Production and Operations Management: An Applied Modern Approach
by Joseph S. Martinich

The P/OM Puzzle:

Making P/OM Accessible
Without Sacrificing Analytical Reasoning and Depth

Motivating students to study P/OM, teaching analytical reasoning in a non-threatening manner, and keeping material up-to-date and examples realistic are just a few of the challenges facing anyone teaching P/OM. Martinich has crafted a unique blend of high level quantitative methodology and user-friendly material to make P/OM accessible to students of all levels and backgrounds.

1. Motivation
Demonstrate the Importance of
Operations Management to Business Majors

The wide ranging applicability of operations management is demonstrated from the very first pages of the text. Each chapter includes an In Good Company box which describes how the profiled organization addressed the operations management issue presented in the chapter to improve performance.

Emphasize the Strategic Role of Operations in Organizations

An extensive discussion of the role of operations management in the development and execution of an organization's strategy highlights its importance and relevance to business.

Real-world examples and numerical illustrations reveal how companies can exploit operational strength and develop production systems that allow them to excel in various ways: by introducing new product more quickly, producing higher quality products and being more responsive and flexible.

Make Topics Real and Applicable

Students are suspicious of unrealistic examples in idealized worlds. To counter this, Martinich presents real situations and real companies encountering P/OM problems. He includes cases that incorporate the "messiness" and complexity of real problems to illustrate the relevance of operations management OM the business world.

2. Accessibility:
Integrate Quantitative and Qualitative Tools

Martinich introduces quantitative methods as tools to be used in the decision making process, not as ends in themselves. He blends in-depth coverage of quantitative methods with engaging qualitative topics, illustrating the logic of modeling with meaningful examples.

Overcome Math Anxiety

Many students fear they lack the quantitative skills needed to analyze a situation or problem, identify what information is known, structure the problem, identify what needs to be determined and select a method for finding the solution. Martinich focuses on the thought process of how to approach the problems, making mathematical steps more inducive and comprehensible.

You can select the degree of mathematical content to meet the needs of your students, form those with only a basic algebra and statistics background to those with strong mathematical skills. Students form all disciplines will get the level of coverage they need when they need it.

3. Up-to-Date, Modern Material

New and developing methodologies, such as lean production, just-in-time production, electronic data interchange, TQM, concurrent engineering and cellular production are discussed extensively throughout the text. Entire sections devoted to the latest topics in operations management keep students on the cutting-edge.

Martinich also introduces the changes precipitated by the new trend toward environmental awareness and is effect on operational decisions. He explores the changes companies are making to reduce damage to the environment while increasing profits.

4. Putting the pieces together

Production and operations management: an applied modern approach includes several special features that will help you give your students the whole picture.

A separate chapter (3) with four different plant tours shows students real production systems in action. On the job boxes demonstrate the importance of operations management OM non-majors by profiling actual professionals in good company boxes demonstrate the importance of P/OM in real companies

Detailed end-of-chapter cases describe real operations problems and how they are solved, including the problems of implementation.

Key terms and formulas are highlighted throughout the text and collected at the end of each chapter to reinforce important points.

Supplements:

  • Test Bank
  • Computerized Test Bank
  • NBR videos
  • Powerpoint Slides Presentations
  • Solutions Manual/Instructor's Manual
  • Chang QSB Software for Windows
  • How a Car is Built: Featuring the Ford Mustang (video)
  • The Making of Fenton Art Glass (video)
  • Watch it Made in the USA (book)

Wiley's College Division

URL:http://www.umsl.edu/~jmartini/book/bookinfo.html
Page Owner: Joseph Martinich (Joseph.Martinich@umsl.edu)
Last Updated: May 22, 1998

Copyright 1997, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.