Operations and Supply Chain Management

Operations and Supply Chain Management (OSCM) is the planning, control, and implementation of processes used to transform materials into finished goods and services. A large portion of an organization’s investment in personnel, materials expense, and equipment are often controlled by the operations function. The efficient management of these resources is critical to the success of today’s modern organization.

Operations management principles apply to manufacturing, service industries, and government sectors. The Iowa State operations and supply chain management major focuses on the application of these principles in manufacturing systems. Students learn how to manage labor, equipment, materials, and the information systems infrastructure required to deliver products efficiently and satisfy customer needs. It is a broad-based educational program that emphasizes the understanding of manufacturing planning and control systems, continuous process improvement techniques, lean manufacturing methods, and strategic quality management systems, and other manufacturing practices needed to become gainfully employed in manufacturing industries.