Foundations of Operations Management

This unit introduces core concepts and tools used to understand, map, and improve organizational operations. Students learn foundational skills in process mapping, basic forecasting, capacity and inventory planning, lean thinking, logistics, and evaluation of supply chain and outsourcing choices to prepare for applied operations projects in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze end-to-end operational systems by mapping processes, identifying bottlenecks, resources, inputs/outputs, and key system elements
• Apply process-improvement and lean techniques—including standardization, batching, setup reduction, and resource sharing—to design measurable changes that reduce waste and increase flexibility
• Demonstrate operations planning skills by producing basic forecasts, calculating capacity and inventory requirements, and estimating time and cost for projects while tracking project progress
• Evaluate supply chain structure, outsourcing options, logistics, and digital considerations to recommend operational strategies that balance cost, volume, resilience, and stakeholder-defined success metrics