Includes bibliographical references and appendices.

Operations management is a field of business concerned with the administration ofbusiness practices to maximize efficiency within an organization. It involves planning,organizing,and overseeing the organization's processes to balance revenues and costsand achieve the highest possible operating profit. An operations manager is tasked withensuring that the organization successfully converts inputs such as materials,labor,andtechnology into outputs in an efficient manner.
Operations management is an area of business concerned with the production ofgoods and services, and involves the responsibility of ensuring that business operationsare efficient in terms of using as little resource as needed, and effective in terms ofmeeting customer requirements. Operations management involves utilizing resourcesfrom staff,materials,equipment,and technology. Operations managers acquire, develop,and deliver goods to clients based on client needs and the abilities of the company.
Operations management handles various strategic issues, including determining thesize of manufacturing plants and project management methods and implementing thestructure of information technology networks.Other operational issues include themanagement of inventory levels,including work-in-process levels and raw materialsacquisition,quality control,materials handling, and maintenance policies.
An operations management professional understands local and global trends,customerdemand,and the available resources for production.Operations management approachesthe acquisition of materials and the use of labor in a timely, cost-effective manner todeliver customer expectations. Inventory levels are monitored to ensure excessivequantities are on hand. Operations management is responsible for finding vendors thatsupply the appropriate goods at reasonable prices and have the ability to deliver theproduct when needed.