Units
Operations Management
Unit code: ENB333
Contact hours: 4 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit develops students' ability in applying quantitative techniques in solving different types of industrial operations problems. Topics include: product mix, assignment and transportation models; location and layout decisions, job design analysis; project planning; quality control and the use of simulation in operations management.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2012
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Engineers involved in operations planning and control are concerned with the process of obtaining and utilising resources optimally to produce useful goods and services to meet the goals of the organisation. Quantitative techniques are powerful tools to assist engineers in making decisions on policy, product, plants and project choice. This unit equips you with the operations management skills (qualitative and quantitative) required for professional engineering decision making. It is located in third year to build on previous study in industrial engineering.
Aims
The aim of the unit is to assist your skill development in operations management by developing your operations management skills in real contexts and showing you how they will enhance your professional career and impact your life every day in engineering decision making.
Objectives
1. Demonstrate qualitative and quantitative methods in engineering decision making such as forecasting, plant layout and optimization.
2. Formulate and use mathematical models to solve problems in business organizations.
3. Solve problems using a systems approach.
4. Collaborate and report as a team to solve a real-life industry problem using quantitative methods.
Content
Week Topic
1 Operations Management - Perceptions and Concepts
2 Linear Programming and Transportation Models
3 Project Management
4 Forecasting
5 Design of Goods and Services
6 Managing Quality and Statistical Process Control
7 Supply Chain Management and e-Commerce
8 Process Strategy and Capacity Planning
9 Location and layout Strategies, Job Design
10 Inventory Management
11 MRP, ERP, JIT and Lean Operations
12 Scheduling
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Total hrs per week: 4 hrs
Lectures: 2 hr
Tutorial: 1 hr
Computer Lab: 1 hr
Lectures will provide the knowledge base for the unit and the development of problem solving skills will be supported by tutorials and computer labs. To introduce real life challenges, industry managers will be invited to conduct some of the lectures. Many of the discussions, review questions and case questions do not have a unique answer and this requires the development of team building and team participation skills.
The content of the unit will be taught using the following teaching tools:
- Formal lecture sessions will cover the theory and illustrate some practical applications. The lectures will guide you through the unit and show you how the material being studied each week is used by practicing engineers. They will describe and illustrate key concepts using demonstrations and visual aids and cover issues relevant to the whole class. Lecture slides and some additional readings will be made available on-line using the Blackboard website prior to lectures.
- Tutorial exercises will be used to test and develop your understanding. In particular, you will learn how real life problems are expressed using mathematical formulations.
- Computer labs will be used to solve the mathematical equations with real industry data.
- Project assignment will be used to develop information retrieval skills and to solve a broadly defined problem in operations management. You will participate in a group project to define a problem, collect and analyse data and work with team members to develop and select appropriate solutions and recommend implementations with cost benefit analysis.
Assessment
Your overall performance of this unit will be assessed three components: continuous applied problem solving including a computer lab task, a team project and a final exam.You will receive feedback on your assessment tasks through discussion in the class and tutorial and computer lab with written comments on the reports. Feedback on progressive in class assessment will be provided in tutorials within 2-4 weeks of submission.
Assessment name:
Problem Solving Exercises
Description:
Every 3 weeks you will solve theoretical and applied problems in class related to the material previously covered and you will be required to submit work in Weeks 3, 6, 9 and 12
Relates to objectives:
1. Demonstrate qualitative and quantitative methods in engineering decision making such as forecasting, plant layout and optimization.
2. Formulate and use mathematical models to solve problems in business organizations.
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 12
Assessment name:
Project (applied)
Description:
As part of a three/four member team, you will select a real industry problem and apply appropriate tools and techniques for optimal profit and productivity for a production or service. You will be required to make an oral presentation and a written report of your findings.
Relates to objectives:
1. Demonstrate qualitative and quantitative methods in engineering decision making such as forecasting, plant layout and optimization.
2. Formulate and use mathematical models to solve problems in business organizations.
3. Employ a systems approach to operational problem solving.
4. Collaborate and report as a team to solve real life industry problem using quantitative methods.
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group with Individual Component
Due date:
Week 13
Assessment name:
Examination (Theory)
Description:
This will be closed book exam for two hours. The exam will be based on lectures, tutorials and your group research project.
Relates to objectives:
1. Demonstrate qualitative and quantitative methods in engineering decision making such as forecasting, plant layout and optimization.
2. Formulate and use mathematical models to solve problems in business organizations.
3. Employ a systems approach to operational problem solving.
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Examination Period.
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty means that you are expected to exhibit honesty and act responsibly when undertaking assessment. Any action or practice on your part which would defeat the purposes of assessment is regarded as academic dishonesty. The penalties for academic dishonesty are provided in the Student Rules. For more information you should consult the QUT Library resources for avoiding plagiarism.
Resource materials
Text:
Jay Heizer, Barry Render (2009) Operations management, Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J.
References:
- Martinich J.S. (1997) Production and Operations Management: An applied modern approach, John Wiley and Sons, New York.
- Stevenson, J. W. (2004), Operations Management, 8th Edition, McGraw Hill, New York.
- Vonderembse, M.A. and White G. P. (1996) Operations management: Concepts, methods and strategies, West Publishing Company, New York.
- Russell R.S. and Taylor B. W. III (2006) Operations Management: Quality and competitiveness in a global environment, Fifth edition, John Wiley.
- Lee S.M. and Schniederjans M.J., (1994), Operations Management, Houghton Mifflin Co.
- Markland, R. E, Vickery S. K, Davis R.A. (1998) Operations management: concepts in manufacturing and services Cincinnati, Ohio: South-Western College Pub.
- Nicholas, J.M, Project Management for Business and Technology - Concepts and implementation (2nd Ed), Prentice-Hall (2001)
Risk assessment statement
You will be required to undertake practical sessions in the computer lab under the supervision of the lecturer/tutor/technical staff of the School. The School's occupational health and safety policies and procedures will apply to these sessions.
You will undergo a health and safety induction and will be issued with a safety induction card. If you do not have a safety induction card, you will be denied access to laboratories.
In any laboratory practical you will be advised of requirements of safe and responsible behaviour and will be required to wear appropriate protective items (e.g. closed shoes or steel capped shoes)
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 16-Dec-2011
