Introduction to Operations ManagementCOURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to the Introduction to Operations Management course. This program will equip you with the core concepts, analytical tools, decision making frameworks, and practical methods used to manage and improve operations in both manufacturing and service organisations. You will explore how operations management integrates processes, people, technology, and resources to deliver value efficiently and competitively. This course also

COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Introduction to Operations Management course. This program will equip you with the core concepts, analytical tools, decision-making frameworks, and practical methods used to manage and improve operations in both manufacturing and service organisations. You will explore how operations management integrates processes, people, technology, and resources to deliver value efficiently and competitively. This course also examines operations strategy, quality management, capacity planning, project management, supply chain coordination, and inventory control—key functions that drive organisational productivity and long-term success.

This course begins by examining what operations management is, the differences and similarities between manufacturing and service operations, and the systems view of operations management, which recognises operations as part of a broader organisational system. You will explore the process view of organisations, how processes transform inputs into outputs, and the role of operations strategy in guiding operational decisions. This section also examines the role of operations in strategy development, the major operations competitive priorities, and the connection between operational capabilities and market success.

You will then explore product design and process selection, including methods for improving product design and the meaning of design for manufacture (DFM). This section also examines concurrent engineering, process selection decisions, total quality management (TQM), quality systems, and the use of statistical quality control to measure and improve performance. This leads into supply chain topics, including supply chain management and distribution, warehousing, and the principle of continuous improvement in operations. You will also explore Just-In-Time (JIT) pull systems, their benefits, and how they strengthen efficiency by reducing waste and inventory.

A further part of the program focuses on capacity planning, including chase demand strategies, the meaning of demand management, and the decisions involved in selecting facility locations. You will explore facility layout and design, product layout decisions such as line balancing, and work systems design. This section also examines the implementation of work design approaches, methods analysis decisions, and project management decision-making.

The next learning area provides a structured introduction to project management tools and processes. You will explore feasibility analysis, planning and control, network analysis decisions, and how to identify project activities. This section explains how to estimate activity durations, how to identify relationships between activities, and how to draw a network diagram. You will learn how to identify schedule constraints using Gantt charts, and how to shorten project duration through project crashing.

The final learning area focuses on inventory management. You will explore the difference between dependent and independent demand, the types of inventory, and classic inventory models including the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model, the Re-Order Point (ROP) model, and the use of safety stock to ensure service levels are met. You will also examine the ABC Inventory Classification System, which helps organisations prioritise inventory management efforts according to value and usage.

By the end of this course you will be able to understand operations strategy, design and analyse processes, apply quality and capacity planning methods, manage projects, and optimise inventory and supply chain performance—building strong foundations for effective operations management in any organisational setting.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:

• What is operations management?
• Manufacturing and service operations
• The systems view of operations management
• The process view of organisations
• What is operations strategy?
• The role of operations in strategy development
• Operations competitive priorities
• Product design and process selection
• The methods for improving product design
• What does design for manufacture (DFM) mean?
• Concurrent engineering in operation management
• Process selection in operation management
• What is total quality management?
• What are quality systems?
• Statistical quality control
• Supply chain management and distribution
• Warehousing in operation management
• Continuous improvement in operation management
• JIT pull systems
• Capacity planning in operation management
• Chase demand in operation management
• What is demand management?
• Facility location decisions
• Facility layout and design decisions
• Decisions in designing product layouts - line balancing
• Work systems design decisions
• Implementation of work design approaches
• Methods analysis decisions
• Project management decisions and activities
• Feasibility analysis, plan and control
• Network analysis decisions
• How to identify project activities?
• How to estimate project activity durations?
• How to identify activity relationships?
• How to draw the network diagram?
• How to identify schedule constraints using Gantt charts?
• Project crashing
• Inventory management decisions
• The dependent demand and independent demand
• The types of inventory
• The Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) Model
• The Re-Order Point (ROP) Model
• Safety stock and service level
• The ABC Inventory Classification System

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.