BNM810 OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Academic Year 2013/14 Number of Aston Credits: 15 Number of ECTS Credits: 7.5 Staff Member Responsible for the Module: Dr Ben Clegg, Operations & Information Management Group Aston Business School Building, Room 619, Extension 3063 Email: b.t.clegg@aston.ac.uk Availability: see office hours Or contact the Operations and Information Management Group Administrator, John Morley, ABS266, Extension 3236 Pre-requisites for the Module: None Mode of Attendance: On Campus Module Objectives and Learning Outcomes: The module aims to provide an understanding of the role of Operations Management and how it contributes to business competitiveness. By the end of the module, students should understand the key decision making areas in Operations Management, appreciate the role OM plays in managing business resources and have an insight into the contribution of OM to performance. Analytical skills of investigation and critical analysis will be enhanced and the key transferable skills of working in groups and communication will have been enabled. Module Content: Week 1: Week 2: Directing - Business Strategy, Operations Strategy and Innovation Designing - Supplier Relationships, Products and Services
Week 3: Week 4: Week 5: Week 6: Week 7: Week 8: Week 9: Week 10: Designing - Process Design Managing - Capacity Planning and Management Managing - Supply Chain and Supply Relationship Management Managing - Inventory, Lean and Just-in-Time Management Managing - Project Management Improving - Performance and Quality Management Revision (and Future Directions ) Examination The design, organisation and content of the curriculum should enable the student to understand the role of OM, its contribution to the performance of the business and the key decision areas of OM. Corporate Connections: In this module case studies of well known companies will be used (e.g. British Airways, TNT, Intel Corporation). International Dimensions: The module introduces Operations Management techniques from around the world, particularly Japanese Just in Time concepts. Contribution of Research: Research into strategy, supplier relationship development, new product development, operational improvement, quality and six sigma practices is drawn upon. Ethics, Responsibility & Sustainability: The role of ethics, corporate social responsibility and sustainability will be discussed in the context of Operations Management.
Method of Teaching: The course will involve two main components: Lectures The first session each week will be devoted to a lecture/discussion on Operations Management topics shown in the module content. Students will be expected to come to class having completed the essential readings for the session and be prepared to discuss issues arising. Case Studies Discussions and Problem Analyses In the second half of sessions for most weeks, a case study will be analysed and presented. If this is a paper based case study, course members should have read and individually prepared the case study prior to attending the session. Video case studies will also be used, that are an integral part of the core text book. Syndicates will then analyse the case and be prepared to present back to the class in an informal plenary session at the end. This enables critical analysis of case studies and experience of group working and peer to peer communication. In some weeks the second half of the session will be used for a quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of a problem relating to the lecture. Syndicates groups are arranged by the postgraduate office; and usually comprise six students with mixed backgrounds. Method of Assessment and Feedback: The assessment will be in two parts: (i) A two hour examination. This will form 70% of the marks. (ii) An assignment given at the start of term. This will be worth 30% of the overall marks. Further details of each will be given at the start of the term. Generic cohort feedback about the assessments will be put on Blackboard after the Board of Examiners has met. Learning Hours: Pre-reading 25 Contact hours 27 Directed learning / reading 49 Private study for exam / coursework 49 Total 150
The following readings are subject to change. Students should not therefore purchase textbooks prior to commencing their course. If students wish to undertake background reading before starting the course, many of the chapters/readings are available in electronic form via on-line library catalogues and other resources. Pre-reading: Pre-reading should be taken from the essential list below; or indeed any other section of the course book. Essential Reading: Paton, S, Clegg, B., Hsuan, J., Pilkington, A., Operations Management. McGraw-Hill Education. 2011. 560 pages. ISBN 0077126173 and 978-0077126179. The accompanying website is http://www.mcgraw-hill.co.uk/html/0077126173.html It is highly recommended that students all have individual access to this book as soon as possible, and use it closely throughout the term. Week by week reading from this book is given below. Other useful websites for learning materials include: The McGraw-Hill Operations Management Resource Center http://www.mhhe.com/business/opsci/pom/ Trends in Modern Operations Management Seminar Series website www1.aston.ac.uk/aston-business-school/research/groups/oim/research/esrcseminars/
Session Chapter Notes Pages to Read Introduction It is advisable for those who are totally new 1-14 to Operations Management to read the introduction as well as the reading below 1 1 Business Strategy 19-44 2 Operations Strategy 49-66 3 Innovation 75-84 Tutorial Video Case: Lightening Source 2 4 Designing Supplier Relationships 103-112, 115-120 5 Designing Products and Services 135-162 from pages 130 and 165-166 3 6 Process Design 169-200 from page 202 4 7 Capacity Planning and Management 207-229, 231-233 Tutorial Video Case: TNT 5 8 Supply Chain and Supplier Relationship Management Tutorial Video Case: Intel Corp. 239-254, 257-269 6 9 Inventory Planning and Management 275-291 10 Lean Operations and Just-in-Time (JIT) 309-314, 316-328 from pages 302 and 330 7 11 Project Management 333 351, 354-363 Tutorial Video Case: Farnborough Int. Air-show 8 13 Quality Management 413-445, 453-455 Tutorial Video Case: British Airways