Course Overview
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles and practices of operations management in both manufacturing and service environments. Students will examine how organizations design, plan, and control production systems to deliver value to customers efficiently and effectively. Topics include process design, capacity planning, inventory management, supply chain fundamentals, quality management, lean operations, and demand forecasting. Students will apply quantitative and analytical tools to solve common operations problems and make informed management decisions.
Learning Outcomes
•Describe the role of operations management in organizational strategy and competitive advantage.
•Analyze and design processes using flowcharts, capacity analysis, and performance metrics.
•Apply demand forecasting techniques including moving averages, exponential smoothing, and regression.
•Develop inventory management solutions using EOQ, safety stock, and reorder point models.
•Evaluate supply chain design and logistics strategies for cost and efficiency optimization.
•Apply quality management tools including control charts, Six Sigma DMAIC, and process capability.
•Implement lean principles and waste reduction strategies in operational processes.
Weekly Schedule & Assignments
Week Topic Assignment Guide / Instructions
Week 1 Introduction to Operations Management
OM in the Real World Analysis
Select a well-known company (manufacturing or service). Identify and describe five key operations management decisions the company makes. Write a 2-page analysis connecting those decisions to competitive strategy.
Week 2 Operations Strategy & Competitiveness
Operations Strategy Alignment Paper
Using a provided company profile, assess alignment between the company’s competitive priorities (cost, quality, flexibility, speed) and its operational capabilities. Write a 2-page strategy alignment memo with recommendations.
Week 3 Process Design & Analysis Process
Flowchart & Analysis
Map a service or manufacturing process of your choice with at least 10 steps using a process flowchart. Identify bottlenecks, non-value-added steps, and improvement opportunities. Submit the flowchart and a 1-page analysis.
Week 4 Capacity Planning Capacity Analysis Exercise
Using provided production data, calculate current capacity utilization and identify the bottleneck operation. Determine capacity requirements for a 20% demand increase. Submit calculations and a 2-page capacity plan with recommendations.
Week 5 Demand Forecasting
Forecasting Methods Comparison
Apply three forecasting methods (3-month moving average, weighted moving average, exponential smoothing α=0.3) to the provided 12-month demand data. Calculate MAD and MSE for each method. Recommend the best method in a 1-page memo.
Week 6 Inventory Management I: EOQ & ROP
EOQ & Reorder Point Calculation
Using provided demand, ordering cost, and holding cost data, calculate EOQ, ROP, and safety stock for three products. Compare total annual inventory cost under EOQ vs. current practice. Submit a solution spreadsheet and 1-page summary.
Week 7 Inventory Management II: MRP & ERP
MRP Calculation Exercise
Complete a Material Requirements Planning calculation for a two-level product structure using provided BOM, master production schedule, and inventory records. Submit the completed MRP table and a 1-page explanation of the MRP logic.
Week 8 Supply Chain Management Fundamentals
Supply Chain Design Analysis
Map the supply chain for a selected product (e.g., a smartphone or car). Identify key suppliers, distributors, and logistics flows. Analyze one supply chain risk and propose a mitigation strategy. Write a 2-page supply chain analysis.
Week 9 Location & Layout Planning
Facility Layout Design
Using the provided departmental data and adjacency requirements, design an improved facility layout using the systematic layout planning process. Submit a scaled layout diagram and a 1-page justification of your design decisions.
Week 10 Quality Management & Six Sigma
Quality Control Chart Analysis
Using the provided production data, construct X-bar and R control charts in Excel. Determine if the process is in statistical control. Identify any out-of-control signals and write a 1-page corrective action recommendation.
Week 11 Lean Operations & Waste Elimination
Lean Value Stream Map
Create a current-state Value Stream Map for the provided manufacturing or service scenario. Identify seven types of waste present. Design a future-state VSM with three specific lean improvements. Submit both maps with a 1-page improvement plan.
Week 12 Project Scheduling: CPM & PERT
PERT/CPM Network Analysis
For the provided 12-activity project, draw the network diagram, calculate the critical path, and compute PERT expected times and variances. Determine the probability of completing the project within 30 days. Submit work and a 1-page summary.
Week 13 Service Operations Management
Service Blueprint & Waiting Line Analysis
Create a service blueprint for a restaurant or retail service. Separately, apply waiting line (queuing) formulas to provided arrival and service rate data to find average wait time and server utilization. Write a 2-page improvement recommendation.
Week 14 Sustainability in Operations
Green Operations Assessment
Evaluate a company’s sustainability practices across the operations value chain (sourcing, production, distribution, end-of-life). Identify two areas for improvement and propose specific initiatives. Write a 2-page green operations assessment.
Week 15 Capstone: Operations Analysis
Final Operations Management Case Study
Analyze the provided comprehensive operations case study. Apply at least four OM tools or concepts covered in the course. Present findings in a 5-page analysis report with an executive summary, tool applications, and strategic recommendations.
