In this module, you will be introduced to the idea of operations as processes that are composed of coordinated activities. Processes will then be characterized by how activities and resources required to perform them are organized. Process types will be described and guidelines on the appropriate choice of a process type will be presented. Activities and processes will be analyzed and key performance metrics will be presented. You will learn about cycle times, flow rates, throughput times, and how to calculate them for activities and processes. The calculated metrics will allow you to identify bottleneck activities and understand the idea of capacity utilization. The module ends with Little’s law, which introduces the notion of inventories and how other process metrics are related to amount of inventory in a process.

In this module, you will learn the importance of inventory management, and effective ways to manage inventories. We will explore different types of inventories and why organizations maintain inventories. You will learn about macro-level inventory performance measures, as well as the various drivers that affect the amount of inventory. You will learn how inventories are managed, how much should be ordered and when. You will learn analytical models, such as the Economic Order Quantity and Economic Manufacturing Quantity, that optimize the order or manufacturing quantities to minimize cost. The effects of lead times and demand variability on inventory management decisions will be discussed and you will learn to calculate safety stocks and re-order points.

In this module we explore supply chains and discuss some of the important considerations associated with supply chain management. Using the example of coffee, we discuss the complexities associated with the design and management of supply chains. You will learn about issues arising from sourcing materials, logistics of moving and storing material, and information that is needed to manage the supply chain. You will also understand governance issues and the use of contracts, sustainability of supply chains, and the risks inherent in the workings of a supply chain. Because the sourcing of materials is a major function in supply chain management, you will learn about make-or-buy decisions and the theory of transaction cost economics that undergirds such decisions. Finally, you will learn about the bullwhip effect which explains the magnification of demand variability in a supply chain and the role of information in mitigating this problem.