Manufacturing Strategy

Programme:	Undergraduate
Module Code:	N13810
Semester:	Spring
Convenor:	Kim Hua Tan
Credits & Level:	10 credits; Level 3
Pre-requisites:	None.
Co-requisites:	None.
Target Students:	This module is available to all Business School students, including Modern Languages with Business and Geography with Business students. It is also available to Beng and Meng students from the School of Mechanical Materials, Manufacturing Engineering and Management.
Delivery:	One two-hour lecture per week and 5 one-hour seminars.
Assessment:	One 2-hour examination (70%); Group Coursework (3,000 words) (30%)
Summary of Content	This module examines the strategic potential of alternative systems of manufacturing, and the key links between manufacturing and other functional strategies. The module explores the importance of a properly formulated and explicit strategy to ensure the development of a successful business. The module discusses the interdependence of policies for capacity, technology, supply networks, development and organisation.
Aims	To recognise the potential strategic impact of manufacturing on business competitiveness. To examine how to formulate an effective manufacturing strategy in alignment with other business strategies. To examine the linkages with the market-product strategies and to balance this with the build-up of competencies and resources within manufacturing. To understand the need for and means of developing superior operations processes and infrastructural systems. To recognise the potential partnership between internal operations, and suppliers and partners.
Key Words:	Manufacturing Strategy, Competitiveness, Performance Measurement.
Learning Objectives & Outcomes	Knowledge and understanding This module develops a knowledge and understanding of: The management of resources and operations. Manufacturing strategy formulation principles, content and process. The inter-relationship of manufacturing/operations strategy with other functional strategies. Measuring operations performance. Intellectual skills This module develops: The cognitive skills of critical thinking, analysis and synthesis, including the ability to identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of evidence, to detect false logic or reasoning, to identify implicit values, and to define terms adequately and to generalise appropriately. Effective qualitative problem solving and decision making skills. Effective quantitative problem solving and decision making skills. The ability to create, evaluate and access a range of options, together with the capacity to apply ideas and knowledge to a range of business and other situations. Professional practical skills This module develops: Numeracy and quantitative skills including data analysis, interpretation and extrapolation. Qualitative skills including the ability to work with case studies. The ability to apply business models to business problems and phenomena. The ability to conduct research into business and management issues, either individually or as part of a team, including a familiarity with a range of business data and research resources and appropriate methodologies. Evaluate manufacturing strategies in relation to cost, time, quality and people. Transferable (key) skills This module develops: Effective oral and written communication skills in a range of traditional and electronic media. Effective self-management in terms of time, planning and behaviour, motivation, self-starting, individual initiative and enterprise. Work effectively as a member of a team. Undertake self-directed study, including information acquisition and analysis to enable continued learning during a professional career. Develop innovation and creativity in problem solving.

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Manufacturing Strategy

Nottingham University Business School