MODULE TITLE

Operations Management

CREDIT VALUE

15

MODULE CODE

ECM3164

MODULE CONVENER

Dr Stephen Childe (Coordinator)

DURATION: TERM

DURATION: WEEKS

11 weeks

Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated)

22

DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

When managing operations, there are many aspects to consider, which can determine the success of a business. For instance, is it best to make your product
with hand tools, or do you want to mass produce with moulds, but face huge costs when a design changes and you must re-tool? Designing a company's
resources is central to operations management and a key focus of this module.
A large component of this course is a problem-solving case study, for which you will receive a brief on a real company. Pretending to be a consultant, you will be
challenged to consider this business' problems and work out what you would do to solve them. Putting the theory into practice, you will analyse business and
manufacturing strategies and operations systems; looking at the company's priorities and shortfalls and deciding how you would approach these issues. Mirroring
the role of a junior consultant or plant manager, this gives you a taste of how to do these jobs in industry, providing you with excellent preparation for an
engineering management career.

AIMS - intentions of the module

This module explores the current approaches to running engineering operations facilities and strategies, as well as giving you an introduction to computer tools
used for aspects like stock control and purchasing, such as MRP. On completing this module you willl be equipped with the analysis skills to judge how best to
solve a management problem and how you would set up your operations as a manager. You'll also have an understanding of change management, how you
design a solution, present a report and then implement it, and some knowledge of personnel issues.
This module covers Specific Learning Outcomes in Engineering, which apply to accredited programmes at Bachelors/MEng/Masters level. These contribute to the
educational requirements for CEng registration (as defined under the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence UK-SPEC).

This module correlates to references E1, P2, MU1 - MU3, MD1, GM2 and GM3. These references are indices of the specific learning outcomes expected of
Bachelors/MEng/Masters candidates set out in UK-SPEC, codified with reference to systems used by professional accrediting institutions. A full list of the standards
can be found on the Engineering Council's website, at http://www.engc.org.uk

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)
On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:
Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:
1 demonstrate an understanding of issues and concepts in operations management;
2 apply knowledge, concepts and ideas to any given situation to better understand the operations management task;
3 demonstrate an awareness of the tools and techniques to improve an operations function;
4 appreciate the central role of operations and its strategic importance in an organisation.
Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
5 choose the right tools and techniques for improving an operations function;
6 demonstrate an enhanced analytical approach to the understanding of an operations task;
7 make an informed contribution to the corporate debate and the overall business performance.
Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:
8 work in teams to analyse problems;
9 demonstrate critical analysis skills through the analysis of case studies.

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module
-

introduction to operations management;

operations manager within the organisation;
introduction to the concept of operations strategy;
developing operations strategy;
operations process - choice and trade-off;
process design;
capacity management;
operations control - scheduling and execution;
inventory management and control;
make - or - buy decisions;
improving operations;
supply chain;
information systems.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities

22.00

Guided Independent Study

128.00

Placement / Study Abroad

DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS

Category
Scheduled learning and teaching activities
Guided independent study

Hours of study time

22
128

Description
Lectures and seminars
Guided independent study

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment
Not applicable

Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length)

ILOs Assessed

Feedback Method

0.00

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)

Coursework

40

Written Exams

60

Practical Exams

DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Form of Assessment

% of Credit

Written exam closed book

Coursework 7 part case study (Group Work)
Coursework individual case study

60
10
30

Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length)

ILOs Assessed

2 hours

All
All
All

Feedback Method
None
Written
Written

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)

Original Form of Assessment

Form of Re-assessment

All above

ILOs Re-assessed

Written exam (100%)

All

Time Scale for Re-reassessment

August Ref/Def period

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES
If a module is normally assessed entirely by coursework, all referred/deferred assessments will normally be by assignment.
If a module is normally assessed by examination or examination plus coursework, referred and deferred assessment will normally be by examination. For referrals,
only the examination will count, a mark of 40% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred
examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.

RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener
ELE http://vle.exeter.ac.uk
Reading list for this module:
Type
Set

Author
Childe, S J

Title

Edition

An Introduction to Computer-aided Production Management

CREDIT VALUE

15

PRE-REQUISITE MODULES

None

1st

ECTS VALUE

Publisher

Year

Chapman & Hall

1997

ISBN
0412620103

7.5

CO-REQUISITE MODULES

None

NQF LEVEL (FHEQ)

3 (NQF level 6)

AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING

No

ORIGIN DATE

Thursday 23 January 2014

LAST REVISION DATE

Thursday 13 November 2014

KEY WORDS SEARCH

Operations management; mode of production; strategy; MRP; JIT.

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