MBA in Operations Management

Last Updated on August 10, 2023 by Vishnu Nambiar

In this article, we will have an in-depth analysis of the MBA in Operations Management course. This article covers topics such as – course details, duration, eligibility criteria, colleges, admission process, syllabus, and career prospects.

What is operations management all about? What’s the scope associated with this MBA specialization? You will find answers to these questions in the coming paragraphs.

What is Operations Management?

Operations management primarily deals with the optimization of operating systems and processes. The main aim of this management field is to optimize the resources at hand and minimize the overall cost of operations and processes.

An Operation manager’s main task is to manage and reduce the cost of operations, without affecting the quality of the product or service offered. It is a diverse field and consists of specializations such as –

• Supply Chain Management.
• Logistics Management.
• Inventory Planning.

Operations management studies cover the entire supply chain – starting from production to the final stage of distribution systems! This shows how diverse this field is!

Operations management has strong ties with manufacturing and production. When it comes to a production plant, operations management plays a key role in determining the profit ratio and product quality.

For any manufacturing unit to prosper, its resources should be managed efficiently. The production process must be streamlined and optimized to reduce production costs. This is when operations management comes in handy.

Using operations management principles, one may optimize the production process through the following steps –

• Process development.
• Process improvement.
• Supply chain management.
• Logistics management.
• Quality management.
• Project management.
• Inventory management.
• Purchasing.
• Demand planning.

MBA in Operations Management students are trained in the above-mentioned areas. Using this knowledge, they are able to optimize and streamline the production process.

Due to this close tie between operations management and production, it is not uncommon to see Engineering students opting for this MBA specialization! Technical knowledge (like mechanical engineering, production engineering, etc) and management education (operations management) will help one boost his/her career prospects!

What’s the scope of operations management in India, you may ask.

The production sector in India is growing at a healthy rate. With initiatives like ‘Make in India’, the production sector seems to be in good hands!

Firms involved in manufacturing and production require operations managers. Apart from that, firms involved in areas like supply chain, retail, and logistics are also known to recruit operations management professionals.

In short, this area is expected to churn out an ample amount of job opportunities in the future.

Skilled operations managers will always be valued by employers.

Let us check out some of the basic details about an MBA in Operations Management –

MBA in Operations Management: Details

MBA is a general management program. It focuses on general management subjects. MBA in Operations Management is a specialization program. It focuses on the domain of operations management.

Type of course

It is a postgraduate-level management education program.

Duration

The academic program is 2 years long.

Eligibility criteria

Must possess a Bachelor’s Degree (3 or 4-year-long course) from a recognized Institute/University.

Admission process

Reputed institutes rely on a merit-based admission process. Marks scored by students in relevant management entrance tests (CAT, Institute-wise entrance tests, etc) are taken into consideration. Deserving candidates are allotted seats after an interview.

Syllabus

Here are some of the important subjects present in the MBA in Operations Management academic program –

• Organizational behavior.
• Principles of Management.
• Business Communication.
• HR management.
• Finance management.
• Production Management.
• Operations Management.
• Operations Strategy.
• Quality Management.
• Product Planning.
• Location and Plant Layout.
• Project Management.
• Supply Chain Management.
• Project Work.

Also, read:

• MBA Specializations in India.
• MBA course.

Career prospects and job opportunities

Operations management professionals have ample job opportunities available in front of them. Both Government and Private job opportunities are available in front of them. Some of the well-known recruiters are –

• Manufacturing Industries.
• Production Plants.
• Supply Chain Firms.
• Logistics Firms.
• Retail Firms.
• Consultancies.
• Energy, Oil and Gas Firms.
• E-Commerce Firms.
• Government Organizations.

In the above-mentioned firms, operations management professionals may don the following roles –

• Operations Manager.
• Asst Manager (Operations).
• Plant Manager.
• Production Manager.
• Plant Supervisor.
• Supply Chain Manager.
• Logistics Manager.
• Process Manager.
• Area Operations Manager.
• Consultant.

Vishnu Nambiar

I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.

I share articles related to courses, colleges, careers, exam tips and more here.