Systems and Operations Management
This option helps students to develop the skills required to manage the operations of businesses that produce goods or render service. This program focuses on developing skills for problem solving, critical thinking, communication, and the use of constantly changing technology. These skills are needed to deal with a variety of decisions made by managers in manufacturing, service, and government organizations. This encompasses strategic long-range decisions (such as product, service and process design, facility location and layout, and job design) as well as operational decisions (such as project management, operations planning and scheduling, quality assurance, purchasing and inventory).
Operations management is a growing and rapidly evolving area of employment being shaped by international competition. If resources, people, money, machinery, facilities, material and information-are to be used wisely, operations management personnel must be familiar with computer technology, quantitative methods, and planning and problem-solving techniques used in analyzing business systems. SOM is the study of production and inventory control concepts of forecasting, master scheduling, inventory models, material requirements planning, just-in-time production, and total quality management techniques for quality and productivity. Students learn techniques applicable to both production environments and to service providing organizations. These techniques result in effective and efficient use of critical resources, including people, money, materials and information. Operations management personnel must also have computer and analytical skills, keep abreast of current technology in their organizations. In addition, they need excellent communication skills to work with everyone from those on the assembly line to those in top management.
Course Catalog ~ Systems and Operations Management
Degree Planners
Last Reviewed: October 13, 2009
