BUS 172a
Operations Management
COURSE SYLLABUS
Spring 2015
Class Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: TBD
Anita L. Tucker, DBA
Associate Professor of Operations Management
Office Hours: Mondays 3:00 – 5:00 pm; Tuesdays 5:30 – 6:30 pm
I am happy to meet with you on other days and times, just send me an email request.
Sachar 209B
781-736-8542 (office phone)
atucker@brandeis.edu
Revision date: November 3, 2014
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
Overview
Operations Management is central to value creation in organizations. It is the scientific study and
optimization of the processes that organizations use to create the products/services purchased by
their customers. To be successful, organizations must have reliable processes that are aligned
with their strategic positioning. They also must effectively design and manage their supply chain.
By taking this course you will gain the knowledge and skills to assess the efficiency of
organizations’ operations and make informed recommendations for improvement. The topics that
we will cover include: process analysis, the impact of variability on process performance
(waiting time and throughput losses), quality management (lean production), inventory
management and supply chain coordination.
Learning Goals
In this course, you will learn the fundamentals of operations management.
By the end of the course you will:
 Be able to apply the vocabulary, tools, and formulas used to analyze processes.
 Quantify the impact of variability on system performance, and determine strategies for
reducing variability’s negative impact on performance.
 Be able to identify opportunities for improving the performance of operating systems,
and know a variety of approaches to improvement (e.g., lean)
 Understand techniques used to determine inventory levels and manage supply chains.
 Understand how to manage supply and demand, and techniques for handling imbalances
between the two (e.g, delayed differentiation, flexible capacity).
Teaching Methods
The focus of the course will be on learning and applying fundamental operations management
principles and techniques. In our classes, we will use a variety of formats to deepen our
understanding including lectures, case study discussions and hands-on exercises. We will apply
what we learned in homework assignments and exams.
Course Prerequisites: BUS 1b and BUS 10a
Materials
This course will use the following book, which is required:
Operations and Supply Chain Management: The Core. F. Robert Jacobs and Richard B. Chase. 3rd
edition. 2013. McGraw-Hill Irwin.
ISBN 978-0-07-352523-5
We will be using “CONNECT” which enables you to do problem sets from the textbook online.
To register for this go to this webpage
https://connect.mheducation.com/class/a-tucker-spring-2015
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The book may be purchased from Amazon.com, the Brandeis bookstore or any other bookseller
that carries it.
Grading:
Grades are based on several components.
Class Participation (15%). Class participation is determined by your preparation and active
engagement during class. Class attendance is required. If you are unable to attend class, please
let me know in advance, if possible, including the reason you are unable to attend. You will not
be penalized for one absence, but any unexcused absences beyond that will hurt your grade.
For class discussion, you are expected to actively listen, respond to questions, express your
viewpoints, and respond to comments from your fellow students. I will keep a record of class
participation for each student and assign a grade based on your non-verbal participation and the
quality and quantity of in-class comments. Attendance without participation will result in a C+
participation grade (assuming there is no more than one absence). High quality (e.g., contributing
analysis, synthesis) participation for most classes will be an A. Consistent, although not always
breakthrough participation will be a B.
In general, we will be leaving laptops (and smart phones) closed during discussions.
Homework Assignments (35%)
Assignments may be turned in either in hard copy or via Latte. Late assignments will not be
accepted unless there are extenuating circumstances (e.g. death of a close family member).
Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Your submission must be your own, but you may
work with other students to discuss the homework.
Practice problems on Connect will be worth 10%, the other assigments will be worth 25%
Connect enables you to gain practice with the problems.
Exams (3) (50%)
Exams are mandatory and may not be rescheduled. They are open book, open notes.
Communication
We will use Latte for posting course slides and for class announcements. Email usually is the
best way to reach me besides coming to my office hours.
Special Accommodation
If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and wish to
have a reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please see me immediately.
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Academic Integrity
You are expected to be familiar with and to follow the University’s policies on academic
integrity (see http://www.brandeis.edu/global/current-students/academic/integrity/index.html).
Instances of alleged dishonesty will be forwarded to the Office of Campus Life for possible
referral to the Student Judicial System. Potential sanctions include failure in the course and
suspension from the University.
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Syllabus for Bus 172a
Date
1/13/2015
1/15/2015
Day
Tu
Th
Class #
1
2
Topic
Introduction
Operational
Performance
Material
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
1/20/2015
Tu
3
Chapter 2
1/22/2015
Th
4
Strategy and
Sustainability
Forecasting
1/27/2015
Tu
5
Forecasting
Chapter 3: Starbucks Case
1/29/2015
Th
6
Project Management
Chapter 5
2/3/2015
Tu
7
Chapter 6
2/5/2015
Th
8
Manufacturing
Processes
Service Processes
2/10/2015
Tu
9
2/12/2015
2/17/2015
Th
Tu
10
Chapter 3
Review Material for
the first exam
First Exam
No Class
5
Assignment Due
AE-1: Compare companies using wall street
efficiency measures. Bring a single
powerpoint slide to class that summarizes the
results of what you found and be prepared to
present this to class. Upload your slide to
Assignments-AE1 on Latte
AE-2: The Tao of Timbuk2. Answer
questions at end of case and upload in Latte
Practice problems on Connect:
Chapter 3: 1, 4, 5 and 20.
AE-3: Forecasting Supply Chain DemandStarbucks Corporation. Answer the questions
at the end of the case in a short write-up
within your spreadsheet. Your spreadsheet
should be submitted to Latte and bring a copy
to share with the rest of class.
AE4: Product design project. Answer the
questions at the end of the case in a short
write-up. Submit your write-up on Latte.
Bring a copy to share with the class.
Practice problems on Connect
Chapter 5: 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 11, 13
Practice problems on Connect
Chapter 6: 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 12
AE5: Designing a Manufacturing Process –
Toshiba’s Notebook Computer Assembly
Line. Turn in via Latte. Prepare a few
powerpoint slides that summarize your
analysis and bring to class.
2/19/2015
2/24/2015
Th
Tu
11
No Class
Sales and Operations
Planning
Sales and Operations
Planning
2/26/2015
Th
12
3/3/2015
Tu
13
Material Requirements
Planning
Chapter 9
3/5/2015
Th
14
3/10/2015
Tu
15
3/12/2015
Th
16
Six-Sigma/ Quality
Management
Six-Sigma/ Quality
Management
Six-Sigma/ Quality
Management
Chapter 10
Six-Sigma Quality Concepts
Process Capability, Statistical
Quality Control
Toyota
3/17/2015
3/19/2015
3/24/2015
Tu
Th
Tu
17
18
19
3/26/2015
Th
20
3/31/2015
Tu
21
Inventory
Management
4/2/2015
Th
22
Strategy, Sourcing and
Purchasing
Chapter 8
Use excel solver for aggregate
operations planning
Review
Second Exam
Inventory
Management
Inventory
Management
Practice problems at Connect
Chapter 8: 6, 7, 9
AE6: Developing an Aggregate Plan for
Bradford Manufacturing (Pages 270-271).
See Latte for more details
Read the Brunswick Motors case, we will
complete the exercise in class.
Practice problems on Connect.
Chapter 9: 2, 4, 5, 7
Practice problems on Connect
Chapter 10: 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12
AE7: Quality Management-Toyota. Complete
both part A and B of the case. Prepare a short
write up that addresses the questions at the
end of each part of the case. Submit your
write up to Latte, and bring a copy to class.
Chapter 11
Practice Problems on Connect
Chapter 11: 1, 2, 8-17
AE-8: Warehouse Inventory Planning at Big
10 Sweaters. Prepare a short write-up of the
case and a one page powerpoint for use in
class. Submit your write-up to Latte
Chapter 13
Efficient and Responsive
supply chains, the bullwhip
effect
6
4/7/2015
4/9/2015
4/14/2015
Tu
Th
Tu
23
No Class
No Class
Location, Logistics
and Distribution
4/16/2015
Th
24
Location, Logistics
and Distribution
4/21/2015
4/23/2015
Tu
Th
25
26
Review for Exam
Third Exam
Chapter 14 (pages 460-469)
AE9: Global Sourcing Decision. Prepare a
short write-up or powerpoint slides that
summarizes your answers to the questions at
the end of the case. Submit your write up via
latte
Practice problems on Connect.
Chapter 14: 3, 4, 5
AE-10: Distribution Center Location. Prepare
a short write up or powerpoint deck that
summarizes your answers to the questions at
the end of the case. Submit your write-up to
Latte.
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