Industrial Engineering LABORATORY MANUAL OM2

MODULE 2

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT IN THE WORKPLACE

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

By the end of this activity, students will be able to:

To explain the concept and importance of operations management.

To describe how operations management is used in the workplace with Industry 4.0
technologies.

Understand how operations management contributes to the achievement of an

organization's strategic objectives.

KEY CONCEPTS:

1. Operations management (OM) is the science and art of ensuring that goods and services are
created and delivered successfully to customers. The concepts and methods of OM can be used
in any job, regardless of the functional area of business or industry, to better create value for
internal customers (within the organization) and for external customers (outside the
organization).

2. Operations management ensures optimal resource utilization, cost reduction, improved

productivity, and customer satisfaction. OM principles are used in accounting, human
resources management, legal work, financial activities, marketing, environmental
management, and every type of service activity. Some key activities that operations managers
perform include forecasting, supply chain management, facility layout and design, technology
selection, quality management, purchasing, resource and capacity management, process
design, job design, scheduling, and sustainability

3. Operations management improves efficiency, reduces costs, and enhances customer

satisfaction while supporting business goals. By using lean manufacturing, minimizing waste,
and optimizing processes, companies can meet financial targets. Sustainable practices, such as
green operations and eco-friendly supply chains, ensure long-term success. It also helps
manage risks like supply chain disruptions, equipment failures, and market changes.

4. The fourth industrial revolution, driven by smart manufacturing, automation, and data-driven
decision-making. Enhances decision-making through data-driven insights enables smart
factories, enhances agility in production, reduces downtime, and fosters innovation.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CEBU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY – ARGAO CAMPUS ENGR. LIEZ C. GONZALES
ENGR. MARY ELLEN C. CAMARILLO
Industrial Engineering LABORATORY MANUAL OM2
Name Fernandez Angel C. Course & Year__________

Instructor Engr. Liez C. Gonzales Schedule _____________

Date Performed__________________ Group No. _______________ Score _______________

MODULE 2

Operations Management in the Workplace

EXERCISE SET
Guidelines/Format

Submit in short size bond paper your analysis report must include the following contents:

Experimental Activity

1. Begin by identifying a friend or family member who is currently employed and whose job
involves the application of operations management principles. (Optional: Ideally, choose
someone whose role in their company’s operations is related to Industry 4.0 practices.)

2. Contact the chosen individual and request their participation in an interview focused on how
they utilize operations management principles in their job. Explain the purpose of the interview
and assure them that their responses will be kept confidential and used solely for academic
purposes.

3. Schedule a convenient time for the interview. Consider conducting the interview in person,
over the phone, or via video call, depending on your and the interviewee's preferences and
availability.

4. Prepare a list of interview questions in advance. These questions should be designed to elicit
detailed information about how the interviewee applies operations management principles in
their day-to-day work. Sample questions may include:
a. Can you describe your role and responsibilities in your current job?
b. How do you ensure efficiency and productivity in your daily tasks?
c. Can you provide examples of how you use quality control measures
or process improvement techniques in your work?
d. How do you manage resources (e.g., materials, equipment,
personnel) to meet operational goals?
e. Have you encountered any challenges related to operations management
in your job, and how have you addressed them?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CEBU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY – ARGAO CAMPUS ENGR. LIEZ C. GONZALES
ENGR. MARY ELLEN C. CAMARILLO
Industrial Engineering LABORATORY MANUAL OM2
f. How do you prioritize tasks and allocate resources to optimize
performance?

5. Take detailed notes during the interview to capture key points and examples provided by the
interviewee.

6. After the interview, organize your notes and draft a short paper summarizing your findings.

7. The paper should be concise and well-structured, with a maximum length of two pages. Include
an introduction outlining the purpose of the paper, a summary of the interviewee's role and
responsibilities, an overview of how they apply operations management principles in their job,
and any noteworthy examples or insights shared during the interview.

8. Review and revise your paper as needed to ensure clarity, coherence, and accuracy of
information.

9. Submit your final paper according to the requirements and deadlines specified.

10. Thank the interviewee for their participation and cooperation in the interview process.

Suggested Readings/References

1. Slack, N., Brandon-Jones, A., & Burgess, N. (2022). Operations Management (Tenth Edition).
Harlow, England; New York. Pearson Education Limited.
2. Krajewski, L., & Malhotra, M. (2022). Operations Management Processes and Supply Chains
Global Edition, 13th Edition. Pearson Education Limited.
3. Collier, D. A., & Evans, J. R. (2021). Operations and Supply Chain Management (Second
Edition). Boston, MA, USA; Cengage Learning Inc.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CEBU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY – ARGAO CAMPUS ENGR. LIEZ C. GONZALES
ENGR. MARY ELLEN C. CAMARILLO
Industrial Engineering LABORATORY MANUAL OM2
Introduction
This report presents an in-depth analysis of an interview conducted with a professional whose
job revolves around operations management principles. The objective of this study is to explore
how operations management techniques enhance workplace efficiency, improve quality control,
and optimize resource management. Research indicates that leveraging digital tools and structured
methodologies significantly improves operational outcomes (Harvard Business Review, 2023).

Interviewee Profile
Name: Engr. Angelica Tangaja-Laorden
Job Role: Data Analyst
Industry: Lexmark
Primary Responsibilities: Collecting, processing, and analyzing data; creating visual reports;
presenting insights to stakeholders for data-driven decision-making.

Working Smarter, Not Harder: The New Standard for Efficiency

Engr. Angelica Tangaja-Laorden believes that efficiency starts
with effective task organization. She uses Trello to rank activities based
on priority and urgency, ensuring that essential tasks are completed on
time. Studies support this, showing that companies using digital task
management systems see a 40% boost in efficiency (McKinsey, 2025).
Automation is transforming industries by reducing production
time by 15% and lowering costs by up to 15% (Harvard Business Review, 2024). Engr. Laorden
leverages Power Platform to automate data flow and report generation, significantly improving
turnaround times. Additionally, time-blocking techniques help her focus on high-impact tasks
while minimizing distractions (Harvard Business Review, 2024).

Precision in Quality Control: From Prediction to Perfection

Ensuring accuracy in data analytics is crucial. Engr. Laorden emphasizes the value of unit
testing, peer reviews, and predictive analytics to maintain high-quality standards. Within her team,
unit testing allows for cross-validation before reports reach stakeholders. Research shows that
predictive analytics improves forecast accuracy by 10% and enhances service levels by 5-10%
(McKinsey, 2025). Additionally, automated quality control reduces production errors by 30%,
ensuring compliance with industry regulations (Harvard Business Review, 2024).

Smart Resource Management: Optimizing, Not Just Cutting Costs

Resource management is about maximizing efficiency, not just
minimizing expenses. Engr. Laorden ensures seamless operations by
utilizing Power Platform for workflow automation and AI-driven
resource allocation, which can cut operational costs by 30% (McKinsey,
2025). Cloud-based solutions further enhance collaboration and accessibility, reducing delays and
improving team coordination.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CEBU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY – ARGAO CAMPUS ENGR. LIEZ C. GONZALES
ENGR. MARY ELLEN C. CAMARILLO
Industrial Engineering LABORATORY MANUAL OM2
Overcoming Challenges: Turning Setbacks into Opportunities
Every industry faces obstacles, and Engr. Laorden identifies
supply chain delays, stakeholder demands, and data inconsistencies as
key challenges. By addressing the root causes systematically,
companies can minimize disruptions. Predictive analytics has helped
businesses reduce supply chain inefficiencies by 20-30%, while strong
internal review protocols lower regulatory errors by 25% (McKinsey,
2025; Harvard Business Review, 2024). Moreover, automated
reporting systems bridge communication gaps, ensuring real-time updates for informed decision-
making.

Strategic Prioritization: The Engine of Productivity

Prioritizing tasks effectively is essential for productivity. Engr. Laorden ensures that
stakeholder requests with complete data are prioritized first, followed by urgent tasks. Research
indicates that organizations aligning prioritization with key performance indicators (KPIs) achieve
40% higher efficiency and reduced delays (McKinsey, 2025). Furthermore, automated workflow
solutions help cut cycle times by 15% and lower costs by 40% (McKinsey, 2025), making
structured scheduling a critical business advantage.

Conclusion
The interview findings underscore the importance of integrating automation, predictive analytics,
and AI-driven decision-making into operations management. Companies embracing these
innovations experience higher productivity, lower costs, and improved compliance (McKinsey,
2025; Harvard Business Review, 2024). As industries evolve, adopting these strategies will be key
to maintaining a competitive edge.

References:
Harvard Business Review. (2024). The impact of automation and AI on operational efficiency.
Retrieved from https://www.hbr.org
McKinsey & Company. (2025). Technology and operations: Driving business performance
through automation. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CEBU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY – ARGAO CAMPUS ENGR. LIEZ C. GONZALES
ENGR. MARY ELLEN C. CAMARILLO