Learning Outcomes

After completing the module the student should be able to:

1 Evaluate problems in operations and identify approaches to overcoming them.

2 Critically evaluate operating plans and identify areas for improvement.

3 Justify, implement and evaluate changes to operations in line with modern approaches.

4 Develop outline plans for investment in new capacity, including location and layout.

5 Evaluate operations processes so that customer requirements including quality, delivery and reliability are achieved.

6 Differentiate and devise suitable control systems.

7. Apply principles of project management.

Assignment Task

Choose an Operations Management problem relating to an organisation with which you are familiar and undertake a critical review. This should include (indicative marks provided):

1. an introduction to the problem and its relationship to operations practice in the organisation

2. an explanation of the process(es) under consideration (ideally incorporating some form of process map)

3. a discussion of relevant Operations theory (this should address the underlying processes on which quality depends - do not rely on
quality theory only)

4. a comparison of the theory with the practice

5. consideration of how potential changes would improve quality and/or customer focus

6. recommendations, based on the comparison above, as to how the process(es) could be improved, accompanied by a revised process
map clearly showing the improvements

7. Referencing both in text and in the Bibliography, using the Harvard system