How important is operations management in maximizing organizational performance?

What is Operations Management?

Operations management is the process that generally plans, controls and supervises manufacturing and production processes and service delivery. Operations management is important in a business organisation because it helps effectively manage, control and supervise goods, services and people.

Operations management cuts across the sector and industry. In the health sector, operations management ensures proper health delivery with the right instruments at the right time. It also helps people like nurses and doctors deliver timely service. A technical savvy individual knows what is at fault when something goes missing.

For a production or manufacturing company to be successful, OM must first stand. Take an oil and gas company’s product discharged by ship to the reservoirs to make it available for a large customer. OM sees to the delivery of the products and schedules its execution. With OM, people achieve more, and productivity is increased.

Operations management is widely used irrespective of company size or what they do.

What is Production and Operations Management?

Production and operations management is about getting things right. Get the number of products that are the right level of quality at the right time and the right cost. Leverage technology to simplify the process.

Production management relates to the activities around creating products. Operations management involves the production and delivery of products and services. Both are guided by a set of policies that are well-defined, controlled and easy to repeat.

Benefits of Operations Management

1. Product Quality

The operations management is the first unit in a typical firm that checks a product’s durability and reliability. Operations management deals with the quality of products or goods which would suit customers on and after delivery. When a product is of quality, it gives you an edge compared to your competitors.

2. Productivity

Productivity is the ratio of input to output and is the only way to verify employees’ input. Operations management ensures appropriate staffing of employees to resources to get maximum results. The only way to ensure productivity is through effective operations management.

3. Customer Satisfaction

There is no feeling for a manager or an employee as a customer getting the utmost satisfaction. Operations management rightly ensures this is coupled with a quality product. Customers make organisation thrive, and they must be treated well in every way necessary and possible.

4. Reduced Operating Cost

Through productivity, quality products and customer satisfaction, cost incurred on product servicing is maximally reduced. This simultaneously leads to increased revenue. Only operations management can make this possible. In reducing operating costs, there is also waste reduction. The exact number/size of products is produced as requested via proper operations management.

Why Do Managers Need An MBA in Operations Management?

As an operations manager, you get to interact with engineering, marketing, research, and business professionals. An MBA in operations management affords you the technical know-how by covering the fundamentals of various areas related to operations management. These areas include capacity planning, supply chain management, and inventory, among many others. A master’s degree in operations management gives you a theoretical and practical application of OM. It also gives real business handling experience and notes the industry trends. With an MBA in operations management, you are designed to solve problems and challenges pertaining to inventory, supply chain and logistics.

Apply now for any of the Exeed’s MBA specialisation and receive a 10% discount on tuition fees.

Written by Coursera • Updated on Jun 9, 2022

Learn about the operations management field, careers, and the different types of roles available.

How important is operations management in maximizing organizational performance?

Operations management is the execution of backend business functions like manufacturing, inventory, and quality control to ensure market-ready products and service. Whether it’s a single operations manager or a whole department, excellent operations management helps ensure business efficiency.

What is operations management?

Operations management is the administration of business structure, practices, and processes to enhance efficiency and maximize profit. It refers to the management of functions that a business needs to run effectively day-to-day, including:

  • Overseeing multiple departments and providing goals

  • Overseeing and streamlining processes

  • Balancing revenue and costs

  • Developing strategies

  • Working on production and logistics

Why is operations management important?

Business operations underpin all that a business does, its performance, and whether it turns a profit. Poor business operations can threaten a business’s survival, so operations management must ensure that processes are efficient, the right staff are employed, equipment is fit for purpose, and the business’s physical locations are profitable, ethical, and safe. Strong operations management benefits the business as a whole. 

Working in operations management 

Working in operations management as an operations manager, purchasing manager, or similar is a leadership position. Individuals in such roles are responsible for overseeing multiple teams or departments, combining administrative and management responsibilities, and leading day-to-day operations within the business. 

Common duties

Duties vary according to the nature of the company and the specific role, but in general, someone working in business operations is responsible for:

  • Evaluating, designing, and implementing business processes

  • Managing logistical processes and supply chain

  • Overseeing production, distribution, and quality assurance

  • Managing and analyzing financial budgets

  • Making strategic decisions and engaging with other senior staff members on business strategy 

  • Supervising employees

  • Supporting HR with recruitment initiatives

  • Building relationships with stakeholders and suppliers

Skills

Working in operations management requires a variety of skills, including:

  • Leadership ability

  • Organizational skills 

  • Interpersonal skills

  • Problem-solving ability

  • Process improvement

  • Project management

  • Financial acumen

  • Business acumen

  • Detail-oriented approach

  • Communication skills

  • Decision-making ability

  • Excellent time management 

Read More: Why Is Workplace Communication Important? And How to Improve It

Career paths in operations management

A career in operations management can come in many forms, from general business operations roles to more niche, specialized options. 

Business operations manager

Average salary (US): $81,613[1]

Job outlook: 8 percent growth from 2020 to 2030 (average growth rate) [2] 

Job description: A business operations manager is an all-encompassing role that can be found in businesses of any size. A business operations manager makes data-informed strategic plans to improve operations. 

Education: Business operations managers typically have a bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, or management. A master's or doctoral degree in a business-related subject is typical for more senior positions. 

Experience: Starting in an entry-level role and working your way up is common. To understand business functions and make improvements, developing business knowledge is essential. Management experience is also crucial for this role, so business operations managers tend to have at least five years of experience before taking on this job. The salary for a business operations manager can rise to $208,000 or more for the most senior positions [2].

Purchasing manager

Average salary (US): $84,877 [3]

Job outlook: 4 percent decline from 2020 to 2030 [4

Job description: A purchasing manager buys products, goods, and services for resale by their company. Their job is to secure the best and highest quality products at the lowest price to sell and make a profit. A purchasing manager is likely to have buyers or purchasing agents they manage or oversee. 

Education: People in this position usually have a bachelor’s degree and relevant experience. 

Experience: Usually purchasing managers work their way up from a role such as a buyer or spend time working in procurement and, with experience and time, land a management position. The salary for a purchasing manager can rise to average highs of $206,540 [4]. 

Materials manager

Average salary: $90,987 [5]

Job outlook: 4 percent decline from 2020 to 2030 [4]

Job description: A materials manager is responsible for procuring, storing, and distributing a company's inventory and stock. They research prices, monitor stock levels and negotiate prices and contracts. 

Education: Materials managers (also known as procurement managers) typically have a bachelor's degree in a relevant subject, such as logistics or business administration, and work experience in the field. 

Experience: Some positions will ask for management experience, but this is not a blanket requirement and will depend on the company. The salary for a materials manager can rise above $137,000 [5]. 

Operations research analyst

Average salary: $101,610 [6]

Job outlook: 25 percent growth from 2020 to 2030 (much faster than average) [7]

Job description: Operations research analysts help companies make important decisions relating to cost-effectiveness, staff resources, supply chain, and product placement through high-level statistical analysis and mathematical modeling, data mining, and optimization techniques. 

Education: A bachelor’s degree or higher 

Experience: Work experience and completion of additional courses to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in math and computer science

How to become an operations management professional

The guide below offers steps to follow to start your career in operations management, including on-the-job experience, education, and professional certifications to consider to help you stand out.

Consider a bachelor’s degree.

Jobs in operations management typically require a bachelor's degree in a business-related subject such as business management or business administration. These programs focus on relevant subjects like finance, business management, economics, business communications, and logistics. Another option to consider is a bachelor's degree specific to an industry, such as economics, finance, or the law. 

You are Currently on slide 1

Gain relevant professional experience.

Working as an operations manager typically requires about five years of experience. Get your start in an entry-level position, such as an operations supervisor, or by gaining work experience as a buyer and taking on more senior responsibilities to build management experience. 

Consider pursuing a graduate degree.

In the highest level roles, operations management professionals often have master's degrees or, more specifically, a Master of Business Administration (MBA). MBAs focus on leadership as well as finance, management, and marketing, with some offering specialist classes in logistics and operations. 

You are Currently on slide 1

Advance with certifications and certificates.

Certifications and certificates in operations management indicate that you have a deeper knowledge of your subject area and a higher level of proficiency, which can increase your job prospects. Several options are available at various levels, from the undergraduate level to the graduate level and those with no educational requirements. 

Undergraduate level certificates offer basic knowledge in the field, such as using management software. Graduate-level certificates go deeper and build on a bachelor’s degree with skills like leadership in a corporate environment and process improvement. 

Certifications with few or no educational requirements are wide-reaching and include popular options such as the Certified Business Professional (CBP), offered by the International Business Training Association, and Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) from the American Purchasing Society.

Next steps

If you are interested in a career in operations management and would like to learn more, especially as it applies to supply chain management, consider taking Supply Chain Operations, part of the Supply Chain Management offered by Rutgers University. You could also consider Operations and Supply Chain Decisions and Metrics from the University of Illinois to learn more about operations within the manufacturing and service industries. 

How important is operations management in maximizing organizational performance?

course

Supply Chain Operations

Have you ever wondered how products and services are created exactly the same thousands of times over? And how companies are able to smooth out operations ...

4.8

(3,692 ratings)

76,558 already enrolled

BEGINNER level

Average time: 1 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Lean Six Sigma, Supply Chain, Six Sigma

How important is operations management in maximizing organizational performance?

course

Operations and Supply Chain Decisions and Metrics

In this course, you will learn about the role of operations and how they are connected to other business functions in manufacturing and service-focused ...

4.6

(1,136 ratings)

44,014 already enrolled

Average time: 1 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Supply Chain, Inventory, Process Analytics, Operations Strategy

  • Operations Manager: 2022 Career Guide

  • What Is a Project Manager? A Career Guide

  • 10 In-Demand Jobs You Can Get with a Business Degree

  • Master’s in Management vs. MBA: Which Is Better?

  • What Can You Do With an Organizational Leadership Degree?

Article sources

1. Glassdoor. “Business Operations Manager Overview, https://www.glassdoor.com/Career/business-operations-manager-career_KO0,27.htm.” Accessed June 2, 2022. 

2. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Top Executives, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm#tab-5.” Accessed May 14, 2022.

3. Glassdoor. "How much does a Purchasing Manager make?, https://www.glassdoor.com/Career/purchasing-manager-career_KO0,18.htm." Accessed May 31, 2022.

4. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/purchasing-managers-buyers-and-purchasing-agents.htm#tab-5." Accessed May 14, 2022.

5. Glassdoor. “Materials Manager Salaries, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-materials-manager-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,20.htm?clickSource=searchBtn.” Accessed May 14, 2022.

6. Glassdoor. "How much does an Operations Research Analyst make?, https://www.glassdoor.com/Career/operations-research-analyst-career_KO0,27.htm.” Accessed May 31, 2022.

7. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Outlook Handbook: Operations Research Analysts, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/operations-research-analysts.htm." Accessed June 2, 2022.

Written by Coursera • Updated on Jun 9, 2022

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

How does operation management contribute to organizational performance?

Operations management helps improve the reputation of an organization and thus has a positive influence on its capability to achieve growth and stability goals. Operations management ensures that products meet the quality standards and customers' expectations.

How can operations management improve performance?

Tips for improving operations management.
Review your company values. ... .
Look at your competitors' operations tactics. ... .
Enlist in operations management software. ... .
Focus on how to complete a task before investing in the technology. ... .
What is an operations management system?.

How important is operations management in organizational chart?

Operations management plays a critical role in the organization and supply chain. Without OM there would be no products to sell. However, operations cannot work in isolation from other business functions. Recall that each business function manages unique aspects of the business, and they all must work together.