Operations Management
Effectively managing operations enables firms to gain a competitive advantage by creating cost leadership, quality superiority, flexible response to customer needs, and getting products and services to market quickly. Our mission is to equip 21st century managers with the ability and analytical skills to lead and manage complex and dynamic operating systems.
Our faculty is known for cutting-edge research on critical emerging operations and strategy issues. This research is reflected not only in the foundation core course, but also in the six advanced electives offered. We are a multidisciplinary group with expertise in mass customization, business process design, service operations, value chain management, environmental management, quality, distribution channel management, risk analysis, manufacturing systems design, and global operations strategy.
We consult and conduct research on real-world problems in a variety of industries and governmental agencies. These include banking, automobiles, telecommunications, electronics, machine tools, cosmetics, chemicals, pollution control, waste management, consumer goods, airlines, health care, steel, retailing, computers, utilities, and NASA.
We emphasize learning through experiential exercises, real-world cases, guest speakers, field visits, and hands-on field projects. We constantly stress the relationships between analytic and strategic perspectives.
Our business students envision themselves working in the fields of finance, accounting, marketing, information systems, product design, or human resources. All of these areas are closely involved with the production and distribution of goods and services, and the more managers know about the system that produces the firm’s product, the better they are able to design, market, finance, or manage the activities of the organization.
Working knowledge of today’s key operations issues provides the ability and skills to build successful careers and contribute to the firm in many fields. As firms restructure in response to global challenges, ample opportunities exist for managers in every field to excel by analyzing and improving business operations. For example, an operations consultant or manager would acquire the skills necessary to undertake business process improvements, total quality management initiatives, and customer service improvements. A financial analyst or management consultant would be in a better position to evaluate a firm’s strengths, weaknesses, and valuation by understanding how operations affect the firm’s competitive position and long-term cash flow. A marketing manager, who understands operations would be better positioned to take multiple, simultaneous product development projects from conception through delivery, on time and on budget. This would allow firms to bring products to market more quickly, cheaply, and with better quality. A chief information officer or logistics director who understands operations would be in a better position to design and implement state-of-the-art manufacturing and service delivery systems.
If you are interested in any of the IOMS specializations, please browse this site by clicking on the links to the right.
