OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
PGP, Term II, 2019-21 (Section C)
Instructor: Jishnu Hazra
hazra@iimb.ac.in
D Block, I Floor

Course Description & Objectives

Operations Management (OM) deals with the transformation of varied resources into goods or services for
use. These resources could be materials, labor, capital, knowledge, information, etc. It is often a source of
competitiveness and success for companies. In recent years several strategies have emerged for improving
productivity and quality, reducing costs and delivery times, and enhancing the flexibility and innovative
abilities of the firm. The objective of the course is to develop an understanding of the role of OM in a firm
and to develop abilities to structure and solve operations related problems.

Readings

(CP) Kirsten’s Cookie, Executive Shirt, Shouldice Hospital, Manzana Insurance, Donner
Company, Hewlett Packard, MOS Game hand out, Toyota Motor Manufacturing,
Process Control at Polaroid, Polyface: The Farm of Many Faces, American Connector
Company
(MBPF) Anupindi, et. al. Managing Business Process Flows, 3rd Edition, Pearson

Pedagogy
The pedagogy consists of lectures, classroom discussions, group exercises such as case analyses and
simulations/management games (in class and online).

Grading Scheme
Course evaluation will be awarded based on the following components.
Case write-ups 21% Group (of up to 6) assignment
Module – I test (Test 1) 20%
Module – II test (Test 2) 14%
Littlefield Simulation Game 10% Group (of up to 6) assignment
End Term Test 35%
The groups will be formed by the PGP Office.

For the three tests you will be allowed to bring two standard A4 size paper where you can
write/print any information on both sides of the paper. No other written material (eg, text-book,
lecture slides, case pack (CP), etc.) can be used during the exam.

Attendance Much of the learning happens both during your preparation and discussion in class
involving mutual exchange of ideas. Hence, attendance and participation in all sessions is expected.
Missing more than 4 classes would result in a 1 grade point drop (as per PGP rules).

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Dates for Littlefield Simulation
Date Time Details
21-Oct 10:00 am Open Registration Window
25-Oct 12:00 pm Close Registration Window
1-Nov 10:00 pm Open Game
6-Nov 9:30 pm Start Game (game will last for 4 to 7 days)

Session Date Topic

Module 1: Process & Capacity Analysis

1 2 Sept Operations as a Source of Competitive Advantage; Performance
Measures for Analysing Operations
Read: Chapter 1 (MBPF)
2 3 Sept Process analysis: Concept of Bottleneck, Cycle Time, Resource
Interference; Factors affecting Operations Performance
Case (CP): Kristen’s cookie
Read: Chapter 3, Sections 1 to 7 (MBPF)
Start reading The Goal and complete by Session 12
3 9 Sept Process Analysis of Batching & Assembly Operations
Case (CP): Executive Shirt
Read: Chapters 4, 5 (MBPF)
4 10 Sept Analysis of Operating Systems with High Volume and Low
Variety; Comparison between Service and Manufacturing
Organizations
Case (CP): Shouldice Hospital
Read: The Focused Factory
5 16 Sept Capacity Analysis Under Uncertainty; Introduction to Queuing
Read: Chapter 8, Sections 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 (MBPF)
6 17 Sept Performance Analysis of a Service Process
Case (CP): Manzana Insurance
7 23 Sept Analysis of Operating Systems with Low Volume and High
Variety; Product Process Matrix
Case (CP): Donner
Read (again): Chapter 1, Sections 5, 6 (MBPF)
27 Sept Test 1

Module 2: Supply Chain & Coordination

8 24 Sept Inventory Management: Deterministic Model, Cost Structure
and Trade-offs, EOQ, Stochastic Demand
Read: Chapters 6, 7 (Sections 1, 2) (MBPF)
9 30 Sept Inventory Management: Safety Stocks, Continuous Review,
Periodic Review (Order-upto-Level), Cycle Service Level, Fill
Rate; Newsvendor Model (Perishable Products)
Read: Chapter 7 (Sections 3 to 8) (MBPF)

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 10 1 Oct Supply Chain Coordination
Beer Game
Read: The Beer Game Handout (in Moodle) before coming to
class
11 1 Oct Supply Chain Coordination
at 2.30pm Beer game Analysis
Read: Chapter 10 Sections 5, 6 (MBPF)
12 21 Oct Efficient versus Responsive supply Chain, Concept of
Postponement (Delayed Differentiation), Managing Inventory in
a Responsive Supply Chain
Case (CP): Hewlett-Packard
25 Oct Test 2
Module 3: Operations Planning & Strategy
13 22 Oct Master Operations Scheduling game;
Each group should bring a laptop to the class
Read (CBPF): MOS Game handout (also on Moodle)
14 28 Oct Concept of Hierarchical Approach to Planning, Cost Structure
and Planning Strategies, Master Production Schedule, Material
Requirements Planning
Read: Chapter 15, 16 from Operations Management by
Mahadevan (see Moodle)
15 4 Nov Just-in-Time Systems; Lean Management
Case (CP): Toyota Motor Manufacturing
Read: Chapter 10, Sections 1 to 4 (MBPF)
16 5 Nov Total Quality Management; Statistical Process Control and
Process Capability
Read: Chapter 9 Sections 1 to 5 (MBPF)
17 11 Nov Quality Control and Six Sigma
Case (CP): Process Control at Polaroid (A)
18 12 Nov Sustainable and Operations
Case (CP): Polyface: The Farm of Many Faces
19 18 Nov Operations Strategy
Case (CP): American Connector Company
20 19 Nov Littlefield game discussions
Course Wrap-Up

End-Term Exam (Check date and time with PGP office)

 
   

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