AppOM

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 the management of the operation of an organizational unit or department. Choose a realistic work situation that you may have within the next three 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.
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. If appropriate, use the Factor Rating technique (as given on page 400 and expanded in class) 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.
1. The following five topics are highly encouraged and will receive an additional 20% on your grade.
  1. Quality (Ch 3, 4) - develop sampling plan for Acceptance Sampling or develop control charts for Process Control, . . .
  2. Facility Layout (Ch 7) - at least three layouts and at least four criteria.
  3. Learning Curves (Ch 8) - applied to product pricing, staffing, wage-incentive plans, . . .
  4. Material Requirements Planning (Ch 13) - MRP for goods, CRP for services
  5. Project Management (Ch 17) - CPM applied to auditing, software development, . . .
2. These remaining topics are appropriate for the project.
  1. Work Measurement (Time Standards) (Ch 8) - applied to product pricing, staffing, wage-incentive plans
  2. Inventory (Ch 12) - ABC Analysis applied to inventory systems, clients, . . . Class A has tight control, such as the EOQ model. . . .
  3. Scheduling (Ch 14) - Johnson's Rule, . . .
  4. Waiting Lines (Ch 16) - applied to retail operations, . . .

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. Click here to download. Use the File|SaveAs command to save this file on your H: drive here at SJU or your hard drive at home. (You may also right click this link and use the Save TargetAs option). Then 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.

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. Each student is to have notes, in outline form, similar to my lecture notes, using either a wordprocessor (Microsoft Word) or PowerPoint. You may download and modify the sample given in Section D below. Most presentations are enhanced with one or two Excel worksheets. See the sample below. You are to submit a copy of these notes (Please print PowerPoint slides six per page.) and supporting documentation for my comments during the presentation. They will be returned the next class with your Verbal grade. 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 notes must state the length of the presentation.
3. Due Date for Presentation - Students may volunteer for an early presentation. If not, a sequence of students will be assigned. If a student is not prepared for his/her assigned date, the student is penalized 20% for each class not prepared.
4. Sample Application of OM Verbal based on case submitted by Vincent J. Pawlowski.

Application of OM Written
1. Format for Written Report - The case is to be wordprocessed EXPLICITLY following the four step outline given in Section II above. The written report is to be self contained using complete sentences (It is suggested to use the outline from your verbal as the basis to write your written 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. Length of Report - The document may range from three to five (maximum) pages (excluding supporting documentation), but must have a proportional width font such as Times Roman (this page is in Times Roman font), with some bolding and two different point sizes (note that the title of this handout is in a larger point size). Please use the spell checker to check all words for proper spelling. If possible, use a style checker.
3. Due Date for Report - The wordprocessed case will be due near the end of the semester. The penalty is 20% for each class that the report is late.

Helpful Hints - click here for some suggestions.

Service Learning - a project developed with Fr. Stephen Bicsko (990-1853) will receive an additional 20% on your grade.

Teaming - the project may be done individually or in pairs. If you do work with a partner and have any difficulty working together, you must report that to me as soon as possible, but no later than class session #10.
(This page was lasted edited on August 16, 2006 .)