Operations Management Careers Information
Operations management involves analyzing a firm’s organization, workflow, and corporate structure, and helping to find ways to streamline the production process and improve the efficiency,and ultimately, profits,of their company. These efficiency improvements can come in a variety of areas, and so operations management experts can have many different specialties.
Operations Management Careers & Degrees
- American Intercontinental University: Online
The following are just a few of the different areas of operations management careers:
- Supply-chain management analyzes how a company orders and stores raw materials for its production line. Operations managers can help install and improve just-in-time manufacturing processes to minimize warehousing costs and improve efficiencies.
- Management analysts might conduct studies of the hierarchy of the company’s management, and determine how workers may be better arranged to avoid redundant positions or unnecessary middle management, and re-assigning or eliminating non-essential positions.
- Information technology management involves the implementation of software strategies to help companies streamline and improve their e-commerce applications.
Operations Management Careers Path
A bachelor’s degree is required for entry-level position in operations management, and many employers often seek workers with graduate degrees,particularly MBAs or degrees in related disciplines.
Many firms hire entry-level workers with bachelor’s degrees and employ them as research analysts or in similar positions before promoting them to consultants or operations managers after several years.
Though programs specific for operations management are available, degrees in business administration, business management, economics, and finance are often helpful.
There are growing programs within the field of engineering as well which revolve around analyzing and streamlining business practices, and incorporate economic principles and coursework into their curriculum.
Operations Management Careers: Compatible Personality Traits
Strong analytical skills, excellent quantitative skills, good communications skills and the ability to get along and work with a wide range of people, creativity in problem solving, good judgment and time management, self-motivated and disciplined
Operations Management Careers: Salary Expectations
Operations management salaries vary widely, with those employed by large corporations in large cities earning the highest incomes. In general, most working within the industry earn between $55,000 and $100,000. The median wage for all operations management specialists was around $74,000.
Operations Management Careers: Job Outlook
Job prospects for operations management are excellent, with employment expected to grow approximately twice as fast as overall employment for the next decade.
Companies are increasingly realizing the importance of streamlining all processes to achieve the highest level of efficiency possible, and are hiring internal experts or bringing in consultants to look at many aspects of their business. Because of this, employment within consulting firms is expected to grow the fastest.
Slightly Off the Footpath
Sources: bls.gov/oco/ocos019.htm
