Course Syllabus

OPRE6302-502 Operations Management

Fall 2007
Dr. Chelliah Sriskandarajah

Office : SOM 3.404

Phone : (972) 883-4047
E-mail: chelliah@utdallas.edu
Homepage: http://www.utdallas.edu/∼chelliah

Teaching Assistant: Ms. Tharanga Rajapakshe, Office: SOM 3.409

E-mail: tharanga@utdallas.edu

Office hours by Ms. Tharanga Rajapakshe: Every Tuesday starting 21 August 2007 at SOM
3.409: 4:30PM - 6:30PM.

Office hours by Dr. C. Sriskandarajah, office SOM 3.404: Every Thursday starting 23
August 2007 : 4:30PM - 6:30PM.
Instructor Information: Chelliah Sriskandarajah is Chair Professor in the School of Manage-
ment of the University of Texas at Dallas. He has a Ph.D degree from the Higher National School
of Electrical Engineering of the National Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble (France) in the field
of Production and Operations Research. His research revolves around solving various production
planning and scheduling problems with the aim of making the production process more economical
and efficient. His research interests lie in the general area of production planning and scheduling,
supply chain management, logistics, and performance evaluation of production systems. He has
published over 80 scholarly articles in leading journals. Over the years, his research has been sup-
ported by a number of sponsors including National Science Foundation (USA), Natural Sciences
and Engineering Research Council (Canada), Manufacturing Research Cooperation of Ontario
(Canada) and NATO. He is now Associate Editor of POMS, Journal of Scheduling, INFOR and
is a member of INFORMS, POMS, IIE, IEEE, APICS and CORS.

Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions:

STAT 5311 or OPRE 6301

The course materials and students’ grades can be accessed using a web course tool called We-
bCT.

Technical Requirements

In addition to a confident level of computer and Internet literacy, certain minimum technical
requirement must be met to enable a successful learning experience. Technical requirements in-
clude but not limited to:

Hardware:

• A Pentium processor or equivalent Mac system; Windows 98/Me/2000/XP or Mac OS 9.x

or OS X 10.1.

• Internet access with modem or preferably with other faster connections.

• 32 MB system Ram; 200 MB free disk space or sufficient storage.

• CD-ROM capabilities.

Software:

• Netscape Navigator 4.7x or higher (but 4.78, 4.79 and 6.0-6.1 not supported), or Internet
Explorer 5.0 to 6.0 (but 5.5 SP1 not supported). See browser configuration info below.

• MS Office 97/98 is the minimum standard. (Microsoft software is available at a nominal cost
from UTD Microsoft Program. For more information, visit Global MBA Online Student
Service web page at: http://som.utdallas.edu/globalmba/service.htm).

• Virus detection/protection software such as McAfee.

• “Plug-ins” tools such as current version of RealPlayer/RealOne Player (available at:

http://www.real.com/realone/index.html) and Adobe Acrobat Reader (available at:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html).

• A zip file expansion tool such as WinZip or Stuffit Expander (available at:
http://www.download.com).

Web Browser Configuration:

For the WebCT courses to work properly, you need one of the WebCT supported browsers listed
above with JavaScript enabled and cookie enabled. It is also important that you set the cache
settings of your browser to verify web documents “Every Time”. The methods for configuring
these settings vary among browsers. Please follow this web link provided by WebCT to tune-up
your browser:http://www.webct.com/tuneup/.

Course Access and Navigation:

To access WebCT, you need to have a UTD NetID and password (your UTD Unix/Email ID
and password) to access the course. If you have not used a UTD NetID account yet, you can go to
https://netid.utdallas.edu/ to initiate your account shortly before or at the start of the semester.
Your UTD NetID is your WebCT ID to be used to log on to the UTD WebCT courses. For
more information, please check out this NetID FAQs page. The URL for the course login page is:
http://webct.utdallas.edu. You can login to the course whenever you want. You are required to
meet any deadlines for the assignments and exams and also any schedules for class activities or
tasks the course requires. You should login to the course site regularly to check course updates,
discussion board messages and so on.

You’ll access “My WebCT” page after you login. The page listed all the courses you’ve regis-
tered. You can click the course title to access the course Home page which displays several icon
links. Clicking each icon link will take you to different subsidiary pages containing the course
content elements or built-in course tools. Some navigation components such as the Navigation
Bar with Course Menu on the left side, the Menu Bar and the path link on the top and the Action
Menu on the content page can help you navigate within the course site.

To get started with a WebCT course, please see Getting started: Student WebCT Orientation.
For more information about WebCT tool usage, please see the WebCT’s Student Help Index.
Within the course site, you can always click HELP on the WebCT Menu Bar to find information
and answers. You can also check out the Orientation Center to Online Learning and WebCT
provided on WebCT’s web site. For more WebCT information and its learning resources, visit
http://www.webct.com.

If you have any problem with your UTD account or connection to the UTD WebCT server,
you may email to: assist@utdallas.edu or call UTD computer help call center at: 972-883-2911.

Course Description/Obejctive

Objective: Operations management is a dynamic discipline. It involves a study of the opera-

tional issues relevant to the numerous activities and processes involved in offering products and
services in a highly competitive global environment. This course provides an introduction to the
concepts and analytic methods that are useful in understanding the management of firm’s op-
erations. The level of analysis varies considerably, from operations strategy to daily control of
business processes and inventory. The objective of this course is to assist students in building the
skills necessary to participate actively in decision making involving operations management issues.

Learning Goals:

• Understanding concepts and tradeoffs associated with a firm’s operations.

• Development of problem-solving ability and analytical-thinking ability with respect to oper-

ations issues.

• Provide a basic understanding of issues in services, manufacturing, JIT, and quality.

Required Textbooks and Materials

Text: Managing Business Process Flow by R. Anupindi, S. Chopra, S.D. Deshmukh, J.A. Van
Mieghem, E. Zemel, Second Edition, Prentice Hall, 2006.

Case Pack: Case pack can be obtained at UTD bookstore. The case ”CRU Computer Rental”
can be downloaded form http://www.prenhall.com/anupindi (go to the web site, click begin, go
to student resources, locate the case and download)

For additional reading: Production/Operations Management by William J. Stevenson, Sixth

Edition, Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 1999.

Textbooks and some other bookstore materials can be ordered online through MBS Direct Virtual
Bookstore. They are also available in UTD Bookstore and Off-Campus Books.

Assignments and Academic Calendar:

Practice Problems:

These problems will help the students apply the concepts discussed during the lectures. Stu-
dents are free to discuss these problems amongst themselves and need not submit the solutions.
The solutions to each set of practice problems will be posted a week after the set is posted.

WEEK DATE PRACTICE PROBLEMS REMARKS

2 Aug. 23-29 Tutorial #0 Discuss
Tutorial #1 Do not Submit
3 Aug. 30-Sept. 5 Tutorial #2 Discuss
Do not Submit
5 Sept. 13-19 Tutorial #3 Discuss
Do not Submit
7 Sept. 27-Oct. 3 Tutorial #4 Discuss
Do not Submit
9 Oct. 11-17 Tutorial #5 Discuss
Do not Submit
10 Oct. 18-24 Tutorial #6 Discuss
Do not Submit
11 Oct. 25-31 Tutorial #7 Discuss
Do not Submit
12 Nov. 1-7 Tutorial #8 Discuss
Do not Submit
14 Nov. 15-21 Tutorial #9 Discuss
Do not Submit
Course Outline/Schedule:

WEEK DATES TOPICS/ READING ASSIGNMENT/

LECTURE ACTIVITY
1 Aug. 16-22 Lecture 1 Chap. 1,2 (main text) Shouldice Case (#1)
Chap. 1,2 (Stevenson) Report due: Aug. 30
2 Aug. 23-29 Lecture 2 Chap. 1,2 (main text)
Chap. 1,2,6 (Stevenson)
3 Aug. 30- Sept. 5 Lectures 3, 4 Chap. 3,4 (main text) Assignment 1
Due: Sept. 6
4 Sept. 6-12 Lecture 4 Chap. 3,4 (main text) CRU Case (#2)
Discuss Report due: Sept. 20
CRU Case
5 Sept. 13-19 Lecture 5 Chap. 4,5 (main text)
6 Sept. 20-26 Lecture 6 Chap. 6 (main text)
Chap. 3,13,16 (Stevenson)
7 Sept. 27- Oct. 3 Discuss NCC Case (#3)
NCC Case Report due: Oct. 11
8 Oct. 4-10 Exam Mid-term Quiz
Date: Oct. 4
9 Oct. 11-17 Lecture 8 Chap. 7 (main text) Assignment 2
Chap. 13 (Stevenson) Due: Oct. 25
10 Oct. 18-24 Lectures 9, 10 Chap. 9 (main text) Hank Kolb Case (#4)
Chap. 9,10,11 (Stevenson) Report due: Nov. 1
11 Oct. 25-31 Lecture 11 MRP
Chap. 14 (Stevenson)
12 Nov. 1-7 Lecture 12 Aggregate Planning
Chap. 12 (Stevenson)
13 Nov. 8-14 Lecture 13 Aggregate Planning Assignment 3
Chap. 12 (Stevenson) Due: Nov. 15
14 Nov. 15-21 Lecture 14 Chap. 10 (main text)
Discuss Chap. 15 (Stevenson)
Toyota Case
15 Nov. 29 Exam Week Final Exam
Date: Nov. 29
Assignment submission instructions:

You will submit your assignments (in the required file format with a simple file name and a
file extension, no space or special characters) by using the Assignment Dropbox tool on the course
site (WebCT). Please see the Assignments icon on the designated page. You can click each as-
signment name link and follow the on-screen instructions to upload your file(s) and submit it.
Please refer to the Help menu or the WebCT Student Guide for more information on using this
tool. Please note: each assignment link can only be used for submission for one time and will be
deactivated after the assignment due time. After your submission is graded, you may click each
assignment’s “Graded” link to check the results and feedback. Assignments will not be accepted
by Fax.

Group Assignments

Case projects: Case study reports must be returned on the specified due dates. These are
group projects. You will be assigned to a group of no more than four students. Each group selects
a representative and informs the instructor the name of the group representative. The group rep-
resentative is responsible for submitting the project report on behalf of his/her group. The names
of group members must be printed on the front page of the report. Number of case projects: 4 (2
short reports, 2 full reports).

Students switching groups is not encouraged. However, if a student wants to switch to a group,
then he/she must find a student in the target group who is willing to switch to his/her group. Once
this mutual switch is agreed upon, both students must inform the instructor about the switch–no
later than August 23, 2007.

Groups will be assigned at the beginning of the class. Please see the Groups icon for the list
of groups. Each group can also use the group area for file exchanges within the group. Please
click the WebCT Help menu on how to use the features of the group tool. A private discussion
forum will be set up on Discussions board for each group for group communications.

Mid-term Tests/Quizzes: A mid-term quiz is scheduled on October 4, 2007, 7:00 - 9:45

pm. The format will be multiple-choice questions. The syllabus will span the material covered in
all the lectures before the quiz. The exam is closed-book. No make up exams will be given.

Final Exam: A final exam is scheduled on November 29, 2007, 7:00 - 9:45 pm under
the supervision of the instructor. The format will be multiple-choice questions. The exam is
closed-book. No make up exams will be given.

Grading Policy

• Mid-term Quiz: 15%

• Final Exam: 40%

 • Case Studies: a total of 20% for case studies #2 and #3 (full report due) and a total of 10%
for case studies #1 and #4 (short report due).

• Assignments: a total of 15% for three assignments.

Course & Instructor Policies:

Class Participation: While no grade is assigned to class participation, the students are en-
couraged to participate in class discussion.

Attendance: It is expected that students will attend all class. It is customary to inform the
instructor in advance if a student has to miss a class. It is the student’s responsibility to make-up
for missed classes.

You can check your grades (at WebCT) by accessing “My Grade” icon on Student Tools page
after the grade for each assessment task is released.

Assignments must be returned on the specified due dates. You may discuss the assignments
with others but make sure that you complete the work independently.

A part of class time can be utilized to exchange ideas or to seek hints on how to get started
on the assigned problems. This is intended to provide an active learning environment; therefore,
such exchanges should be limited to “conceptual discussions”, as opposed to asking for detailed
solutions. Thus, it is the responsibility of each student to prepare and submit written solutions to
the assignments independently. The solution to each assignment will be posted after its due date.

Student Conduct & Discipline

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regula-
tions for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student
and each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern
student conduct and activities. General information on student conduct and discipline is contained
in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic
year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recog-
nized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Reg-
ulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and
in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the university’s Handbook of Operating
Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the
Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules
and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).
A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizen-
ship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents’ Rules,
university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating
the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or
criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.

Academic Integrity

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Be-
cause the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by
the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of indi-
vidual honor in his or her scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to
applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work or
material that is not one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the follow-
ing acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected
of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings.

Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any
other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s policy on plagiarism
(see general catalog for details). This course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches
the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective.

Email Use

The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between
faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues
concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email exchange. The university en-
courages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email
address and that faculty and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from
a UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in
the identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD
furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with uni-
versity personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method
for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

Withdrawal from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses.
These dates and times are published in that semester’s course catalog. Administration procedures
must be followed. It is the student’s responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any
class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork
to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of “F” in a course if you choose not to attend the
class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activi-
ties, of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfill-
ments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort
to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the
grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”). Individual faculty members retain pri-
mary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that
level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondent’s
School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent,
the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by
the School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate or
Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals Panel.
The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic appeals process
will be distributed to all involved parties. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to
students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students
in interpreting the rules and regulations.

Incomplete Grade Policy

As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed
at the semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete
grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester.
If the required work to complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted
by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F.

Disability Services

The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportuni-
ties equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the
Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and
Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)
Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments
necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary
to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for
students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment requirement may be substituted (for exam-
ple, a research paper versus an oral presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes
enrolled students with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities.
The college or university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or
mobility assistance.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an accom-
modation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty members to
verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals requiring special
accommodation should contact the professor after class or during office hours.

Religious Holy Days

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities
for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are
exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated. The student is
encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding the absence,
preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the
exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to
the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor
and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student
who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing
grade for that exam or assignment. If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the
absence [i.e., for the purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement
about whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments
or examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling from the chief executive
officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief executive officer or designee must take
into account the legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by
the decision of the chief executive officer or designee.

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Pro-
fessor.