Operations Management, BS

Areas of interest for operations management students include process analysis and improvement, quality control, production planning, inventory management, manufacturing, scheduling, supply chain management, logistics, transportation, and procurement. Operations management focuses on the effective management of the resources and activities that produce and deliver the goods and services of any business. OM professionals manage the people, materials, equipment and information resources that a business needs in order to produce and deliver its goods and services. They also design and manage the business processes and activities that actually produce those goods and services.

Academic Advisor: Heather Davis

Business operations are a critical element of every business, so there are a wide range of opportunities for OM professionals. Manufacturing management has been—and continues to be—a significant area of opportunity. The tremendous growth of the automotive industry in the state of Alabama has produced great job opportunities for OM professionals with major automobile manufacturers and their suppliers. OM professionals can also pursue careers in the distribution and warehousing of products, as well as transportation and logistics operations. The entire field of supply chain management relies heavily on the effective management and coordination of business operations, from manufacturing to transportation and distribution. Whether products sold in the U.S. are manufactured overseas or in the U.S., some part of the supply chain is operated and managed in the U.S.

The growth of service industries in the state (banking, for example) also provides opportunities for OM professionals to manage business operations in service-oriented companies. OM professionals hold a wide range of job titles, such as materials manager, production planner, scheduler, inventory manager, transportation/logistics manager, purchasing/procurement manager, supply chain manager and quality manager. All of these positions employ OM techniques and concepts to effectively manage the resources and processes of their business operations. Because OM professionals are familiar with the resources and operations that are critical to success, they are often well-positioned for promotion to upper levels of business management. OM majors must take OM 305 Information Technology for Operations Management to complete their core computer language requirement.