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 these 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.

In production, you need knowledge of all equipment used in the processes, for example, stamping machines, CNC machining centres, polishing, and cutting machines. Machines are usually supported by secondary equipment such as mould and die, jigs and fixtures, and special tools. GO TO THE GENBA AND LEARN.

Once you have a good understanding of the products and processes, then you need to learn about ways to ensure the product and process are sustainable and continuously improved. 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.

1. Products and its components / services and its ancillary services
2. Process steps overall and at micro level — including Supplier Management, Logistics, Purchasing, Production Planning and Control, Design and Development, Maintenance Engineering, Quality Assurance
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, installation, new technologies including digitalization and automation
5. Equipment maintenance — improvement, troubleshooting, equipment verification and upgrading

Further along the career, you can start learning advanced statistical methods, robust quality engineering (Taguchi, MTS), Design for Six Sigma, Leadership and People Management, Project Management, and Digitalization (RPA, AI, IoT, VR).

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• Achieving Lean Success: A People-Centric Approach in Manufacturing
• Building Quality System in Automobile Manufacturing
• Coordination: Key towards Excellence in Manufacturing

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