Operations Management: Quality and Supply Chain

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/operations-management-quality-and-supply-chain

Introduction

## Course Review: Operations Management: Quality and Supply Chain on Coursera ### Overview In an era where efficiency and quality are paramount for business success, the "Operations Management: Quality and Supply Chain" course on Coursera emerges as a comprehensive program focusing on the critical aspects of process improvement. This course is designed for those looking to understand and enhance their organizational processes, making it a valuable resource for professionals and students alike who aspire to make impactful changes in their businesses. ### Course Content and Syllabus The course is divided into five core modules that progressively build on your understanding of operations management: 1. **Course Orientation**: This initial module sets the stage for your learning journey. Here, you familiarize yourself with the course structure, your peers, and the necessary technical skills for successful navigation through the program. 2. **Quality Management**: Delving into product and process quality, this module emphasizes the alignment of quality with continuous improvement practices. You will gain insights into setting up organizational infrastructures that support ongoing enhancement. 3. **Process Control and Capability**: This segment teaches you to assess process variations and utilize statistical analysis techniques. The focus here is not only on improving process performance but also on effectively communicating these insights with both buyers and suppliers. 4. **Supply Chain Management**: Given that supply chains are increasingly global and complex, this module covers fundamental functions and strategies necessary for effective supply chain management. You will learn about aligning supply chain strategies with product characteristics, building agility and adaptability, and understanding key contracting mechanisms. The exploration of the bullwhip effect, a phenomenon that impacts supply chain volatility, is particularly insightful. 5. **Operations Resilience**: The final module tackles advanced concepts in supply chain management, including network design, remanufacturing, and green supply chains. You’ll explore how emerging technologies such as AI, RFID, blockchain, and IoT can be integrated into supply chain processes to enhance resilience and sustainability. ### Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, participants will be equipped to: - Relate key principles to various frameworks and techniques used in process improvement. - Synthesize relevant information necessary for informed decision-making related to organizational initiatives. - Apply analytical techniques to assess and enhance process capabilities. ### Why You Should Take This Course 1. **Holistic Understanding**: The course offers a well-rounded perspective on operations management, addressing both quality control and supply chain strategies, which are critical in today’s business landscape. 2. **Practical Applications**: The emphasis on real-world applications ensures that you can immediately apply what you've learned to your professional responsibilities, enhancing the value you bring to your organization. 3. **Expert Instruction**: The course is structured and guided by experienced instructors who provide valuable insights and feedback, enriching your learning experience. 4. **Flexible Learning**: Being an online course, it allows participants to learn at their own pace, making it convenient for individuals balancing various commitments. ### Recommendation I highly recommend the "Operations Management: Quality and Supply Chain" course for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of process improvement and supply chain management. Whether you are a seasoned professional looking to upskill, a student preparing for a career in operations, or simply someone passionate about optimizing processes, this course offers invaluable knowledge and skills to propel you forward in your career. Embrace the opportunity to enhance your expertise and drive impactful changes in your organization by enrolling in this course today!

Syllabus

Course Orientation

You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.

In this module, you will learn about the connection between product quality and process quality, and how to put in place an organizational infrastructure for continuous process improvement.

In this module, you will learn about assessing variation in processes and deriving insights from such assessments. You will learn to apply statistical analysis techniques to track and improve process performance and to communicate it with buyers and suppliers.

Supply chains are increasingly becoming global and complex. In this module, you will learn about the primary functions involved in managing a complex supply chain. Next, you will learn about supply chain strategy and how to align supply chain strategy with product characteristics. You will also learn about building agility and adaptability in supply chains. You will learn about contracting in supply chains to align the different entities of supply chains. Specifically, you will learn about wholesale price contracts, buy-back contracts, and revenue-sharing contracts. Finally, we will learn about the bullwhip effect in supply chains, the courses of the bullwhip effect, and the mitigation strategies of the bullwhip effect.

In this module, we will learn about advanced concepts in supply chain management. First, you will learn about network planning in supply chains, and supply chain network design. Then you will learn about remanufacturing, closed-loop supply chains, and reverse supply chains. We will also learn about green supply chains and strategies for building environmental friendliness in supply chains. We will then learn about IT systems of supply chains, and aligning IT systems with business processes. Finally, we will learn about emerging advanced technologies in supply chains and their uses. Specifically, we will discuss the roles of artificial intelligence, radio frequency identification devices (RFID), blockchains, and the internet of things (IoT) in supply chain management.