Operations Management

Operations Management

Are you a business-minded student with a commitment to quality? Are you a “big picture” person and detail-oriented? We encourage you to learn more about operations management.

About

Operations management is primarily concerned with the effective management of processes in manufacturing and service organizations. As a key functional area of an organization, operations management focuses on quality, productivity, efficiency, logistics, managing resources effectively and supply chain management. 

Managing the supply chain, a key responsibility of operations managers, involves a variety of activities such as managing quality, suppliers, procurement, outsourcing and customer relationships. Integrating such activities is vital to the performance of organizations and their bottom lines as a “chain is only as strong as its weakest link.”

Supply chain management has been gaining much popularity recently as companies recognize the importance of managing the movement of raw materials, inventory, and finished goods from point-of-origin to point-of-consumption in a cost-efficient manner.

Why is Operations Management in Demand?

  • The median annual wage for general and operations managers was $97,970 in May 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • Operations management is one of the fastest growing majors at Scranton and across the country.
  • Team building, organization, time management and integrity are important qualities for managers and employees of all levels.
  • Data from the 2010 census shows over 27.9 million small businesses, and 18,500 firms with 50 or more employees exist in the United States alone. Businesses will always need strong leaders and managers to facilitate operations. 

Is it for me?

Are you:

  • Motivated?
  • Goal-oriented?
  • Analytical and practical?

Five Reasons to Choose Scranton for Operations Management

1.
Real-world connections.    Visits to corporations, expert speakers and alumni input into the curriculum ensures that course material is up-to-date, relevant and exciting.
2.
Nationally recognized.   Our Kania School of Management has been included in The Princeton Review’s “Best Business Schools” for 16 consecutive years.
3.
Dedicated faculty.    Faculty members at The University of Scranton are committed to their areas of expertise as well as their students. Professors care about students’ success and work with them individually.
4.
Jesuit education.    Emphasis on ethics and personal responsibility, along with academic excellence and care for the whole person, produce professionals of integrity through a well-rounded education.
5.
AACSB accreditation.    Fewer than 5% of business schools worldwide are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This stamp of approval for the Kania School of Management verifies that students are getting a curriculum that is current and relevant, and is being taught by qualified individuals.

There have never been as many opportunities for operations management as there are now. Sustainability. Lean manufacturing. Green business. Data mining. Business analytics. These are the key issues that are on the minds of business leaders and companies today.

-Nabil Tamimi, Ph.D.
Professor and Department Chair

  • Preparing You For Personal & Professional Successplus or minus

    You’ll learn how to:

    • Manage supply chains
    • Increase cost effectiveness
    • Leverage technology to effectively manage assets
    • Manage resources
    • Oversee materials, people and products efficiently

    In addition, you’ll graduate with advanced computer skills valued by employers in the competitive jobs market. Scranton students learn simulation software and practical Excel business applications.

    Accelerated Master of Business Administration in Operations Management

    High school seniors interested in Operations Management may apply for a direct-entry seat in the accelerated MBA program at The University of Scranton.

    Internships

    The department provides opportunities for internships to ensure that students have valuable professional experiences. Some of the organizations for which students have interned are:

    • Tobyhanna Army Depot Pathways (Internship) Program
    • PPL Services Corporation
    • Sanofi
    • Johnson & Johnson
    • Lord and Taylor

    Internships often result in full-time employment. Jessica Signore, Class of 2017, completed an internship at Goldman Sachs and has accepted a full-time position. Kathryn Lescinski, a 2016 operations management graduate, has been accepted to pursue a graduate degree in supply chain managment at the University of Colorado Boulder. Megan Campbell, a 2016 operations managment graduate, accepted a position with PepsiCo in the quality management area. 

    Students appreciate the hands-on learning that takes place in labs and through simulation software. They tell us, 'We can relate to this stuff. We can see the value.'

    -Nabil Tamimi, Ph.D.
    Professor and Department Chair

  • What You'll Learnplus or minus

    Curriculum

    In addition to general education requirements and electives, operations management students take increasingly complex business courses through their four years of study. Freshman year courses focus on economics, and sophomore year courses focus on accounting and statistics. In the third year, students take courses in organizational management. In the final year, more specific courses like Supply Chain Management and Business Policy and Strategy cap off the major.

    We are constantly reviewing our program to ensure that it is up-to-date and relevant.

    Click here to see the curriculum.

    Faculty-mentored research

    Many prospective students think that college is about lectures and taking notes. That’s far from the case at Scranton. Here, you will be challenged to be an active and engaged participant in a truly transformational educational journey. Students at Scranton can participate in faculty-mentored research that’s often reserved for graduate students at other institutions.

    Company visits

    One of the best ways to learn new concepts is through experiential learning and you’ll have plenty of opportunities at Scranton. Operations management faculty take students on numerous company visits throughout the year.  For example, Scranton students participated in an automated systems tour at Diapers.com in Goldsboro, Pennsylvania and have seen 3D printing in action at Tobyhanna. 

    The department also offers a five-year BS/MBA program in operations management. The graduate program for operations management ranks number 13 in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. For more information, click here

  • Pursue Your Passion and Make a Differenceplus or minus

    Operations managers have an important role in society. They help to improve the quality of goods and services. They increase efficiency to keep prices down and to bolster the success of organizations. Often, their work involves improving working conditions and safety for employees. Increasingly, environmental responsibility and “green” policies fall under the work of operations managers.

    Operations management majors get involved and make a difference during their time at Scranton. For example, students in Omega Beta Sigma, Women’s Business Honor Society, volunteer and raise money for selected organizations and causes each year.  

Careers

Where will Operations Management Take Me?

Organizations across the globe need highly qualified operations professionals to run as efficiently and effectively as possible. 

Here are some examples of jobs depending on your interests:

Manufacturing Jobs

  • Production Manager
  • Materials Manager
  • Inventory Analyst
  • Warehouse Manager
  • Plant Manager
  • Quality Manager
  • Production Planning Analyst
  • Purchasing Manager
  • Supply Chain Specialist

Services Industry

  • Operations Manager
  • Supplies Specialist
  • Buyer or Purchasing Agent
  • Store Manager
  • Customer Service Manager
  • Quality Manager Consultant
  • Business Consultant

Top Graduate Schools

Just a couple of the prestigious graduate schools that have admitted recent operations management graduates:

  • Penn State (Ph.D. in Supply Chain Management)
  • University of Colorado at Boulder

Leading Employers:

You’ll find Scranton graduates working at a wide range of companies and organizations including:

  • Bank of America
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Goodyear/ (Wingfoot)
  • Merrill Lynch
  • Pepsi
  • Piers/ UBM Global Trade
  • Photon Information Technology
  • Preferred Freezer Service
  • Tobyhanna Army Depot

How Scranton Gives You a Competitive Edge

Competitive Edge

At Scranton, the level of personal faculty attention means that professors are also advocates for students as they enter their careers or apply to graduate school.  

Students in the Kania School of Management participate in the Center for Professional Development’s “Passport” activities to develop non-academic skills to success in corporate settings. Interviewing skills, internship and job search strategies, and keys to succeed in their first career positions are among the topics covered. Combined with the exceptional educational background and practical experience of operations management majors, these skills ensure that students are ready to take the business world by storm.

Accreditation

AACSB

The Kania School of Management is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Take the Next Step

Get the Facts

View PDF with Program Overview
& Curriculum

For More Information

Office of Admissions
The Estate
Scranton, PA 18510
1-888-SCRANTON or (570) 941-7540
570-941-7572
admissions@scranton.edu

Nabil Tamimi, Ph.D.
Chair, Operations and Analytics
(570) 941-4288
nabil.tamimi@scranton.edu