Imagine working in a large, multi-national company that distributes products all around the country and in order to manufacture these products, your company relies heavily on material deliveries from other companies. You walk into the office, you find out 7 out of 10 material deliveries were delayed due to heavy traffic; you have a deadline for some products on the same day that you cannot delay. On top of that, three employees quit over the weekend with no prior notice and on the other side of the office floor, there’s no access to the server because your internet company is upgrading the lines in your area. Lastly but certainly not the least, the CEO is breathing down your neck about new markets. What would you do in this scenario?
While this is unlikely to happen all at once, it can happen, and this is why it is important to have a good operations manager on scene.
What is an Operations Manager and Why is it Important?
An operations manager ensures the smooth operations of a business. They oversee production, logistics, personnel, supply chain and distribution, inventory and many more. The exact responsibilities an operations manager will handle varies from business to business. But their main focus is to ensure that all aspects of a business run smoothly. An operations manager needs to understand each role of each individual in a company to really understand how the company functions.
Why is this important? Imagine you have a problem you need to solve but you have no idea where it’s coming from or why it’s happening. An operations manager will learn each role and how each person works to understand exactly what is happening, when it’s happening, how to improve efficiency in a cost-effective manner, and how to stop potential problems from arising by assessing risks and business continuity no matter what hurdles are in the way.
Where do Operations Managers work?
Operations management is needed in just about every business–no matter the industry. From IT Firms to Hospitality establishments, Manufacturing to Insurance and Financial Institutions, Marketing Agencies to even Medical and Health-related businesses, all of them require operations management to oversee that all departments work together seamlessly and efficiently. Does that mean you will automatically be hired as an operations manager when you graduate? It’s possible! According to Mapúa Malayan Digital College, there are a few careers that operations management graduates can choose from:
- Project assistant - usually tasked with assisting the project manager with administrative tasks and to ensure smooth communication between the project manager and other concerned departments.
- E-Commerce Coordinator - Ensures the smooth operations of an e-commerce platform. This usually includes improving customer experience, uploading and removal of products, and some marketing for the site itself.
- Logistics Assistant - Usually work directly in warehouses and are mainly responsible for overseeing the sending and receiving of goods from and to the warehouse.
- Operations Officer - also known as the operations managers, and in some cases the Chief Operating Officer of a business. They oversee budget and projects, implement new systems and procedures, and ensure all company rules are being adhered to. They are responsible for the smooth operations of the business as a whole.
What characteristics should an operations manager possess?
As a management position, you are expected to deal with people every second of every work-day. This is a high-stress position with a lot of demand coming from both above the position - the president / CEO / Board members - and below the operations manager - departments awaiting instruction, advice, and direction. Operations managers should be:
- Highly organized
- Able to handle high-stress situations
- Solutions-oriented
- Extroverted
- Resourceful
- Dynamic
- Adaptable
- Persuasive
- Confident
- Energetic
How can you become an operations manager?
If you like dealing with high-stakes situations, you like working with diverse groups of people, you like solving problems before they happen (and when they inevitably do happen), and you thrive under pressure, then operations management is for you. Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC) offers a BS in Business Administration major in Operations Management. Enrolling in MMDC not only ensures the best education delivered by industry professionals, but because of MMDC’s industry partners and affiliations, a stable career awaits you after graduation.
For more information on Mapúa Malayan Digital Colleges operations management course, visit: https://www.mmdc.mcl.edu.ph/bs-business-administration/
