Duties and responsibilities of an Operations Manager

Presented by Anupama Naik

Roll.no.4

“automatic-without the use of manpower “

It is the use of machines and equipments in performing mental and physical operations in a production process.

It is the use of control systems such as computers to control industrial machinery and processes, replacing human operators.

It is an electronic brain with the capability of taking routine and logical decisions connected with control and planning.

It is considered a step beyond mechanization. Mechanization reduces physical requirements of work and automation reduces need for human, sensory and mental requirement.

A system of doing work where material handling, production processes and products are integrated through mechanization of thoughts (logic) and efforts (routine) to achieve a self regulating and controlling system.

The machines and equipments required to perform various operation of production process are sequentially arranged in order of the hierarchy of operations.

Electronic devices are used to record, store, process and interpret information at various stages of production.

The process of having a machine or machines accomplish tasks performed wholly or partly by humans.

The fundamental constituents of any automated process are

(1) a power source, (2) a feedback control mechanism, and (3) a programmable command

While feedback is usually associated with more advanced forms of automation, so-called open-loop automated tasks are possible. Here, the automated process proceeds without any direct and continuous assessment of the effect of the automated activity.

Example: for a manufacturing unit automation includes machining , structural fabrication ,assembly, material handling , inspection and testing,maintenance,tooling,turning,boring,drilling,shaping,grinding etc.

Technological advances in both hardware and software industry has primarily resulted greater automation of processes.

Hardware technologies include numerically controlled machine tools, industrial robots, automated materials handling systems, machining centres and flexible manufacturing systems.These devices are used in the manufacturing of products.

And software based technologies aid in the design of manufactured products and in the analysis of planning of manufacturing activities.

Software technologies include computer aided design and automated manufacturing, planning and control systems.

Specialized hardened computers, referred to as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), are frequently used to synchronize the flow of inputs from physical sensors and events with the flow of outputs to actuators and events.

Human-machine interfaces(HMI) or computer human interfaces (CHI), formerly known as man-machine interfaces, are usually employed to communicate with PLCs and other computers, such as entering and monitoring temperatures or pressures for further automated control or emergency response. Service personnel who monitor and control these interfaces are often referred to as stationary engineers.

A separate form of automation involving computers is test automation, where computer-controlled automated test equipment is programmed to simulate human testers in manually testing an application.

Another separate field of automation is Home automation. This type of automation emerged in the early 1990s. This type of automation is concerned with the controls of everything in a house, from lights and blinds through security and access system to heating, cooling, water supply and home theater systems.

Cost reduction: 1. Labor cost 2. Material cost 3. Inventory cost 4. Quality cost 5. Maintenance cost Increased product variety Improved product features Shorter cycle times Greater product output Effective control on operations Improved working conditions Safe working environment Improve quality of work

Automated manufacturing includes automated machine tools, assembly lines, robotic assembly machines, automated storage-retrieval systems, integrated computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), automatic inspection and testing, and automated agricultural equipment (used, for example, in crop harvesting).

Automated information processing and control includes automatic order processing, word processing and text editing, automatic data processing, automatic flight control, automatic automobile cruise control, automatic airline reservation systems, automatic mail sorting machines, automated planet exploration, automated electric utility distribution systems, and ATMs.

Technological risk: a. The risk of acquiring an untested technology whose problems

could disrupt the firm’s operations.

b. Risk of obsolescence

Operational risk : a. Installation of a new technology generally results in significant

disruptions.

b. Delays and errors in the production process.

c. Uncertain and sudden change in demands. d. larger inventories and continuous power supply.

Organizational risk : a. Lack of top management commitment to absorb the

short term disruptions associated with adopting a new technology.

b. Tendency of employees or managers to resist changes or abandon the technology due to short term failures.

Environmental or market risk: a. market forces make the investment worthless. b. any breakdown anywhere would lead to complete

shutdown. c. can create unemployment.

Mechanization was the next logical step in the substitution of chemical for muscle power once small and light enough power sources became available.

The process of having a machine or machines accomplish tasks performed wholly or partly by humans. As used here, a machine refers to any inanimate electromechanical device such as a robot or computer.

It provides the self regulating property by performing manual operations by means of mechanized operations for example-material handling etc., self control can be introduced in the process.

Manual(By using hands, hand tool, powered level tool hand control) and

Mechanical (power tool program control cycle, power tool system remote controlled, activated by introduction of workpiece or material)

Operations management is concerned with the production of goods and services. Everyday we come in contact with a an abundant array of goods or services, all of which are produced under the supervision of operations managers.

The different operations managers are-1. Production manager 2. Inventory control managers3. Quality managers4. Line supervisors

Assembling appropriate resources and direct use of these resources, by the people, machines, processing etc. in transforming material and time of people into products and services.

Managers pay attention on what customers want to buy and work according to government regulations and behaviour of consumer and environmental protection groups.

Channelize the production process to ensure efficient use of the resources to the best advantage for the enterprise.

Production of right quantity of material at right time.

Ability to do something real and constructive about production problems.

He should be well conversant with the ways and means to attain the desired goals

Personal noneconomic impact

Engineering marketing & Equipments PR

economic Finance impact Human, goods & Material & capital services

Transformation

activities

INPUTS

Control

OUTPUTS

1. Operation manager should concern himself with production planning: he is required to produce required quantity of product in time to meet the stipulated delivery date. This can be done by-

a) assessing the requirements of various factors of production on the basis of demand forecasting.

b) formulating demand schedule for factors of production to permit purchase of raw material.

2. Production control: it is the duty of the production manager use the resources at his disposal in best possible manner and regulate the operation to maintain the desired delivery schedule.

3. OM should concern himself with Quality control: it is the duty of the production manager to manufacture the goods and services of desired specifications.

4.Method analysis: there are a number of ways in which an operation can be executed. Operation manager should select the most efficient and economical method to perform the operation.

5.Plant layout and material handling: the physical arrangement of the manufacturing components and the equipment for handling the material during production process has considerable effect on cost of production. So, the material handling system and the plant layout should be most efficient for the given situation.

6.Proper inventory control: inventory implies all the materials , parts,supplies,tools and in-process or finished products kept in stocks for sometime. The procurement policy of these items require careful consideration and analysis. The purchases should be planned in economic lot sizes and the time of purchase should be so scheduled that the investment in the inventory is at the lowest possible level. This implies determination of economic lot sizes and re-order level.

7.Work study: method study and measurement techniques are applied to find the relationship between output of goods and services and input of human and material resources . The operation manager should try to find the most appropriate method of performing various operations involved in a production process so as to obtain the optimum use of the resource as well as increasing the productivity.

8. Production manager should be able to generate the interest of the workers to increase their efforts by providing them wage incentives.

9. The cost of production varies with different methods of production. The production manager is responsible to follow a systematic approach to control capital and expenditure designed in a way that desired profit is ensured.

10. The operation manager should have the capability

as well as the aptitude to use the qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis to get the desired solution.

Operations management- theory and problems by Joseph G. Monks.

Operations management- decision making in the operation functions by Roger G. Schroeder.

Production operations management by Dr. B.S. Goel.

Internet

Thank you!!