Operations Management

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

• 8. Decend work and economic growth
• 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Objectives

Operations Management is a course that provides a general and conceptual overview of the flow of materials and information in the business cycle: planning, purchasing, production, warehousing, inventory, quality, and distribution. The course takes a comprehensive and strategic approach to operations and explores each function in a funnel-like fashion, delving into the details of each control instrument. Practical exercises are included to further develop the understanding.

By the end of the syllabus, students must be able to identify critical points within a company's operations area and economic sector and design dashboard indicators based on the concepts studied to ensure control of logistics flow.

Learning outcomes

• Understand the fundamentals and basic principles of the company's production system.
• Manage and administer a company or organization, taking into account its competitive and institutional position, strengths, and weaknesses.
• Analyze and evaluate the management of the different functional areas.

Competencies

General skills

• Show ability to adapt to contexts and changing business and social realities within a global environment.

Specific skills

• Devise integrated business plans for development of business initiatives.
• Interpret the principles of enterprise systems of production and logistics in order to improve competitiveness.
• Lead an organization and manage different operational units, identifying strengths and weaknesses in relation to the business strategy.

Basic skills

• Students can communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialists and non-specialists.

Core skills

• Be a critical thinker before knowledge in all its dimensions. Show intellectual, cultural and scientific curiosity and a commitment to professional rigor and quality.
• Use oral, written and audiovisual forms of communication, in one's own language and in foreign languages, with a high standard of use, form and content.

Content

1. Operations management (OD)
   • Evolution of production systems
   • Definition and objectives of DO and logistics
   • Functions and responsibilities of DO
   • Supply chain management or supply chain management
   • The world DO (world-class manufacturing)
2. Information systems
   • Generalities
   • Characteristics
   • Classifications
   • Evolution of information systems
   • Information technologies
   • Different information systems
3. Planning
   • Planning objectives
   • Hierarchical approach to planning
   • Strategic planning
   • Tactical planning
   • Operational planning
   • Demand forecasts
4. Shopping
   • Purchasing objectives
   • Purchasing functions
   • Strategic policies
   • Tactics and games
   • Subcontracting
   • Selection and approval of suppliers
   • The negotiation
5. The production
   • Production concepts
   • Types of production
   • Line balancing
   • Times and methods
   • Technology in production
   • Production philosophies
     • Just-in-time (JIT)
     • Theory of Constraints (TOC)
   • Management instruments
     • Materials Revenue Planning (MRP I)
     • Capacity Planning (CRP)
   • Project management (PERT/CCPM)
   • Enterprise Resource Planning (MRP II/ERP)
   • Short-term scheduling
6. The quality
   • Evolution of the concept of "quality"
   • Visions and dimensions of quality
   • TQM or Total Quality Management
   • The cost of quality
   • The quality gurus
   • Statistical process control
   • ISO standards and quality awards
7. Inventories and warehouses
   1. Inventories
      • Concept
      • Inventory costs
      • Inventory classifications
      • Inventory management models
      • Control indices
      • Physical count
   2. Warehouses
      • Storage principles
      • Warehouse classifications
      • The functions of the warehouse
      • Design of a warehouse
      • Storage principles
      • Means of manipulation
8. Physical distribution
   • Concept and characteristics
   • Distribution strategies
   • Transport tactics
   • Types of transport
   • The Incoterms

Evaluation

Continuous assessment consists of:

• Take two exams throughout the semester (with a theoretical and practical part) corresponding to topics 1-4 and 5-8. Short conceptual questions and practical exercises. Each exam accounts for 30% of the final grade, and the average score of the two exams must be above passing. Otherwise, one of the two exams must be retaken during the retake period.
• Create a dashboard for a real company, including indicators. Oral presentation at the end of the semester (20% of the final grade). Mandatory assignment.
• Complete a quiz on one of the suggested readings (10% of the final grade). Mandatory test.
• Write a commentary on a documentary about maritime transport (10% of the final grade). Mandatory assignment.

Methodology

Conceptual theoretical classes are combined with the resolution of exercises on physical flow control instruments.

As the subject is explained, students complete an individual practical assignment on designing a dashboard for a specific company, chosen by the student and which can belong to any economic sector. The instructor supports this work through mandatory, personalized tutoring.

However, throughout the semester it is necessary to submit comments on the text of the proposed reading and documentaries.

Bibliography

Key references

• Chase, R. i Aquilano, N. (2009). Administración de Operaciones: Producción y Cadena de suministro (12 ed.). McGraw Hill.
• Goldratt, E. i Cox, J. (2013). La Meta: un proceso de mejora continua (3 ed.). Díaz de Santos.
• Muñoz-Seca, Beatriz i Riverola, Josep (2007). Ópera y operaciones. Prentice Hall.
• Núñez Carballosa, Ana; Guitart Tarrés, Laura i Baraza Sánchez, Xavier (2014). Dirección de operaciones. UOC.
• Sun-Tzu (2015). El arte de la guerra. Profit Editorial.

Further reading

Teachers will provide complementary bibliography and compulsory reading throughout the course via the Virtual Campus.