11.4: The Role of the Operations Manager

In the context of supply chain, operations managers manage the process that transforms inputs into outputs. They ensure that the entire supply chain—from sourcing raw materials to delivering finished products—is efficient, cost-effective, and aligned with business goals.

Their responsibilities can be grouped as follows:

• Production planning: During production planning, managers determine how goods will be produced, where production will take place, and how manufacturing facilities will be laid out.
• Production control: Once the production process is underway, managers must continually schedule and monitor the activities that make up that process. They must solicit and respond to feedback and make adjustments where needed. At this stage, they also oversee the purchasing of raw materials and the handling of inventories.
• Quality control: The operations manager is directly involved in efforts to ensure that goods are produced according to specifications and that quality standards are maintained.

In the sections that follow, we will take a closer look at each of these responsibilities.