Application of OM

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Application of Operations Management

Objective - to reinforce the wide applicability of operations management. Thinker.gif (8953 bytes)

Case - describe the application of ONE of the course topics or techniques to your management of the operation of an organizational unit or department. Choose a realistic work situation that you may have within the next five years. Use the following outline EXPLICITLY:
1. Topic: State the topic or technique chosen. Cite the corresponding page(s) from Russell and my outline.
2. Situation: Briefly describe the situation. State if the case is from your direct work experience, indirect experience, or fictitious. Explain why it is a realistic work situation that you may have within the next five years.
3. Application: Briefly describe how you will apply the topic/technique. Justify the assumptions of any model you are using. Justify the values of all parameters and/or variables.
4. Analysis: Present the analysis to convince your management that the application is profitable or cost effective. This analysis varies considerably from case to case, but usually focuses on Improvement(s) in Operations, such as enhanced customer service, reduced errors, lower transaction costs, . . . Frequently considering the Impact(s) on Human Resources provides a basis for a convincing analysis.
  If there are only the "before" and "after" alternatives, create one or two "Before" & "After" tables that summarize the important factors. Use these tables to guide the discussion of the analysis. If there are more than two alternatives, the Factor Rating technique (as given on page 300 and expanded in class) provides a straightforward way to justify the best alternative.

Suggested Topics - these topics are suggested topics. Please consult Russell for details. If you wish to use a topic other than these, see me for approval. Click here for Helpful Hints.
1. Quality (Ch 3, 4) - develop Control Charts for process control, or develop a sampling plan for Acceptance Sampling, . . .
2. Processes (Ch 6) - Process Analysis for a new or revised service.
3. Facilities (Ch 7) - Designing a Process or Product Layout with at least three candidate layouts (floor plans) and at least four criteria.
4. Human Resources (Ch 8) - Work Measurement (Time Standards) applied to product pricing, staffing, wage-incentive plans.
5. Human Resources (Ch 8) - Learning Curves applied to product pricing, staffing, wage-incentive plans, . . .
6. Project Management (Ch 9) - CPM applied to auditing, software development, . . .
7. Supply Chain Management (Ch 10) - Selecting a Supplier for a new or revised service. Case must be approved. Situation must require substantial analysis for at least one factor (not just facts).
8. Inventory (Ch 12) - ABC Analysis applied to inventory systems, clients, . . . Class A has tight control, such as the EOQ model. . . .
9. Aggregate Planning (Ch 13) - Transportation Linear Programming Method applied to a service.
10. Resource Planning (Ch 14) - MRP for goods, CRP for services.
11. Scheduling (Ch 16) - Johnson's Rule, . . .
12. Waiting Lines (Ch 17) - applied to services such as retail operations, . . .
13. Neural networks - apply neural networks to one of the above topics.
  1. Neural networks can be used to develop nonlinear regression models. A stumbling block to the successful implementation of these models is overtraining. I have developed a method to combat overtraining.
  2. If you have some prior knowledge of neural networks, you may propose a project using neural networks. However, since a thorough explanation of neural networks is beyond the scope of this course, there will be a maximum of two such projects.
  3. For info about neural networks, click MyResearchLinks. For info about my training method, click Neural Networks.

Application of OM Draft
1. Format for Draft - The purpose of the Draft Outline is to help you select an appropriate topic and situation for your case. The Draft Outline is to be wordprocessed using the Word document, aomdraft.doc. Right click this link and use the Save Target As option to save this file, aomdraft.doc, on your H: drive here at SJU or your hard drive at home. Then rename and modify the file for your case. Describe the work situation in sufficient detail so that your chosen topic sounds reasonable.
2. Length of Draft - One page should be sufficient.
3. Due Date for Draft - The due date for the Draft will be posted on the class Calendar. The penalty is 20% for each class that the Draft is late.

Application of OM Verbal
1. Format for Verbal Presentation - The case is to be presented EXPLICITLY following the four step outline given in Section II above.
  1. Each student pair is to have a Verbal Outline prepared with MS Word. You may expand upon your Draft document or modify the Verbal Outline given in V.E.1 below. You are to refer to this outline during your presentation so that you do not stray off topic. The format should be similar to my class discussion notes.
  2. To prepare your PowerPoint presentation, right click this link and use the SaveTargetAs option to download the AOMslide.ppt (65KB) file. Modify your copy of this file for your case. Keep the same headings. Typically, the PowerPoint slides contain less detail than the Verbal Outline. Use short phrases on the PowerPoint slides, not sentences. To keep your presentation well focused, use no more than ten slides (see me if you feel that you should use more).
  3. Most presentations require one or two supporting Excel worksheets. See the sample below.
  4. You are to submit your Comment Sheet, Verbal Outline, PowerPoint slides (printed six slides per page), supporting Excel worksheets, OM Draft, and any previous versions with hand-written comments (stapled together in sequential order as one unit) for my comments during the presentation. They will be returned the next class with your Verbal grade.
  5. Use your last name to give your files a unique name. For example, if your name is Patrick Smith, then name the PowerPoint file AOMSmith.ppt. Do similarly for the Excel files.
  6. Place a copy of your files in the course inbox located at S:\QueensProfessors\Lyons,Pat\Mgt509\In for use during your presentation. Please note: you cannot save directly from PowerPoint to the S: drive. You must save to another location (C: or H:) and then copy and paste the files to the S: drive.
  7. Each student is to create a copy of the files on a diskette, CD, or flash drive. Both copies are to be brought to class (for backup).
  8. The presentation is to be convincing with sufficient eye contact (not read word by word).
2. Length of Presentation - The desired length of the presentation is five to seven minutes. You may take longer if you discuss it with me at least one class prior and obtain permission to do so. In most cases, a presentation longer than seven minutes is not well focused on one topic. Your Verbal Outline must state the length of the presentation.
3. Due Date for Presentation - Students may volunteer for an early presentation. If not, a sequence of student pairs will be assigned. If a student pair is not prepared for their assigned date, the student pair is penalized 20% for each class not prepared.
4. Critique - It is strongly encouraged that you review your presentation with me at least one week before your presentation during the informal course time (9:20-9:50pm).
5. Sample Application of OM Verbal based on case submitted by Vincent J. Pawlowski.

Application of OM Written
1. Format for Written Report - The Written Report is to be wordprocessed EXPLICITLY following the four step outline given in Section II above.
  1. The Written Report is to be self contained using complete sentences. It is suggested to copy and modify your MS Word Verbal Outline to prepare your report. Include a copy of any supporting documentation used in your verbal presentation. Explicitly refer to the supporting documentation in the body of the report.
  2. Submit your Comment Sheet, Written Report, supporting Excel worksheets, Verbal Outline, and PowerPoint slides (printed six slides per page) all stapled together as one unit.
2. Length of Report - The Written Report may range from three to five (maximum) pages (excluding supporting documentation). Please use the spell checker.
3. Due Date for Report - The Written Report will be due for all student pairs two classes before the final exam. The penalty is 20% for each class that the report is late.
4. Sample Application of OM Report based on the case submitted by Anita B. Bak and Kuan-Ju Chiu. (Added 2006Nov20.)
Helpful Hints - click here for some suggestions.

Extra Credit - a service learning project developed with Fr. Stephen Bicsko (990-1853) or an INFORMS volunteered project (if available) will receive an additional 20% on your grade.

Teaming - the project is to be done in pairs. If you have any difficulty working with your partner, you must report that to me as soon as possible, but no later than class session #10.
(This page was lasted edited on November 20, 2006 .)