Production Management
- Management Sciences
- 300 level
- 3 credit units
- 115 pages
- 5 units
This course on Production Management is designed to expose students to the principles and practices essential for managing production processes. It covers the nature and scope of production, different types of production systems, factory location considerations, plant and equipment management, and production planning and control techniques. The course also explores work measurement, method study, production engineering, and the production function within organizations. Students will learn about system design, operation, productivity, and factory layout to effectively manage production challenges in various industries.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 45 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assignments
- Final written examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of BUS317, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
BUS317 · UNIT 11: SYSTEM OPERATION
Since building or rent cost vary from place to place it is important that one takes a critical look at the proposed site vis-à-vis the level of local rates, government grants etc, before making a choice.
What you should be able to do
- Explain the fundamental principles of production management.
- Differentiate between various types of production systems and their applications.
- Analyze factors influencing factory location and workplace layout.
- Apply techniques for work measurement and method study to improve efficiency.
- Develop aggregate production plans to meet market demand effectively.
- Evaluate the impact of technology and automation on production processes.
What it prepares you for
- Production Manager
- Operations Manager
- Plant Supervisor
- Supply Chain Analyst
- Quality Control Specialist
- Manufacturing
- Supply Chain Management
- Operations Management
- Logistics
- Industrial Engineering
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module II
Unit 6: Work Measurement
Requires understanding of various techniques and their applications in different scenarios, demanding analytical skills.
- Module II
Unit 10: System Design
Involves complex decision-making processes related to equipment selection, work design, and location, requiring strategic thinking.
- Module III
Unit 12: The Production Process as a System
Requires a deep understanding of the transformation process and the interrelation between inputs, processes, and outputs.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 41 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module I
Unit 1: The Nature and Scope of Production · 2 hours
Read the introduction to understand the meaning, aspects, and policy of production.. Define production and identify its various aspects.. Understand the constraints of production policy..
Unit 2: Types of Production · 2 hours
Differentiate between jobbing, batch production, and flow production.. Identify the characteristics of each type of production.. Understand the scenarios where each type of production is most suitable..
- Week 2Module I
Unit 3: Factory Location · 2 hours
Identify factors influencing factory site selection.. Understand different types of factory buildings.. Learn principles for positioning departments within a factory..
Unit 4: Plant and Equipment · 2 hours
Identify factors to consider in selecting plants and equipment.. Explain the concept of maintenance and its types.. State the principles of material handling..
- Week 3Module I
Unit 5: Production Planning and Control · 3 hours
Identify the objectives of planning and control in production.. Understand the features of progress control.. State the purpose and methods of inspection..
- Week 4Module II
Unit 6: Work Measurement · 3 hours
State the objectives of work measurement.. Identify the techniques of work measurement.. Understand the human problems associated with work study..
- Week 5Module II
Unit 7: Method Study · 3 hours
State the objectives of method study.. Enumerate the procedures of method study.. Understand the meaning of method study and its importance..
- Week 6Module II
Unit 8: Production Engineering · 3 hours
State the merits and demerits of standardization and simplification.. Explain the concept of diversification.. Explain specialization and its impact on production..
- Week 7Module II
Unit 9: The Production Function · 3 hours
Identify the production function and its universality.. Differentiate between manufacturing and non-manufacturing industries.. Understand the key components of the production function..
- Week 8Module II
Unit 10: System Design · 3 hours
Identify strategies to reduce difficulties imposed by capacity planning.. State the types of decisions relevant in work design.. State the factors that determine the choice of location..
- Week 9Module III
Unit 11: System Operation · 3 hours
Explain operations planning and its importance.. State the aims of scheduling in production.. Identify various types of operations control..
- Week 10Module III
Unit 12: The Production Process as a System · 3 hours
Identify the inputs of production.. Explain the process of converting input into output.. Identify the outputs of production and their impact..
- Week 11Module III
Unit 13: Production and Productivity · 3 hours
Explain the concept of production and productivity.. Explain capacity measurement techniques.. Discuss cycle time and labor requirements in production..
- Week 12Module III
Unit 14: Factory and Workplace Layout · 3 hours
Explain the meaning of factory layout and its importance.. State the advantages of process layout.. State the merits of product layout and their applications..
- Week 13Module III
Unit 15: Aggregate Production Planning · 3 hours
Explain the concept of aggregate production planning.. Identify factors influencing produce-to-order vs. produce-to-stock decisions.. Identify problems inherent in aggregate plans for services..
Preparing for the exam
- Review all unit summaries to reinforce key concepts and definitions.
- Create flowcharts illustrating the different types of production systems (Unit 2) and factory layouts (Unit 14).
- Practice applying work measurement techniques (Unit 6) to hypothetical production scenarios.
- Develop sample aggregate production plans (Unit 15) for different demand forecasts.
- Focus on understanding the relationships between production planning, system design, and operational control (Units 5, 10, and 11).
- Prepare detailed notes on the advantages and disadvantages of different production strategies (e.g., produce-to-stock vs. produce-to-order in Unit 15).
- Solve numerical problems related to capacity measurement and productivity (Unit 13).
Questions students ask about this course
What is BUS317 about?
This course on Production Management is designed to expose students to the principles and practices essential for managing production processes. It covers the nature and scope of production, different types of production systems, factory location considerations, plant and equipment management, and production planning and control techniques. The course also explores work measurement, method study, production engineering, and the production function within organizations. Students will learn about system design, operation, productivity, and factory layout to effectively manage production challenges in various industries.
How many units does BUS317 have?
BUS317, Production Management, has 5 units across 1 module, over 115 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is BUS317?
BUS317 carries 3 credit units, at 300 level in Management Sciences.
Is BUS317 hard?
BUS317 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does BUS317 take to study?
About 45 hours of study, spread across its 5 units.
How is BUS317 assessed?
BUS317 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assignments and final written examination.
What can I do with BUS317?
Production Manager, Operations Manager, Plant Supervisor, Supply Chain Analyst and Quality Control Specialist.