In past 130+ years, we can identify many milestones in operations management tha
ID: 400377 • Letter: I
Question
In past 130+ years, we can identify many milestones in operations management that have re-shaped how products were made and how services were delivered. For examples, motion & time study, assembly line, linear programming, CAD, TQM, lean manufacturing, ERP software, etc. However, what are the future OM milestones you might foresee in next 20 years? This may be more relevant to most of you, in terms of finding career path or developing career, than studying what have happened in the past. I want to encourage you to provide example and participate discussion on those emerging technologies (such as big data, AI, VR, AR, robots, IoT, etc.) may change how manufacturing and services would be operated in next 20 years.
Explanation / Answer
Recently new technologies like Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Internet of Things have matured and becoming an enabler for further breaking the established benchmark of operations management and manufacturing.
Internet of Things as the names suggests is about connecting devices that consumer owns with the internet. Giving end user the capability of managing or operating the device though another device. Probably, imagine user switching off AC through the smartphone it has, using the internet, before reaching home so that room is already cold. Or managing verious devices in a factory though interface provided by Internet of things.
Augmented reality and virtual reality provides the capability to bring virtual things and real things come together and provide a view which can give an overview of how things would look like. For exaple before purchaisng a sofa set you can check how it would look in your living room. Or before white wash how your room wall look like with different color combinations.
In terms of operations management imagine how a designer can design a car without actually building it and see in reality how the car would look like in different combination.
All these future technologies are enablers for effective operations management and brining in positive changes for all, be it company owners, floor managers, operations people or the enf consumers. These technologies will not only reduce the cost but bring in positive change of getting the best products out of the factory. Creating a robust and strong ecosystem for operations activities.