The Operations Manager's Toolbox

Randal Wilson, MBA, PMP serves as Visiting Professor of Project Management, Keller Graduate School of Management, at the Elk Grove, CA DeVry University campus. His teaching style is one of addressing Project Management concepts using not only academic course guidelines and text, but includes in-depth discussions in lectures using practical application from industry experience. Mr. Wilson is currently Operations and Project Manager at Parker Hose and Fittings. He is responsible for five locations across Northern California and Nevada, as well as project management of redesigns and renovation of existing facilities and construction of new facilities. Mr. Wilson was formally in the telecommunications industry as Senior New Product Introduction Engineer at REMEC, Inc., Senior New Product Introduction Engineer with Spectrian Corp. and Associate Design Engineer with American Microwave Technology. He also served as Senior Manufacturing Engineer at Hewlett Packard. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) of the Project Management Institute. He acquired an MBA with concentration in General Operations Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Fremont, CA and a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management with concentration in Project Management from DeVry University in Fremont, CA.

Contents
Dedication   v
Preface   xii
Introduction   xiv
Chapter 1 The Power of Completion   1
How Do You Gain Power from Completion?   1
Believing in the Task or Project   2
Proper Assessment of a Task or Project   3
Managing a Task or Project   5
Accountability in Completing a Task or Project   7
Take the Blinders Off   8
Time Is of the Essence   10
Organizing a Task or Project   12
Should a Task Become an Official Project?   17
Operations Manager or Project Manager—Who Are You?   18
Managing Processes Versus Reporting on Progress   19
Power Tools for the Manager   21
Power Tool Summary   23
Chapter 2 Communication Is King   27
Why Communication?   28
The Communication Path   28
Communication Applications   32
Communicating in Meetings   34
Communication Management Plan   37
Power Tool Summary   43
Chapter 3 Fix the Processes   45
What Is a Process?   45
Why Look at the Processes?   46
Process Development   48
Documentation   54
Staffing a Process   56
Training Staff for Processes   57
Monitoring and Measuring a Process   59
Changing the Process   64
Is There a Better Way?   65
Power Tool Summary   67
Chapter 4 Waste Management   69
What Is Waste in an Organization?   69
Process Organization   70
Waste or Manufacturing Cost Reductions?    74
Waste in Procurement   76
Waste in Shipping and Receiving   78
Waste in Facilities   79
Waste in Managerial Decision Making   80
Waste in Meetings and Decision Processing   81
Sustainable Change   84
Power Tool Summary   85
Chapter 5 Managing Your Resources   87
Knowing your Resources   87
Human Resources   89
Managing Versus Leading   93
Allocation of Resources   95
New Managers   96
Capital Equipment   97
Facilities   98
Equipment   100
Power Tools Summary   102
Chapter 6 Budget Control   105
Establishing a Budget   106
Scope of the Budget   108
Controlling a Budget   110
Contracts   123
Conclusion 125
Power Tool Summary   127
Chapter 7 Don’t Be Afraid of Risks   129
Risk in Today’s Operations   129
Risk Versus Uncertainty   134
Risk Management Planning   136
Learn from Your Experiences   152
Power Tool Summary   155
Chapter 8 Synergy in Management   157
Managerial Behavior   157
Managerial Diversity   159
Managerial Relationships   160
Communication System    163
Needs of the Manager   167
Power Tool Summary   169
Chapter 9 Tamper-Proof Training   171
Training Is a Process   171
Training Plan   172
Power Tool Summary   183
Chapter 10 The Weakest Link   187
Procurements   188
Supplier Relationships   191
Suppliers   194
Inventory Control   198
Power Tool Summary   202
Chapter 11 Organizing for Efficiency   205
At What Level Should Organizing Be Done?   207
Design It In   213
Cost Benefit   214
Power Tool Summary   215
Chapter 12 Managing Change   217
Why Change Anything?   218
Problems with Change   220
Types of Change   224
Documentation Changes   228
Change as a Process   229
Power Tool Summary   236
Bibliography   239
Index   241