Just in Time Learning and Knowledge Building for Operation and Production Managers

In this times of digitalization and uncertain economic conditions you must select and choose what you want to learn and become skilled at . For those in Operations Management, you may follow this steps.

First you must know what does the company produces or what kind of services does the company provides. You must know in detail the product’s KNOWLEDGE.

Next is the service or production processes. How things are made, and how services are being realized for the customer. What are the processes involved and where do your knowledge fit in. What are your main responsibilities and potential contribution.

If you are in the production, which stages of the production process or stages are you contributing to adding value in; is it the first process such as material preparation, or the machining process, or final assembling and inspection. Are you involved in purchasing or planning or even sales and marketing? Know where you are and what your work contribute towards the service or product final realization. or even quality, or design. If you need info GO TO THE GENBA AND LEARN

In production, you need knowledge of all equipment used in the processes, for example, stamping machines, CNC machining centres, polishing, cutting machines. Primary machines usually supported by secondary equipment, such as mould and die, jigs and fixtures to hold materials for processing, or special tools used to help in the production process or for evaluating quality of the work in process, and final inspection. So, basically Machines + Supporting Tools. It all depends on the products being produced. GO TO THE GENBA AND LEARN

Once you have a good understanding of the products and processes. then you need to learn about the ways on how to ensure the product and process are sustainable and continuously improved; meaning the ability to continuously make it at the desired quality requirements, meeting the schedules decided the planner, or production control function. In operations and production, there are so many ways that things can go wrong, such as late delivery from suppliers of purchased components and materials. stoppage of production lines because of machine breakdowns and failures, or even the most simplest element of manpower shortage due to poor weather conditions, such as heavy rain, in the starting of a work shift. As executives and managers, you are responsible to ensure sufficient workers, machines proper running and AVAILABILITY, parts availability, quality conformance before continuing the next processes from first stage to the final stages of production including packaging. Packaging items must be ready to ensure deliverability to customers. LEARN OVERALL EQUIPMENT EFFECTIVENESS (OEE)

With all these various issues at hand, you must learn about ALL these aspects gradually if you want to become excellent. Based on my own experience, you must learn these items one CHUNK at a time and probably Just in Time along your career in Operations or Production Management. (see my Production Management slides in my other postings)

1. Products and its components / services and its ancillary services (airline and its food catering process, ticketing, baggage handing, hospital and all its services, hotels and supporting food, cleaning and room services, etc.)
2. Process steps overall and at micro level – not only production processes, but all the related functional processes of Suppler Management, Logistics , Purchasing and Sales, Production Planning and Control, Design and development, Maintenance Engineering, Production Engineering, Quality Assurance, Finance and other functions relevant to the industry.
3. Quality management systems – quality inspection, quality control, quality assurance, product and process improvements, kaizen and lean improvement
4. Maintenance and Production engineering – equipment selection and installing, introducing of new technologies, including digitalization, automation,
5. equipment maintenance – improvement, trouble shooting, equipment verification and upgrading, tools design and development, jigs and fixtures design and implementation (such as welding jigs and fixture for assembling)

further along the career, you can start learning about these knowledge.

1. Advanced statistical methods
2. Robust quality engineering – Taguchi, MTS, Optimisation
3. Design for Six Sigma
4. Leadership and People Management
5. Project Management
6. Digitalization – RPA, AI, IOT, VR, and ……..

contact shariyusof@meiji.ac.jp and leave questions and comments here