Operations Management
Assembled by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhDOperations management focuses on carefully managing the processes to produce and distribute products and services. Usually, small businesses don't talk about "operations management", but they carry out the activities that management schools typically associate with the phrase "operations management." Major, overall activities often include product creation, development, production and distribution. (These activities are also associated with Product and Service Management. However product management is usually in regard to one or more closely related product -- that is, a product line. Operations management is in regard to all operations within the organization.) Related activities include managing purchases, inventory control, quality control, storage, logistics and evaluations. A great deal of focus is on efficiency and effectiveness of processes. Therefore, operations management often includes substantial measurement and analysis of internal processes. Ultimately, the nature of how operations management is carried out in an organization depends very much on the nature of products or services in the organization, for example, retail, manufacturing, wholesale, etc.
Sections of This Topic Include:
Purchasing
Control and Coordinating Function of
Management
Product and Service Management
Quality Management
Inventory Management
Logistics and Transportation Management
Facilities Management
Configuration Management
Distribution Channels
Procurement (Purchasing) Practices
This topic reviews guidelines for buying various materials from suppliers and vendors -- materials, including computers, services from lawyers, insurance, etc.Procurement (Purchasing) Practices
Management Control and Coordinating Function
Management control and coordination includes a broad range of activities to ensure that organizational goals are consistently being met in an effective and efficient fashion.Control Function of Management (includes major activities to ensure goals are being met)
Product and Service Management
As noted above, the major activities involved in product and service management are similar to those in operations management. However, operations management is focused on the operations of the entire organization, rather than managing a product or service.Product/Service Mgmt (product creation, development, production and distribution and sales)
Quality Management
Quality management is crucial to effective operations management, particularly continuous improvement. More recent advancements in quality, such as benchmarking and Total Quality Management, have resulted in advancements to operations management as well.Quality Management (especially continuous improvement, benchmarking and re-engineering)
Inventory Management
Costs can be substantial to store and move inventory. Innovative methods, such as Just-in-Time inventory control, can save costs and move products and services to customers more quickly.
Basics About Inventory Control and Management
Buying and Inventory SystemModels for Inventory Control Association for Operations Management
Supply Chain Management
ABCs of Supply Chain ManagementInstitute for Supply Chain Management
Supply Chain Management
General Resources About Inventory Control and Management
American Production and Inventory Control SocietyCenter for Inventory Management
Software Packages
You can often get a software package that will help you manage your inventory. Usually, these packages are primarily for accounting. SeeAccounting Software
Logistics and Transportation Management
Logistics is focused on the flow of materials and goods from suppliers, through the organization and to the customers, with priority on efficiency and cost effectiveness.business relocation checklist
more business relocation lists
Want to outsource logistics? Here's what you should know
General Resources About Logistics and Transportation
list of logistics linksanother extensive list of logistics and transportation links
Logistics Glossary
Also see:
Telecommuting (working from home)Facilities Management
Effective operations management depnds a great deal on effective management of facilities, such as buildings, computer systems, signage, lighting, etc.Facilities Management (managing facilities, offices, buildings, signage, lights, etc.)
Configuration Management
It's important to track the various versions of products and services. Consider the various versions of software that continually are produced, each with its own version number. Tracking these versions is configuration management.Configuration Management
Distribution Channels
The means of distribution depend very much on the nature of the product or service.Distribution
(NOTE: The major functions of operations management are all referenced from above.)
General Resources
Institute for Operations ManagementOperations Management Center (lots of links and resources)
For the Category of Operations Management:
Related Library Topics
Recommended Books
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