MGTK 421, Production and Operations Management
Spring 2014
Instructor: Dr. E. Gordon DeMeritt
Office: Luray, Virginia and Shepherdstown, WV
Phone: 540-743-3483
Email: gdemerit@shepherd.edu
Office Hours: By appointment via phone or Skype
MODE of INSTRUCTION and COURSE ACCESS
This is a 100% online course using the TAMUCT Blackboard system http://tamuct.blackboard.com .
You will use the Blackboard username and password communicated to you separately to logon to this
system. As of Spring 2014, Texas A&M Central Texas has modified Blackboard log-in protocols.
You may need to adjust your username and password.
STUDENT-INSTRUCTOR INTERACTION
I will monitor Blackboard several times every week (not daily). I do, however, monitor my e-mail
many times every day and often late into the night. It is typically very easy to communicate with
me via e-mail and it is my preferred mode of communication. Please do not hesitate to contact me
at gdemerit@shepherd.edu.
UNILERT Emergency Warning System for Texas A&M University – Central Texas
UNILERT is an emergency notification service that gives Texas A&M University-Central Texas the
ability to communicate health and safety emergency information quickly via email and text message.
By enrolling in UNILERT, university officials can quickly pass on safety-related information,
regardless of your location. Please enroll today at http://TAMUCT.org/UNILERT .
1.0 COURSE OVERVIEW
Topics covered include: industrial organization, scientific management, planning and control, building
locations and layouts, wage rates, corporation relationships, and research.
Prerequisite Courses: MGMT 301, Principles of Management; FIN 301, Principles of Financial
Management; GB 311, Business Statistics.
2.0 OBJECTIVES / STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this course students should be able to:
 Describe the various forecasting methodologies and their appropriate use.
 Identify the components of the supply chain and their interactions.
 Discuss the evolution of quality management and its current application.



Describe the different techniques for managing dependent and independent demand.
Discuss the relationship between MRP, ERP, JIT, and Lean Operations.
Describe the techniques used for aggregate and detailed capacity planning.
OBJECTIVES / COMPETENCY GOALS STATEMENTS

Week 1 & 2
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Define efficient and effective operations.
Describe how productivity is measured.
Describe the role of forecasting as a basis for supply chain planning.
Identify the components of demand: average, trend, seasonal, and random variation.
Calculate a forecast using regression, averages, and seasonality.
Weeks 3 & 4
a) Calculate process performance measures for the basic types of processes.
b) Explain the impact of economies of scale on the capacity of a firm.

Weeks 5 & 6
c) Identify the major issues that need to be considered in locating a plant or warehouse facility.
d) Describe how a factor-rating system can be used to narrow potential location sites.

Weeks 7 & 8
a)
b)
c)
d)

Weeks 9 & 10
a)
b)
c)
d)

Describe total quality management.
Describe how quality is measured and be aware of the different dimensions of quality.
Describe how processes are monitored with SPC control charts.
Demonstrate data collection and analysis techniques to improve quality.
Describe sales and operations planning between manufacturing, logistics, and marketing.
Understand the scope of enterprise resource planning (ERP & MRP) systems.
Relate the value of integrated information in a complex firm.
Identify the challenges associated with implementing ERP systems.
Weeks 11 & 12
a) Identify the different purposes for keeping inventory.
b) Calculate the appropriate order size for different types of demand.
c) Calculate economic order quantity, re-order level, and safety stock.
d) Explain how a production pull system works.
e) Summarize important attributes of a lean supply chain.
Complete final / term paper, makeup quiz, and extra credit assignments
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Stevenson, William J., Operations Management, 11th edition, 2012, New York: McGraw-Hill.
A student of this institution is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from a universityaffiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including
an online retailer.
4.0 COURSE REQUIREMENTS
This is an online (Blackboard) course in which you will read the text and other materials and
demonstrate your mastery of the subject through quizzes, homework assignments, and a final exam (or
term paper). All quizzes, exams, and assignments are submitted online. In addition, you may receive
extra credit assignments and for participating in weekly discussions on Blackboard discussion groups.
Be sure to check the calendar, quizzes, assignments, and discussion group pages on Blackboard.
Quizzes
The quizzes are not timed. All of the quizzes are available at the beginning of the term. Each quiz
has an expiration date. You may complete all of the quizzes as quickly as you would like, but no
later than the expiration date of each quiz. You may log on and off each quiz until the expiration
date at which time the quiz is no longer available. Be sure to save your answers before you log off
each time and to submit your quiz before the expiration date and time. Grades for each quiz are
posted after their respective expiration dates. Your highest four (out of five) quiz scores are used
to calculate your grade.
Quiz one will cover chapters 1-3.
Quiz two will cover chapter 4-8.
Quiz three will cover chapters 9-12.
Quiz four will cover chapters 13-15.
Quiz five (makeup) will cover chapters 1-15.
Final Exam or Term Paper
You have the choice of taking the final exam or writing a term paper.
The final exam is a two hour, 100 questions, multiple choice and true/false, timed examination. If
for any reason, you are unable to take the final, you will be required to submit a term paper.
You may choose to do the term paper rather than the final. If you choose to do the term paper, it
should be 5 pages, typed, single spaced, with double spacing between paragraphs, 12 point, Arial
or Times New Roman font. Include as the first page a title page that indicates appropriate
identifying information and a list of references at the end. The title page and list of references are
not counted in the number of pages submitted. Your topic must be approved by the instructor.
Homework Assignments and Extra Credit
You will submit your homework assignments and extra credit by attaching your files and
submitting your work on the Assignments page of Blackboard.
5.0 GRADING CRITERIA
Item
Quizzes
`
Homework
Final (or Term Paper)
Total
Grade
A
B
C
D
F
Points
405+
360+
315+
270+
< 270
4 @ 50 pts each
3 @ 50 pts each
Points
200
150
100
450
Percentage
90%
80%
70%
60%
Extra Credit
You may earn up to 45 extra credit points by
a) Participating in Blackboard discussion groups (up to 25 points).
b) Reading the book, “The Goal” by Eliyahu M. Goldratt and completing a one page single
spaced book report (up to 20 points).
6.0 POSTING OF GRADES
All grades will be posted in Blackboard. Students should monitor their own grades through this
tool. I anticipate posting grades within one week of the final due date on each assignment.
7.1 TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS AND SUPPORT
This course will use the new TAMU-CT Blackboard Learn learning management system.
Logon to http://tamuct.blackboard.com to access the course.
Check your browser and computer compatibility by following the “Browser Check” link on the
TAMU-CT Blackboard logon page.
Upon logging on to Blackboard Learn, you will see a link to Blackboard Student Orientation
under My Courses tab. Click on that link and study the materials in this orientation course.
There is also a link to Blackboard Help from inside the course on the left-hand menu bar.
7.2 TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
For technological or computer issues, students should contact the TAMU-CT Blackboard Support
Services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
Support Portal: http://www.ct.tamus.edu/bbsupport
Online chat (through the support portal at: http://www.ct.tamus.edu/bbsupport)
Phone: (855)-661-7965
8.0 COMPLETE COURSE OUTLINE
Date
Topic
Assignments/Quizzes Due
Week 1 & 2
Monday, 1/13
Chapter 1, Introduction
Chapter 2, Competitiveness, Strategy, and Productivity
Chapter 3, Forecasting
Quiz 1, Ch 1-3
Week 3 & 4
Monday, 1/27
Chapter 4, Product and Service Design
Chapter 5, Strategic Capacity Planning
Chapter 6, Process Selection & Facility Layout
Homework 1
Week 5 & 6
Monday, 2/10
Chapter 7, Work Design and Measurement
Chapter 8, Location Planning & Analysis
Quiz 2, Ch 4-8
Week 7 & 8
Monday, 2/24
Chapter 9, Management of Quality
Chapter 10, Quality Control
Homework 2
Week 9 & 10
Monday, 3/17
Chapter 11, Aggregate Planning and Master Scheduling
Chapter 12, MRP and ERP
Week 11 & 12
Monday, 3/31
Chapter 13, Inventory Management
Chapter 14, JIT and Lean Operations
Homework 3
Week 13 & 14
Monday, 4/14
Chapter 15, Supply Chain Management
Quiz 4, Ch 13-15
Week 15
Mon, 4/28
Final Exam Available (2 hour timed)
Final Exam available
Sun, 5/4
Final Exam Unavailable after 11:30pm
Final Exam unavailable
Sunday, 5/4
Term Paper - if chosen rather than final
Extra Credit
Term Paper - if chosen rather than final
Quiz 5 (makeup), Ch 1-15
Extra Credit
Quiz 3, Ch 9-12
9.0 DROP POLICY
If you discover that you need to drop this class, you must go to the Records Office and ask for the
necessary paperwork. Professors cannot drop students; this is always the responsibility of the
student. The Record’s Office will give a deadline for which the form must be returned, completed
and signed. Once you return the signed form to the records office and wait 24 hours, you must go
into Duck Trax and confirm that you are no longer enrolled. Should you still be enrolled,
FOLLOW-UP with the records office immediately. You are to attend class until the procedure is
complete to avoid penalty for absence. Should you miss the deadline or fail to follow the
procedure, you will receive an F in the course.
10.0 ACADEMIC HONESTY
Texas A&M University - Central Texas expects all students to maintain high standards of personal
and scholarly conduct. Students guilty of academic dishonestly are subject to disciplinary action.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic
work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials. The faculty member is
responsible for initiating action for each case of academic dishonesty and for reporting the incident
to the Director of Student Affairs. More information can be found at
http://www.tamuct.edu/departments/StudentConduct/facultyresources.php.
11.0 DISABILITY SUPPORT
If you believe you have a disability and wish to self-identify, you can do so by providing
documentation to the Disability Support Coordinator. Students are encouraged to seek information
about accommodations to help assure success in their courses. please contact Vanessa Snyder at
(254) 5501-5836 or visit Founder’s Hall 114. Additional information can be found at
http://www.tamuct.edu/departments/disabilitysupport/index.php.
12.0 TUTORING
Tutoring is available to all TAMUCT students, both on-campus and online. Subjects tutored
include Accounting, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics, and Writing (APA). Tutors are available at
the Tutoring Center in Founder's Hall, Room 204, and also in the Library in the North Building.
Visit www.ct.tamus.edu/AcademicSupport and click "Tutoring Support" for tutor schedules and
contact info. If you have questions, need to schedule a tutoring session, or if you're interested in
becoming a tutor, contact Academic Support Programs at 254-501-5830 or by
emailing cecilia.morales@ct.tamus.edu.
Chat live with a tutor 24/7 for almost any subject on your computer! Tutor.com is an online
tutoring platform that enables TAMU-CT students to log-in and receive FREE online tutoring and
writing support. This tool provides tutoring in Mathematics, Writing, Career Writing, Chemistry,
Physics, Biology, Spanish, Calculus, and Statistics. To access Tutor.com, click
on www.tutor.com/tamuct.
13.0 LIBRARY SERVICES
Library distance education services aims to make available quality assistance to A&M-Central
Texas students seeking information sources remotely by providing digital reference, online
information literacy tutorials, and digital research materials. Much of the A&M-CT collection is
available instantly from home. This includes over half of the library's book collection, as well as
approximately 25,000 electronic journals and 200 online databases. Library Distance Education
Services are outlined and accessed at:
http://www.ct.tamus.edu/departments/library/deservices.php
Information literacy focuses on research skills which prepare individuals to live and work in an
information-centered society. Librarians will work with students in the development of critical
reasoning, ethical use of information, and the appropriate use of secondary research techniques.
Help may include, but is not limited to: the exploration of information resources such as library
collections, the identification of appropriate materials, and the execution of effective search
strategies. Library Resources are outlined and accessed at:
http://www.ct.tamus.edu/departments/library/index.php
14.0 CHANGES TO THE SYLLABUS AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS
The instructor reserves the right to modify or change the syllabus and course requirements at his
discretion.
15.0 The Operation of the Online Course and on Being an On-line Student
This is an online course in which you will read the text and other materials and demonstrate your mastery
of the subject through quizzes, homework assignments, and a final exam (or term paper - your choice).
Please use the discussion board to introduce yourself in the introduction "Discussions" page and to
participate in the other discussion topics. Several discussion groups will be available during the course.
Participation will earn extra credit points, but more importantly participation acts to develop community
within the course. Lack of community is often the most significant complaint that one hears about on-line
learning.
The course is organized into bi-weekly modules. You can access the modules by clicking on the
appropriate week in the "Course Content" area. Quizzes and assignments may be accessed through the
"Exams" and "Assignments" pages or in the content modules. Additional information regarding the use of
Blackboard is available on the "Online Learning Resources.".
Remember that the best way to contact me is directly by e-mail at gdemerit@shepherd.edu. The message
board in Blackboard is not efficient, as it has no link to tell me when there is a message--but my e-mail
works all the time.
16.0 A couple of final words:
The nature of on-line education is such that the online student must be self-directed, self-motivated, and
persevering. If those words do not describe you, you might want to consider a different approach to your
education. Online students sometimes feel very isolated and they may feel as if they are not getting the
academic support that they expected. Please be assured that even though you might not always be aware of
me, I am very present in this environment and I will jump in any time that I see you struggling or that you
need my help.