Learning outcomes

This course provides a general introduction to operations management. Operations Management studies the process by which inputs of materials, labor, capital and information are transformed into products and services which the consumers are willing to pay for. These processes can be managed well or poorly. Knowledge introduced in this course will help you understand the reasons for both.

 

Goals

The main objective of this course is to introduce tools and techniques that are needed to understand operations and supply chain processes and to provide students with the ability to analyze and continuously improve these processes.

Content

Introduction: definition of production and operations management, classification of productive systems, type of decisions.

  • Part 1: operational decisions, namely the day-to-day management of production at the level of a workshop: scheduling in specialized workshops, inventory management by order point, calendar inventory management;
  • Part 2: tactical decisions, namely management of the production level at the level of a production center: planning of component requirements, just-in-time method;
  • Part 3: strategic decisions, i.e. decisions that relate to the company's long-term strategy: project management (for the launch of a new product or the construction of a new factory), design of a new factory (location, capacity decision, organization of production).

Table of contents

  1. Introduction  to Operations Management
  2. Scheduling in specialized workshops
  3. Inventory management by order point
  4. Calendar inventory management
  5. Material Requirement Planification
  6. Dynamic programming
  7. Just-in-time
  8. Project management
  9. Configuration of a center of production
  10. Choice of capacity in the uncertain
  11. Locations of production activities
  12. Use of Excel Solveur to solve production problems
  13. Interpretation of the solution

Exercices

At the end of each chapter of the syllabus, statements of application exercises are offered to students. An example of a solution will be presented at the end of each course and students are invited to solve the other exercises on their own, the solutions of which will subsequently be communicated on WebCampus.

Students will form groups to carry out group work applying the models and methods seen in the course. The work will be graded and will count for 25% of the final grade.

 

Assessment method

In the first session, the evaluation consists, for 75% of the grade, of a written exam to resolve closed-book exercises which will test the achievement of the following objectives:                   

  • Objective 1: resolve a scheduling or inventory management problem.           
  • Objective 2: solve a production planning problem.               
  • Objective 3: resolve a project management or production center design problem.

On the other hand, the evaluation consists, for 25% of the grade, of group work which will test the following objective:

  • Objective 4: formulate, solve with Excel and interpret the solution to an operations management problem.

In the second session, only an exercise exam counting for 100% of the grade.

Sources, references and any support material

Syllabus Gestion des Opérations, Daniel DE WOLF, 152 pages, August 26th, 2024, including the exercices and the group working instructions.

Bibiography

 

  1. GIARD, Gestion de la production et des flux,  Economica, 2003.
  2. BAGLIN, BRUEL, KERBACHE,  NEHME et  VAN DELFT, Management Industriel et Logistique, Economica, 2013.
  3. MAC CLAIN, et al., Operations Management: Production of Goods and Services, Prentice Hall, 1992.

Language of instruction

Français
Training Study programme Block Credits Mandatory
Bachelor in Economics and Management Standard 0 5
Bachelor in Computer Science Standard 0 3
Bachelor in Computer Science Standard 2 3
Bachelor in Economics and Management Standard 3 5