Operations Management

Executive Summary

Health care industry is considered to be changing at a very fast pace due to innovation and introduction of new processes and technology in the field. There is an increased need for highly skilled resources in terms of trained staff, nurses and doctors. Advancement in technology has also put increased pressure on the health care industry to train their staff accordingly so that they could provide treatments and service facilities according to the required standard and quality. Therefore it is very important to apply key concepts of operations management for efficient management of processes and functions in the hospitals. The main purpose of this report is to analyze the key concept of the operations management in detail. Additionally, different operations management theories will be explained in detail in relation to functions and processes of West London Mental Health NHS Trust. variety of issues faced by the Trust will be discussed for possible solutions and recommendation in the end.

Operations Management

Introduction

Operations management is the process related to conversion of inputs into desired outputs or services. It basically involves different type of resources for the management of functions and converting those resource into value added services as per customer requirements. Production management was related to the set of activities that are used in the production of products but when this concept is extended to the set of interrelated activities that result in value added services not tangible products the concept of production management becomes operations management. The major different between the activities of production management and operations management is that the former deals with the production and manufacturing of products while the latter deals with services. Operations Management can be defined as the management of the conversion process, which converts land, labor, capital, and management inputs into desired outputs of goods and services (Kumar & Suresh, 2008, pp. 269). The terminology also encompasses the designing and operating of systems in relation to manufacturing, transportation, supply and services.

Discussion

West London Mental Health NHS Trust is one of the leading mental health service provider in west London and caters to around 20,000 people in the area and serve population with 70,000 residents in it. Basic framework of operations management consist of planning, organizing and controlling. Planning is related to the identification of objectives and mission of organization to provide an overall direction. This step help in the decision making process of in relation organization future course of action. Planning is basically devised with the help of well structured policies and procedures (Kumar & Suresh, 2009, pp.8). In case of WLMH, the basic aim of this trust is to provide safe and effective services to the patient. They are focusing on providing excellent and high standard services to the patient depending upon the individual requirement of every patient. Additionally they are emphasizing on the concept of personalized services which will be unique to every patient depending upon his or her needs. It is also mentions in it strategic objectives that it will have variety of treatment ...