Market trends are constantly changing, and by achieving operational excellence, companies can improve their internal processes, gain a competitive advantage, retain customers and increase profits. But to attain this, you need to understand how an organisation’s existing processes work and create strategies for fundamentally enhancing them.
Introduction to Operations Management is an online professional development course that will help you organise workplaces, meet strategic objectives, and improve the quality and efficiency of internal processes and operations.
In this operations management course, you will explore popular inventory management tools, and learn about the transformation model, the product and service life cycle, the components of a supply chain and the key objectives involved in supply chain management.
You will also learn about demand forecasting, capacity management and value stream mapping via ‘Lean’ techniques, and explore the revolutionary Kanban system.
On completion of this course, you will be equipped with the transformative strategies that will help you to enhance an organisation’s ‘best practice’ operations to be sustainable over the long term.
Course Structure
Unit 1 - Applying value stream mapping in lean business
- Value stream mapping
- The value stream mapping process
- Gathering data for value stream mapping
- Creating a value stream map
- Identifying waste in a value stream map
- Identify process blocks in a value stream map
- Pull systems in future state mapping
Unit 2 - Enabling business process improvement
- Enabling business process improvement
- Getting buy-in for process improvement
- Analysing and redesigning a process
- Implementing process improvement
- Sustaining continual process improvement
Unit 3 - Managing for operational excellence
- Understanding operation excellence
- Building a foundation for operational excellence
- Choosing and operational excellence methodology
- Operational excellence tools
- Sustaining operational excellence
Unit 4 - Using lean to improve flow and pull
- Goals of the visual workplace
- Implementing a just-in-time system
- Visual workplace tools
- Implementing a Kanban system
- Balancing goals
Unit 5 - Using lean to perfect organisational processes
- The 5 step process for workplace organisation
- Hoshin Kanri and the PDCA cycle
- Hoshin Kanri strategies and project stages
- Using Jidoka to solve problems
- Using standard work to optimise processes
- Work strategies for eliminating waste
Unit 6 - Using lean to reduce waste and streamline value flow
- Value-add and none-value add activities
- Over production and inventory
- Over processing defects
- Calculating cycle time and takt time
Unit 7 - Inventory management
- Inventory types
- Inventory management
- Methods for valuing inventory
- Inventory costs
- Calculating economic order quantity
- Determining reorder points
- Inventory management tools
Unit 8 - Operations management functions and strategies
- Strategic operations management functions
- Tactical operations management functions
- Service and manufacturing organisations
- Formulating organisational strategy
- Operational strategies in manufacturing
- Operations strategies in service organisations
- The transformation model
Unit 9 - Optimising operations using demand forecasting and capacity management
- Trends in customer demand
- Demand forecasting variables
- A process for forecasting demand
- Demand forecasting models and methods
- Managing capacity by keeping production level
- Managing capacity by chasing demand
- Managing capacity by managing demand
- Forecast demand and manage capacity
Unit 10 - Strategic product and service management
- Stages of the product life cycle
- New product or service development
- Best practices for new product development
- Strategies for maintaining sales
- Strategies for revitalising sales
- Strategies for product and service rationalisation
- Managing products and services
Unit 11 - Supply chain management basics: cutting costs and optimising delivery
- Understanding the supply chain
- What drives supply chain management?
- Supply chain characteristics
- Organisational supply chain strategies
- Selecting the best supply chain strategies
Assessment
Assessment
When you study with Australian Online Courses, you will be assessed using a competency-based training method.
Competency-based training focuses on the achievement of skills and knowledge against set criteria to ensure your competency is industry relevant. You will not be benchmarked against other students.
If you do not achieve a competency result on your first attempt, you have two more attempts to pass your assessment. So, you have three attempts in total to obtain a competency result.
In this way, you can complete your course in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
In this course, you will be assessed via multiple-choice questions to determine your mastery of details and specific knowledge gained during your studies to achieve a ‘competent’ or ‘not yet competent’ result.
Benefits of Multiple-Choice Assessments
- Appropriate for assessing students’ mastery of details and specific knowledge.
- Can be used to assess both simple knowledge and complex concepts.
- Questions can be answered quickly to accurately assess a students’ mastery of many topics relatively quickly.
- Assessment can be quickly and reliably scored to achieve a ‘competent’ or ‘not yet competent’ result.
- As the answers are visible, multiple-choice questions offer the opportunity for the continuation of the learning process, offering educational value.
Testimonials
Easy to use and helpful service.
M. Sivell, Eight Mile Plains, QLD | Certificate of Operations Management
Good learning material and support
B. Schriever, Strathdale Victoria | Introduction to Operations Management
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- No entry requirements;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support;
- Easy to understand course content;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Certificate of Attainment/Completion issued for your CV (hard copy provided); and
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
How long will it take to complete this course?
The approximate study hours for this course is 50 hours. We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply).
Can I purchase optional printed materials?
While printed materials are not available for purchase, transcripts of video lectures and other learning resources are available for printing via our elearning system.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
Will I receive a certificate upon completion of this course?
Yes! You will receive a Certificate of Attainment upon successful completion of your assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our e-learning system and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
- Operations Manager
- General Manager