MANAGEMENT

Operations Management

Table of Contents

Introduction2

Discussion2

Operations Management2

Designs in Operations Management4

Process design4

Layout Designs5

Macro level6

Micro level6

Product design7

Competitive Edge8

Goods and Services Designs9

Classification of services9

Competitive Edge10

Sources of Quality Goods and Services10

a.Market-Pull10

b.Technology-Push11

Conclusion11

Operations Management

Introduction

Operations management is devoted to both investigation and the execution of all these actions have a tendency to produce better value additional through the forecasting, planning and managing in the manufacturing of both services and goods, all intended at growing excellence, output, enhanced customer contentment and condensed costs. It also includes system designs without which the whole process of operations management cannot be carried out. The most important designs are of process designs, layout designs and products and services designs. The significance of each design and specifically the importance of products and service designs are discussed in this paper along with the competitive advantage it gives to the business organization.

Discussion

Operations Management

Operations management refers to the control and direction of the processes in which the inputs are altered into the services and products. Broadly speaking, operations management covers all functional areas of management and it is because the presence of processes in every business activity. On the other hand, when interpreted narrowly, operations management indicates towards specific departments. The operation area manages the procedure that develops the primary products or services for outside customers but is also involved with the different areas of the firm (Krajewski and Ritzman 2001, p. 6). Operations management is the collection of activities for developing, implementing and enhancing the processes which converts the assets inputs into output services and goods. The activities of operations management may suitably be applied into any area of an organization and may also aim to any level of attempt from a particular step in a job progression to the complete organizational activity (Knod, Jr. and Schonberger 2001, p. 9).

Operations managements also refers to the information, understanding and systems covering process designs, layout, planning, production, quality management, inventory control, workforce and capacity planning management. It focuses the effectiveness and efficiency of operations in the development and support of strategic goals. It is also concerned with the operation and designs of the systems to provide services and goods. The subject area of operations management has also contributed as a group of well-developed and recognized tools, concepts and techniques and many of them have been utilized in service settings and other particularly created for service organizations.

Operations management is generally a central and crucial function within any organization because:

a.It is an element of an organization which produces the goods or/and distributes the services to the customers (Schroeder, 1989).

b.It accounts about the 70 percent manpower of an organization, major part of the expenditure of organization and almost 80 percent of the complete assets of the company (Hill, 1983).

c.The efficient and effective management of the operation is crucial to the achievement of an organization with the development and support of a competitive benefit (Hill, 1985).

Designs in Operations Management

Operation management deals with the management and designs of products, services, and its supply chains. There are many factors which affects the management and ...