Operations Management
Designing and managing business operations
For more information contact:
Dr. Chuck Sox
343 Alston Hall
csox@cba.ua.edu
(205)348-8992
Operations Management (OM) focuses on the effective management of the resources and activities that produce or deliver the goods and services of any business. OM professionals manage the people, materials, equipment and information resources that a business needs to produce and deliver its goods and services. They also design and manage the business processes and activities that actually produce those goods or services.
Business operations are a critical element of every business, so there is a wide range of opportunities for OM professionals. Manufacturing management has been and continues to be a significant area of opportunity. The tremendous growth of the automotive industry in the state of Alabama has produced great job opportunities for OM professionals with major automobile manufacturers and their suppliers. OM professionals can also pursue careers in the distribution and warehousing of products as well as transportation and logistics operations. In fact the entire field of supply chain management relies heavily on the effective management and coordination of business operations, from manufacturing to transportation and distribution. Whether products that are sold in the U.S. are manufactured overseas or in the U.S., at least some part of the supply chain must be operated and managed in the U.S. The growth of service industries in the state, such as banking, also provides opportunities for OM professionals to manage business operations in service-oriented companies.
OM professionals hold a wide range of different job titles, such as materials manager, production planner, scheduler, inventory manager, transportation/logistics manager, purchasing/procurement manager, supply chain manager, and quality manager. However, they all employ OM techniques and concepts to effectively manage the resources and processes of their business operations. Because OM professionals are familiar with the resources and operations that are critical to success, they are often well-positioned for promotion to upper levels of business management.
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