Production Operation Management

In the history of operational management, some of the key persons who have contributed to the philosophies and methods of operations management are; Smith, Babbage, Whitney, Gantt, Gilbreth, Taylor, Ford, Sorcensens. Although, you may have never heard of them Smith and Babbage developed early concentrations of labor specialization. They had the idea to have a person specialize in a small part of the overall craftsmanship. Whitney worked on standardized parts. With the idea of using the same part in as many products as possible you can inventory less and buy in higher quantities of the same part. For example, in a car a cup holder is a cup holder. Originally every car manufacturer designed a custom solution for each of their car models. Today, many manufacturers either use a standard design in most of their vehicles or use a drop in design that multiple manufacturers are using.

Gantt worked on the idea of scientific management with Gilbreth developing motion and time studies and Taylor developing process analysis. While Ford and Sorensen pioneered the idea of the assembly line. Ford’s assembly line would not have been possible or maybe even a thought without those who came before him. The assembly line changed products and has changed the world forever. With each worker or work station focusing on one specific small part of an assembly the skill level of each worker does not need to be as advanced. With a person completing the same task over and over again they can become more efficient and less likely to make a mistake.

Without the assembly line modern products such as the iPhone would most likely not be possible. The complexity of such a product is almost impossible for a person to master other then the designer. If only a few could master the entire assembly of a complex product, then very few units would be able to be produced. With the modern assembly line workers sit at a station with a conveyor belt and they install their one part to the overall complex product. The assembly line simply makes the complex simple and the time consuming efficient. It is important to note, our modern day life style and world were made possible by these men who one small step at a time made it possible for the most complex items to be produced by unskilled labor and at a lower materials cost.