What Are the 7 Main Functions of Operations Management_

1. What Are the 7 Main Functions of Operations Management? In today’s competitive business world, Operations Management is the backbone of every organization. Whether it’s manufacturing, services, or retail—operations management decides how efficiently a business runs. In this guide, we will understand the 7 main functions of operations management and also see how top colleges like SSIM (Delhi), IIBS (Bangalore), IMS (Delhi), JIMS (Delhi), and Amity Business School (Delhi) teach this subject. 1. Forecasting & Planning Key Points: ● Predicting future demand using data analytics ● Planning required resources ● Allocating budgets and managing resources ● Creating long-term and short-term strategies 2. Product & Service Design Key Points: ● Identifying customer needs ● Setting quality standards ● Creating cost-effective designs ● Prototyping and continuous improvement ● Balancing functionality and aesthetics

2. 3. Quality Management Key Points: ● Implementing Total Quality Management (TQM) ● Using Six Sigma to reduce defects ● Following ISO standards ● Continuous improvement (Kaizen) ● Quality Control vs. Quality Assurance Models of Quality Assurance: ● PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) Cycle ● Statistical Quality Control (SQC) ● Zero Defects Approach 4. Process Design & Improvement Key Points: ● Optimizing workflow to convert inputs into outputs efficiently ● Applying Lean Manufacturing principles ● Identifying and removing bottlenecks ● Using automation to improve processes ● Using Value Stream Mapping to reduce waste What is Process Improvement? ● Analyzing existing processes and making them better

3. ● Achieving lower cost, less time, and better quality ● Tools: 5S, Kaizen, Six Sigma 5. Capacity Planning Key Points: ● Determining the production capacity of the organization ● Utilizing resources efficiently ● Planning for short-, medium-, and long-term needs ● Creating strategies to handle peak demand ● Avoiding overcapacity and undercapacity 6. Inventory Management Top 15 Effective Techniques: ● ABC Analysis ● Just-In-Time (JIT) ● Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) ● Safety Stock ● FIFO (First-In-First-Out) ● Real-time inventory tracking ● Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) ● Drop Shipping ● RFID & Barcode Systems

4. ● Monitoring Inventory Turnover Ratio ● Bulk Shipments ● Cross-Docking ● Consignment Inventory ● Backordering ● Periodic vs. Perpetual Systems 7. Supply Chain Management Key Functions: ● Selecting suppliers and managing vendors ● Procuring raw materials ● Managing logistics and transportation ● Warehousing and distribution ● Demand forecasting and planning ● Managing risks like disruptions Operations in Supply Chain: ● Integrating internal operations with external supply chain ● Providing end-to-end visibility (supplier to customer) ● Reducing costs through efficient logistics ● Using technology like ERP and tracking tools

5. Important Concepts You Should Know Production vs. Operations Management ● Production Management: Focuses only on manufacturing tangible goods ● Operations Management: Broader—manages products + services Examples: ● Production: Maruti Factory ● Operations: Amazon (products + logistics + service) Service Operations Management Critical in hospitals, hotels, airlines, banks ● Direct customer interaction ● Quality and speed are important ● Example: no long waiting time for patients Decision Making in Operations ● Strategic: Where to set up a new factory? ● Tactical: What should inventory levels be? ● Operational: How much to produce today? IT Operations Management ● Managing IT infrastructure (servers, networks) ● Application deployment and maintenance ● Incident and change management

6. ● Cloud operations (AWS, Azure) ● DevOps integration Why Operations Strategy Matters? Key Benefits: ● Competitive advantage: cost leadership or differentiation ● Alignment with business goals ● Better use of resources ● Preparedness for market changes ● Higher customer satisfaction Career Scope & Top Colleges Top Colleges in Bangalore ● IIBS Bangalore: Strong focus on supply chain & global exposure ● Christ University: Well-known, strong alumni network Top Colleges in Delhi ● SSIM Delhi: Offers PGDM with Operations specialization ● IMS Delhi: Strong industry connections ● JIMS Delhi: Practical training, good placements ● Amity Business School: International exposure and brand value

7. Admission Process ● Entrance exams: CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT ● GD-PI rounds ● Final selection based on overall performance ● Apply between November–January Top Hiring Companies ● E-commerce: Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra ● Manufacturing: Tata Motors, Mahindra, Hero MotoCorp ● FMCG: HUL, ITC, Nestlé ● Logistics: DHL, Blue Dart ● Consulting: McKinsey, Deloitte Final Thoughts Mastering the 7 functions of operations management makes you valuable across industries—manufacturing, services, supply chain, logistics, consulting, and more. If you study operations management from top colleges like SSIM, IIBS, IMS, JIMS, or Amity, your career growth becomes strong and future-ready.