What is Operation and supply chain management?
|
Behind every great company is an efficient operations team. From Jaguar Land Rover to Innocent Drinks, operations lies at the core of ensuring their continued success. Show
The goal of a successful operations and supply chain team is to monitor supply chains and evaluate purchasing strategies in order to help the company to become more efficient in an increasingly competitive global market. A career in operations is not only about moving commodities. You'll be involved in strategy and planning and will work closely with other departments such as IT, HR and Finance, making sure that things tick over successfully across the whole organisation. Supply chain is almost always an inherently international role as you could find yourself sourcing Chinese-made electronics, transporting them on Brazilian shipping to a Polish lorry convoy, for it to end up in a Parisian boutique. Operations also has the ability to throw up some intriguing specialisations. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) often falls under this category so operations could be the department that drives through the use of Fairtrade products, sustainable natural resources, and factories with ethical labour practices. Learn about Operations Consulting What type of graduate would be best suited to it?If you want to work in operations, you need a good number of skills in your talented armoury. 1. The big picture - can you see it? This is crucial for graduates to excel in operations. Maybe you have organised a conference, or completed a large research project whilst at university - have a think about where you've done this and the skills you brought to the success of the project. 2. A people person. You'll need to love building relationships, often across cultures and indeed continents. Operations requires a rounded skill-set. 3. Analytical and detailed-orientated. These are essential skills that you'll need to master because in operations you'll have to implement them at a very fast pace. As the demands of the consumer changes and technology advances further, the role of operations and supply chain will have to adapt accordingly. You'll have to be at the forefront of changes - or ahead of them if you can! Entry RequirementsMost top employers look for graduates to have or be predicted at least a 2.1 at undergraduate level. You do not need to have studied supply chain management or logistics at university, however some employers might look on that favourably, depending on the role and the company. Do not let that put you off as you'll be able to find transferable skills regardless of the degree subject. For example, numerate degrees such as Mathematics or Statistics provide great experience of data analysis, and an Engineering graduate is uniquely placed to understand many of the mechanisms that underlie supply chains. A humanities graduate has the ability to think through problems logically and articulate them to a wider audience. If you are someone who wants to work in the global marketplace, likes the idea of the opportunity to work abroad one day, then this could be an exceedingly good career path for you. And finally...If you have never considered operations before, but it sounds like it could be the route for you, we advise you take a deeper look. If you had dismissed working in this sector because you thought the only possible routes were in design or marketing, think again. Operations is perfect for someone who prefers strategising and making plans to talking to customers directly. It's also worth remembering that many successful CEOs and COOs come from an operations background - in part because it is in this role that you can learn so much about how the company and the industry as a whole works. Discover management and business graduate opportunities View our latest list of graduate opportunities available in management and business to take the first step towards your dream career.
Operations and Supply Chain Management is concerned with the design, planning and management of all facilities, processes and activities required to transform resources into goods and services within and between organisations. It is applicable to all types of organisations including manufacturers, retailers, hospitals, tourism sector, banks and even many clubs and non-profit organisations. Operations managers control more than 70 per cent of organisational resources – people, money, materials, and buildings – used in manufacturing or in providing services. To be competitive in global markets, it is important that these resources are used efficiently and effectively. The efficient and effective management of these resources requires the kinds of skills and knowledge provided in OSCM courses such as:
Successful operations managers also need knowledge of Marketing, Human Resource Management, and Finance. Students of other disciplines often take courses in this area to broaden their education and enhance the prospect of progress in their subsequent careers. A relatively new major, Operations and Supply Chain Management was established in response to growing marketplace demand for managers with broader knowledge of how a business works from the factory floor up. An increasing number of CEOs have an operations background.
Double majors and double degreesOperations and Supply Chain Management is a popular choice in a double major, complementing in particular the following majors: Management, Human Resources Management and Accounting. Other majors can also combine with Double degrees are increasing chosen by students seeking a broader education and a Bachelor of Commerce in Operations and Supply Chain Management can be taken alongside another degree.
Industry-based learningA feature of UC's BCom is hands-on project-based learning at 300 level that goes beyond text books and lectures. Operations and Supply Chain Management majors participate in a unique online competition as part of the MGMT370 course in which they use a simulator to run a factory for two weeks as part of a team. The experience gives students the opportunity to experience decision making in a manufacturing environment along with the consequences of those decisions. Teams can adjust their decisions after experiencing the impact of them with the winning team being the one with the best cash position at the end of the exercise. It also offers the opportunity to see how other teams arrange their factory for maximum efficiency. Regular guest speakers from industry contribute to students' learning. UC Business School has extensive ties with local businesses and those networks give students the advantage of industry insights as they study. Learn from our students' experiencesFor more information on studying Operations and Supply Chain Managementcontact a member of staff New, events and seminarsWhat is the difference between operations management and supply chain management?The major difference between supply chain management and operations management is that the supply chain is mainly concerned with what happens outside the company – obtaining materials and delivering products – while operations management is concerned with what happens inside the company.
Why is operations and supply chain management important?Streamlining supply chain activities also results in faster production. This allows businesses to better compete and in turn, creates value for customers. Accurate information about a supply chain saves companies money. It helps manufacturers and retailers produce and transport only what they can sell.
What is goals in operations and supply chain management?The main goal of supply chain management is to manufacture products and deliver them to the end consumers. However, providing the product is not the only goal; the quality of that product also matters. You should provide consumers with a product that offers the best value possible.
|
