Operations Management Major Career Brief

Overview

Operations Management is about getting things done effectively and efficiently in organizations. Demands for business process re-engineering, better quality, better customer service, time-based competition, and supply chain management demonstrate that superior management of the operations function is vital in business today. Operations managers manage the production systems in manufacturing and services.

All organizations have an operations function. Operations managers might work in managing manufacturing processes or managing the delivery of a service to a customer. Topics include process analysis and improvement, quality control, production planning, inventory systems, managing manufacturing, supply chain management, and managing the delivery of services.

Operations managers need good analytical and problem solving skills and knowledge of computers.

The UA Department of Management Information Systems supervises the operations management major.

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Degree Requirements

Includes foundation courses required for Professional Admission, general education requirements, professional core courses, free electives, and a set of specific OM Courses

Sample OM Courses:

• Systems Modeling and Simulation
• Linear Programming and Applications
• Current Topics in Operations Management
• Managing for Quality Improvement
• Management of Service Operations
• The Supply Chain and Logistics
• Project Management
• Computer Models for Operations Management
• Machine Scheduling

* Students must achieve Professional Admission (a competitive and selective application process) to move from the pre-professional phase to the professional phase.

** Check the Degree/Academic Progress Report (APRR's) for your specific academic program requirements per your catalog at http://catalog.arizona.edu.

Other Preparation

Clubs and Organizations
The college has a wide variety of professional fraternities, honoraries and student clubs. Student organizations offer: career information, networking opportunities with alums, corporate representatives, faculty, and fellow students; social and professional activities; and provide leadership roles and skills building opportunities.

Student Organizations for Operations Management majors include: APICS, The Educational Society for Resource Management, an international organization dedicated to keeping professionals and students informed of current events in operations management.

Visit the FESO - Federation of Eller Student Organizations website for more information.

Internships and Rresearch
MIS faculty members encourage students to participate in research projects. Students are urged to seek internships for valuable work experience and skill development. The best of these will have a visible connection to the company's success, and will allow the student to make project management decisions that have an impact.

Certification
APICS certifications are key, and will give you an edge while interviewing:

• Certification in Production & Inventory Management (CPIM)
• Certification in Integrated Resource Management (CIRM)

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Career Opportunities

Graduates are hired in both staff and line positions. Entry-level positions in line are usually as supervisors of production or operating personnel.

Entry-level positions in staff include technical jobs in production planning, inventory control, materials control, work scheduling, quality control, and operations analysis. Typical job titles include:

• Business analyst
• Master production scheduler
• Production planner
• Operations analyst
• Materials manager
• Quality control specialist
• Project manager

Examples of public- and private-sector employers who hire operations management graduates include:

• Retail establishments
• Hospitals
• Banks
• Insurance companies
• Airlines
• Government agencies
• Manufacturing companies
• Research corporations

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Salaries

Starting salaries vary by size and type of employer, geographic location, course work, and experience

National average salary offers: (NACE Salary Survey/Fall 2003)

• Management Information Systems/Business Data Processing - $40,556 Business Systems Networking/Telecommunications - $42,244
• Logistics/Materials Management - $39.308

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Recruitment Opportunities

Operations Management graduates obtain jobs through various avenues, leading to placements with a wide range of firms and organizations.

Recruitment opportunities include the annual "Career Week", sponsored each fall by UA Career Services and the spring "Career Showcase" coordinated by Eller BPA Student Council and Delta Sigma Pi.

A sample of employers that recruited Eller College OM majors for both placement and career-related experience in the 2000-2001 school year through the Career Services office:

For More Information

• UA offices
  Undergraduate Programs Office
  Eller College of Management
  McClelland Hall 204
  P. O. Box 210108
  Tucson, AZ 85721-0108
  520-621-2505
  http://ugrad.eller.arizona.edu/

• UA Career Services
  Student Union, Suite 411
  520-621-2588
  www.career.arizona.edu

• Department of Management Information Systems
  Eller College of Management
  McClelland Hall, Rm. 430
  520-621-2748
  http://mis.eller.arizona.edu

• Major and Career Advisor:
  Vannessa Kramer
  vkramer@eller.arizona.edu

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Associations

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