facts and trends

Careers in Operations Management
Facts and Trends

Jobs in Every Sector Including Services

Opportunities for operations careers exist in every industry, from manufacturing and service organizations, government institutions, to education, and retail companies. The phenomenal rate of growth in the service sector relative to the manufacturing sector is creating vast opportunities for operations in service industries.

Total Focus on Supply Chain Management

Increased efficiency in product flow is called for in industry after industry, from clothes and cars, to computers and chemicals, executives placed logistics/distribution (getting the right goods to the right place at the right time) near the top of the corporate agenda. Supply chain management / logistics has become the focal point of operations The process by which firms move parts, materials & products to customers. Basically this means getting the right stuff to the right place at the right time. Industry after industry, executives have taken this once dismal discipline off of the loading dock and placed it near the top of the corporate agenda. In 2009, American firms spent $970 billion -- wrapping, bundling, loading, unloading, sorting, reloading, and transporting goods. A whopping 10.5% of the GDP. As competition becomes more global streamlining the supply chain is becoming increasingly important.

Concentration of manufacturing jobs

Half of U.S. manufacturing jobs are in 5 industries: industrial machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, electronic and electrical equipment, fabricated metals, and foods.

Hot growth industries

Bustling activity in manufacturing centers include: robotics, fiber optics, computer software, hardware, and peripherals, laser technology, commercial printing, medical technology, and telecommunications.

Don't let the size fool you

According to Purchasing magazine 80% of purchasing professionals work in small- and medium-sized organizations.

Environmental Innovations come to the forefront

Manufacturers are finding that "green" or environmental solutions are no longer just a government regulation to suffer through, but are becoming an important characteristic of competition. Firms are searching for innovative ways to lower emission releases and new ways to reduce costs for dealing with these releases as a way to gain an edge on the competition.

Determining future need and filling it

Forecasting is becoming an increasingly important tool for goods-producing and service-producing firms. Firms must forecast the pattern of demand for just-in-time production to be effective. In response to intense global competition U.S. companies have adopted a variety of management practices to improve their competitiveness: just-in-time, total quality management, worker empowerment, design for manufacturability, outsourcing, etc.

'operations management' new buzz word

Careers in Operations Management
Job Options

There are a wide variety of career options in the field of operations management. Some key opportunity areas are:

Operations Manager

The operations manager is focused on optimizing general corporate infrastructure by monitoring and changing the work environment, vendor selection, supply chain management, real estate and budgets.

Materials Manager

Stores a product through all phases from production to finished goods, shipping between departments, transportation to distribution centers, warehouses, and customers. Materials mangers must insure that the firm has the right item, at the right time, for the right price. This holds for both good and services. For services, the emphasis is on ordering, receiving, storing and distributing any resources required to perform the service. Jobs include: traffic manager, warehouse manager, logistics manager, materials manager.

Purchasing Manager

Buys the goods and services, raw materials, and supplies required by the firm for its operation. They coordinate the quantity, quality, price, and timing delivery appropriate for the firm's needs. Every firm makes certain purchases each day. Basically every sector deals with purchasing: public and private. Purchasing people spend on average, half of the income of the firm for which they work. Jobs include: expediter, buyer, purchasing agent, purchasing manager.

Industrial Production Manager

Coordinates the activities of production departments of manufacturing firms. They are responsible for the production scheduling, staffing, quality control, equipment operation and maintenance, inventory control, and coordinating the unit's activities with that of the other departments. Jobs include: line supervisor, manufacturing manager, production planner, production manager.

Operations Research Analyst

Decides on the best allocation of resources within an organization or system. Resources include time, money, people, space, and raw materials. They might also compare competing research projects to determine what one performs best on time, results, and cost given a fixed set of resources and recommend what project to keep and what project to drop. Jobs include: industrial engineer, systems analyst, office manager, and forecaster.

Quality Assurance Manager

Works on the prevention of product deficiencies through prevention, detection, and correction. They ensure that production goals and quality are met. They might sample, inspect, and test operations and set standards. With the advent of the Malcolm Baldridge Award many of these managers are part of a firm's total quality management strategic initiatives. Jobs include: quality assurance manager, inspector, and technician.

Facilities Coordinator

Designs the physical environment of a company. Work on building design, furniture and associated equipment.

Logistics Manager

Responsible for supply chain management in a key area of the corporation. Focused on efficiency and accuracy in receiving and shipping goods. Highly process focused.