Operations Management

Course Description

This unit introduces core operations management principles used to organise, control and improve business processes. Learners examine planning, capacity, quality, productivity, risk, health and safety, and the role of people and technology in effective operations.

Course Objectives

This unit introduces core operations management principles used to organise, control and improve business processes. Learners examine planning, capacity, quality, productivity, risk, health and safety, and the role of people and technology in effective operations.

Key Topics

1. LO1: Understand core operations management concepts.
2. LO2: Understand planning, quality and continuous improvement.
3. LO3: Understand operational risk, people and technology.
4. LO4: Be able to apply operations management tools to improve performance.

Course Outline

Learning Outcomes

1. LO1 Understand core operations management concepts.
2. 1.1 Explain the role of operations management in organisations.
3. 1.2 Describe basic process design and workflow concepts used in operations.
4. 1.3 Explain how capacity, productivity and utilisation are measured in operations.
5. LO2 Understand planning, quality and continuous improvement.
6. 2.1 Describe the purpose of forecasting and capacity planning in operations.
7. 2.2 Explain the importance of quality management and quality control.
8. 2.3 Assess the value of continuous improvement approaches in operations.
9. LO3 Understand operational risk, people and technology.
10. 3.1 Explain health, safety and risk considerations in operations management.
11. 3.2 Describe how automation and technology can improve operational performance.
12. 3.3 Explain the importance of people, skills and standard operating procedures in effective operations.
13. LO4 Be able to apply operations management tools to improve performance.
14. 4.1 Use basic operations management tools to review a business process.
15. 4.2 Identify causes of inefficiency or waste in an operation.
16. 4.3 Recommend actions to improve flow, quality or productivity.