rights of Purchasing (established 2013) – Decades ago, purchasing professionals were taught the "5 Rights of Purchasing" - principles describing ideal interactions with suppliers. Purchasing was much less sophisticated then, as there is way more required for ideal interactions with suppliers today. Therefore, the NLPA developed 25 “rights” that set the standard for a perfect procurement transaction/relationship.
• The Dominick Matrix (established 2013) - The Dominick Matrix is a procurement model that guides a procurement professional to use one of four strategies for working with a supplier. The strategy chosen will depend on two factors: the supplier’s materiality to one’s business and the supplier’s sophistication level. Materiality ranges from tactical to strategic. Sophistication level ranges from unsophisticated to sophisticated.
• SPSM-BOK Mastery Model (established 2014) - The Strategic Procurement & Supply Management Body of Knowledge® (SPSM-BOK®) is a collection of authoritative educational materials and documented best practices. Together, these materials represent the core skills and knowledge, referred to as competencies, required for excellence in the procurement profession. The SPSM-BOK® Mastery Model is a four-level roadmap for developing those competencies.
• The Continuous Strategic Supplier Evaluation Cycle (established 2015) - Strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management should be – but often isn’t – thought of as a cycle. The Continuous Strategic Supplier Evaluation Cycle is a procurement model that illustrates the various stages in this cycle.
• Dominick’s Sourcing See-Saw (established 2015) - Rarely does a buyer and supplier have equal leverage in a sourcing project or negotiation. Leverage is largely dictated by supply market conditions. Dominick’s Sourcing See-Saw is a procurement model that helps a procurement professional more simply assess where the balance of power lies in a sourcing project.

Externel Links

Official Website

References

This article "Next Level Purchasing Association (NLPA)" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Next Level Purchasing Association (NLPA). Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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