Indirect Purchasing Certification Program

Duration: 2 months
Live Sessions: 3
2 weeks apart (2 hours each)
Upcoming Cohorts:
September 10th, 2026 start date
November 3rd, 2026 start date
Standard Price: $999 USD
Early Registration: $899 USD
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Streamline indirect purchasing for greater value creation

This two-month online program equips buyers and purchasing managers with the practical skills, tools, and techniques required to manage indirect categories more effectively.

Participants learn how to improve stakeholder alignment, strengthen supplier selection and risk management, build better Statements of Work, validate supplier quotes, and identify cost reduction opportunities across indirect spend categories.

Course Curriculum

  • Module 1: Stakeholder alignment, spend segmentation, category objectives, KPIs, and Statements of Work
  • Module 2: Contracts, supplier evaluation, risk management, MRO, and corporate services best practices
  • Module 3: Capital projects, cost tools, strategic sourcing, workload prioritization, and AI for indirect purchasing
  • “The most valuable part of the course was learning how to effectively manage stakeholder interests and align them toward common goals. These insights will directly help me contribute more strategically in my role.”
    IT Buyer at a global motor vehicle manufacturer
  • “Learning how to build detailed cost tables, align supplier selection with business objectives, and effectively manage stakeholder needs really stood out. These practical frameworks help make procurement decisions more data-driven and aligned with company strategy.”
    Purchasing Coordinator at a billion-dollar automotive group
  • “The templates are very helpful to guide you through the process and document the steps taken.”
    Procurement Senior Manager at a global electronics and appliances group

Course Activities to Earn Certification

  1. Attend (3) 2-hour live virtual training sessions
  2. Complete activities on APD Learn online training platform
  3. Apply skills learned to real-world course project
    • Expected hours to complete course – 32 CE Credits

After completing the program participants have learned how to:

  • Conduct spend segmentation, determine leverage strategies, and increase leverage
  • Interview stakeholders to determine needs
  • Develop a Statement of Work that ensures supplier capabilities align with needs
  • Define indirect KPIs and develop savings and cost avoidance reporting methodologies
  • Review commonly used contract language and clauses
  • Engage stakeholders to develop supplier agreements
  • Evaluate the capabilities of potential suppliers
  • Assess and manage supplier risks
  • Build cost tables to identify savings opportunities and validate supplier quotes

Meet the Trainer

Mike Wynn is Vice President of Advanced Purchasing Dynamics (APD), a firm established in 2004 and committed to helping manufacturers create competitive advantage through the application of knowledge-based cost management and negotiations. 
 
Wynn leads the Purchasing Consulting practice for APD, where he ensures that our teams deliver strategic impact and significant costs savings to clients. He has been actively developing and improving APD’s AI-related training content since late 2023, and has published 20+ articles on practical AI applications for procurement professionals.

Interested in other APD Procurement Training topics? Download the full catalog here:

Questions about this course, group pricing, company-specific classes, or in-person training options?
Reach out to APD’s Director of Training, Denise Mattern, for guidance.
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