MSCI 573: Operations and Supply Excellence
(Phase 2 – Spring Term)
Tutors: Professor Linda Hendry
Operations and Supply Management plays a key role in achieving excellence in the main performance objectives of an organisation. Whether the current priority is to improve customer service or to increase profitability, the way in which the organisation utilises its resources will have a significant impact. As a consequence, there have been a number of innovative developments in Operations and Supply Management that have sought to organise resources in a significantly new manner in order to make a big step change in performance. This course discusses these key innovative developments in detail, including those that have led to extensive modernisation of service sector Operations Management as well as those that have revolutionised manufacturing management. There will be an emphasis on the importance of successful innovation in the current competitive environment, and the key role of Operations and Supply Chain Management in sustaining a competitive advantage and bringing about service improvements.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module you should be able to:
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Master an appreciation of the role that achieving excellence, and introducing innovations into operations and supply chains, can play in improving competitiveness.
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Appreciate when and how to apply various specialised techniques for achieving excellence in complex operations and supply chains.
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Improve ability to select and assess contributions from relevant specialised literature
Outline Lecture Plan
The module will develop understanding of how improvements can be made in operations and supply chains, and the strategic role of these improvements. Specialised techniques are introduced together with an emphasis on when and why these techniques may be used and on assessing their contributions.
The course will cover important aspects of achieving excellence in operations and supply chains, including: lean operations and supply chains; total quality management; product customisation; quick response manufacturing; and continuous improvement. The course will include techniques such as value stream mapping & lean consumption maps, six sigma, and statistical process control but will also include more strategic aspects of introducing innovations and achieving excellence in operations and supply chains. The course will consider both manufacturing and service contexts.
Assessment
100% coursework
Core Text
A single text will not be used in the course – instead, chapters from selected texts will be recommended at various points in the course. Texts will be chosen to provide the best coverage of a particular topic. Journal papers will also be part of the reading list and will play an important role in preparing for seminars.
