OM 4601

Introduction to Operations Management

Class Introduction, Summary and

Intro to Operations

Todays Schedule

Introduce Myself
Introduce Yourself
Syllabus and Class Structure
Operations Intro and Video
Kristens with Operations Strategy

Introducing Myself

Joseph Sarkis
Ph.D. from SUNY Buffalo
Was in Texas now in Massachusetts
Professor Operations Management
Research Interests include Business and
Environment, MCDM, Operations Strategy,
Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Homepage: www.clarku.edu/~jsarkis

Introducing Yourself
Name
A Brief Background

Schooling
Work Experience
Concentration
General Interests

Fill out Information Sheet (if you havent

done so)

Syllabus and Class Structure

Reading and Case Material
P/OM Chase and Aquilano (2003)

Reading Packets in Bookstore.

4 HBS cases, 1 NACRA case, 2 HBS readings

Reserve readings.
One article (Deming).

Syllabus and Class Structure

Objective
To provide a introductory view into techniques and
methodologies for managing productive resources or an
organization.
A mix of qualitative and quantitative discussion and
presentation.

Syllabus and Class Structure

Grading and Assignments

1 Team Case Write-ups

1 Team Company Evaluation
1 Midterm Exam
Class Preparation and Participation

- 25%
- 30%
- 25%
- 20%

Attendance in Class is required

Absences will be detrimental to your standing in this
class.

Syllabus and Class Structure

Teams and Team Projects
Group Work is large percentage of grade
Select by Second Half of Class hand in sheet with
names.
Leftovers assigned by me.
Cases will be assigned after I have group names.
End of Semester...there are peer evaluations.

Syllabus and Class Structure

Cases

Help to learn from each other and real world

Expect that you be prepared each week to discuss case
Random calls will be made
Be considerate to your fellow students (especially when
you strongly disagree)
Try to discuss cases as a group outside of class (not just
for assigned case write-ups).

Syllabus and Class Structure

Case Write-ups
Need to hand in a 1-2 page executive summary of your
case analysis for every class with case
Have a how to do cases reading for OM case analysis.
Size of detailed writeup should be (at most) 8 single
spaced pages and any appendices.
To help in your case writeups and discussion I will
provide you with some leading questions.

Syllabus and Class Structure

Case Presentations
For those assigned with the days detailed case a case
presentation is required (if more than 4 groups, no case
presentation, can be informal).
Summarize major issues
Your Recommendations
Try to keep it to under 10 transparencies.

Syllabus and Class Structure

Participation
You need to show up for class
You should be involved in discussion, this is an
important way to learn
Talking for the sake of talking without much
contribution to the case is not a good way to get
participation credit
Insightful comments are encouraged.
Part of participation credit is from executive summary.
Hand in at beginning of class. Credit/No Credit for
exec summaries are given.

Syllabus and Course Structure

Company Evaluation
On the final day of class
10-15 page report on a company evaluation.
presentation on your findings/recommendations

Need to contact companies

Write letter for permission/introduction
Do a little research on Company
Tour Company/Interview People
Write thank you letter
Be prepared call back for more info if needed.
Ill be your consultant

Syllabus and Course Structure

Company Evaluation
See listing of questions in Syllabus
Having questions developed beforehand with an outline of your
report may be beneficial in making your time at the company
efficient and effective.

Syllabus and Course Structure

Individual Assignments and Executive Summaries
students need to hand in executive summary of each
case
exec summary should include:
a brief synopsis of the case,
the major issues involved,
and your recommendations.

All Exec Summaries are due at beginning of class!

Introduction to Operations
What is Operations Management?
Operations management (OM) is defined as the design,
operation, and improvement of the systems that create and
deliver the firms primary products and services.

What is a Production System?

Defined
A production system is defined as a user of resources to transform
inputs into some desired outputs. Goods and Services are outputs.
What are the inputs, outputs, transformation process of Kristens?

Feedback mechanisms?
Is Kristens a service or good output?

Introduction to Operations
Video What are some of the major topics
of Operations Management?
How much different is services than
manufacturing?

Operations Strategy
Strategy Process
Customer Needs

Corporate Strategy

Operations Strategy

Decisions on Processes
and Infrastructure

Steps in Developing a
Manufacturing Strategy
1. Segment the market according to the product
group.
2. Identify product requirements, demand
patterns, and profit margins of each group.
3. Determine order qualifiers and winners for
each group.
4. Convert order winners into specific
performance requirements.

Order Qualifiers and Winners

Order qualifiers?
They are the basic criteria that permit the firms
products to be considered as candidates for purchase
by customers.
Order winners?
They are the criteria that differentiates the products
and services of one firm from another.

Exhibit 5.10

Low
Volume,
One of a
Kind
I.
Job
Shop
II.
Batch
III.
Assembly
Line
IV.
Continuous
Flow

Few
High
Multiple
Major
Volume,
Products, Products,
High
Low
Higher StandardVolume Volume
ization
Flexibility (High)
Unit Cost (High)

Commercial
Printer
French Restaurant
Heavy
Equipment
Coffee Shop
Automobile
Assembly
Burger King
Sugar
Refinery

Flexibility (Low)
Unit Cost (Low)

Tradeoffs of Performance Metrics

Cost
Flexibility

Delivery
Quality