DISC
6301
Production and Operations Management
Spring
2003
Instructor: Dr.
Elizabeth Anderson-Fletcher
Office: 350-G Melcher
Hall
Telephone: (713)
743-4740
e-mail: EFletcher@uh.edu
WebCT: www.uh.edu/webct
Office Hours: by
appointment
Course
Objective:
This is a practical course in solving operations
problems in manufacturing and service organizations. Examples of these problems
include forecasting demand, choosing business locations, managing manufacturing
and distribution inventories, improving product and service quality, scheduling
production and staffing, and managing projects.
The text and lecture notes will provide a theoretical basis and
illustrate the practical application of operations management concepts. Harvard Business School cases will be used to
explore strategic issues in operations management.
Course
Materials:
1.
Chase, R.
B., Aquilano, N. J., and Jacobs, R. R., Operations
Management for Competitive Advantage (9th Edition), Irwin
McGraw-Hill, 2000—available at University Center Bookstore.
2.
Harvard
Business School Cases—available at University Center Bookstore:
a. Steinway
& Sons (9-682-025)
b. Shouldice
Hospital Limited (9-683-068)
c. New
Balance Athletic Shoes (9-680-110)
d. Sorenson
Research Company (9-677-257)
e. GE
Thermocouple Manufacturing (A) (9-684-040
f.
Microsoft Corp.:
Office Business Unit (9-691-033)
g. Motorola,
Inc.: Bandit Pager Project (9-690-043)
h. The
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (9-699-025)
3.
Lecture
Notes (PowerPoint Presentations)—available online using WebCT
4. Solutions to Suggested
Problems—available online using WebCT
5. Spreadsheet
Models—available online using WebCT
Grading
Policy:
Case Reports (4 out of 5) 40%
Exam I
(February 25) 30%
Exam II
(April 22) 30%
WebCT:
WebCT will be used in this class to distribute the lecture notes (PowerPoint presentations), the Spreadsheet Models, and the solutions to suggested problems in the text. To access WebCT for this class, please obtain a WebCT ID and login on the following web site: http://www.uh.edu/webct. If you have questions about WebCT or need technical assistance, you can click on the “get help” link on the WebCT website, call the help-line at 713-743-1411 (M-F 8am-8pm), or visit the IT Support Center in room 56 of the library (M-F 8am-8pm).
Class
Preparation:
Reading assignments should be completed prior to the first class day devoted to
a particular topic. After class, you
should work any suggested homework problems in the text, review the topics
using the CD-ROM included with your text, and review problems in the lecture
notes covered that day. In addition to
working problems by hand, practice using the Spreadsheet Models provided by the
instructor to gain a better understanding of solution techniques. Problems will not be graded but will help you
prepare for the examinations. If a case
does not require a report, you are expected to read the case before class,
prepare answers to the suggested case questions, and be ready to participate in
class discussion. Suggested questions
for case analysis are provided below.
Team
Case Reports:
There are five (5) written team case
reports. The lowest grade will be
dropped so that four (4) case reports count 10% each (40% total) in the final
grade. Each member of the team will
receive the grade assigned to the group report.
Use the suggested questions provided for each case to guide you in your
analysis. Identify the problems and
opportunities facing management, analyze alternative courses of action, and
make specific recommendations to management.
You can utilize many of the Spreadsheet Models to assist in quantitative
analysis for the cases. Make sure to
state your assumptions and provide model results (graph or table) in your
exhibits to back up your points.
Two factors are equally important in case
grades: (1) writing and presentation and
(2) analysis and recommendations to management.
The text should be between four and five pages, single-spaced. Use
headings and subheadings throughout to better organize your report. In addition to the text, attach as many
exhibits as necessary to justify your points.
Refer to your exhibits in the text of the report and make sure that the
reader can understand the report without having to stop and work through an
exhibit. On the title page please list
all group members in addition to the team name.
Make sure to number your pages and proofread your document
thoroughly. Do not bind the case or put
in a folder—a simple staple will do. A
suggested format for case reports is as follows.
1. Introduction (brief)
2. Analysis
3. Recommendations to Management
4. Conclusions and Future Research
Academic
Honesty:
The University of Houston academic honesty policy
will be strictly enforced. No violations
of this policy will be tolerated in this course. A discussion of the policy is included in the
University of Houston student handbook.
Students are expected to be familiar with this policy.
Accommodations
for Students with Disabilities:
The College of Business would like to help
students with disabilities achieve their highest potential. To this end, in
order to receive accommodation on exams or assignments, students must make
arrangements with their instructor prior to the exam or assignment. It is recommended that students with
disabilities learn about their rights and responsibilities from the Center for
Students with Disabilities (713-743-5400).
Suggested Questions for Case
Analysis
STEINWAY
AND SONS
1. What accounts for Steinway’s reputation as a
manufacturer of high quality pianos?
2. What are the pros and cons of introducing the
model K?
3. Should Steinway introduce the model K?
3. As Dr. Shouldice, what actions, if any, would you take to expand the hospital’s capacity?
4. How would you implement changes you propose?
1. What are the company’s production and marketing strategies? Are they compatible? Does the location decision affect these strategies?
2. What is a reasonable demand forecast for New
Balance for the year? For the next two
years?
3. Which location option would you choose? Why?
2. What alternatives are available for dealing with the inventory-related problems? What is your evaluation of these alternatives?
3. What actions should Sorenson take?
4. What lessons regarding management of the supply chain can other organizations learn from Sorenson?
1. As William Draper, what plan of action would you
adopt after the meeting on February 8, 1982?
Be specific about the things you will try to get your own people to do
and how you will manage their activities.
Also be specific about the changes you will try to get Division
management to make and how you will persuade them to make the changes.
2. As Philip Renquist, Vice President responsible
for all of Wilmington’s operations, how would you react to the changes that
William Draper is proposing?
1. What is your assessment of the WinWord
project? Why did it take so long?
2. Evaluate Microsoft’s development process. What are its weaknesses? Strengths?
3. Why is the company so successful? Do you think it will remain successful?
4. How should Microsoft’s development process evolve
in the future? What specific suggestions
would you have for the company?
5. What should Raikes do with respect to the next
generation WinWord project?
MOTOROLA, INC.: BANDIT PAGER PROJECT
1. What are the most important lessons that the organization should learn from the Bandit Pager project? How would you tell if the organization had in fact learned those lessons?
2. What areas offer the greatest opportunity for leveraging that learning and applying it in the future? Be specific as to the actions and efforts that might be pursued to realize this potential.
3. How would you recommend Motorola organize and manage its approach to “learning across projects”? Be specific as to who should do what and the resources that will be required. How would you implement your plan?
1. What caused the error leading to the patient’s death?
2. How should the hospital respond to this incident?
3. What should be done to prevent errors from occurring in the future?
4. How should service organizations in general failsafe their systems?
Class Schedule
Topics: Introduction
to Operations Management, Operations Strategy
Reading: Text Chapters 1, 2
Problems: none
Case: none
Topics: Operations Strategy (cont.), Forecasting
Reading: Text Chapter 11
Problems:
(complete after class) Chapter
11: #2 (a,b,c), 3, 4(deseasonalize
only), 13
Case: Steinway
& Sons (no case report due)
Topics: Forecasting
(cont.), Facility Location
Reading: Text
Technical Note (TN) 9
Problems: TN 9:
#2
Case: New Balance Athletic Shoes (Case
Report #1 due)
Topics: Facility Layout
Reading: Text
Chapter 5, TN 5
Problems:
TN 5: #3, 4, 8, 10
Case: Shouldice
Hospital (Case Report #2 due)
Topics: Supply Chain Management, Distribution Inventories
Reading: Text Chapters 8, 13
Problems: Chapter
13: #4, 8, 12, 13
Case: Sorenson Research Company (Case Report #3 due)
Topics: Aggregate Production
Planning, Manufacturing Inventories
Reading: Text Chapters 12, 14
Problems: Chapter 14: #3, 4
Case: none
EXAM
I
Topics: Manufacturing Inventories (cont.), Just-in-Time
Production Systems
Reading: Text Chapter 10
Problems: none
Case: GE Thermocouple (no case
report due)
Topics: Just-in-Time Production Systems
(cont.), Production and
Operations Scheduling
Reading: Text Chapter 15
Problems: Chapter 15: #4, 13, 14
Case: none
Topic: Project Management
Reading: Text Chapter 3
Problems: Chapter 3: #2, 5, 8, 10
Case: Microsoft
Corp.: Office Bus. Unit (Case Report #4 due)
Topic: Total Quality Management
Reading: Text Chapter 7
Problems: none
Case: none
Topic: Statistical Quality Control
Reading: Text TN 7
Problems: TN 7: #3, 8
Case: Motorola
Inc.: Bandit Pager Project (Case
Report #5 due)
Topic: Service Operations Management
Reading: Text Chapter 6, TN 6
Problems: none
Case: The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (no case report due)
EXAM
II