When we talk about MBA we generally think about careers in marketing and finance but rarely do we come across the careers in operations. Just like a car requires wheels to run; a business requires the operations department to keep running.

All firms have processes, suppliers and customers and these are the factors that an employee in the operations department deals with; career opportunities in operations exist in every sector of the economy. It won’t be an exaggeration to say every business process starts and ends with operations management.

The next question is, what is operations management? Operations management is concerned with converting labour and raw materials into finished goods and services according to the demand of the market. However, their ultimate intention always remains the same - to maximize the profit of the organization while maintaining optimum efficiency.

Here is a list of top 3 positions usually filled by operations management students.

Supply Chain Manager

As mentioned earlier, all business processes start and end with operations management. From manufacturing to delivering a product to the end user, the supply chain manager is heavily involved. He is also responsible to overlook and manage a company’s logistics strategy, supply chain and operations in order to maximize efficiency and productivity. A supply chain manager must also be able to study and process data to provide creative solutions. A supply chain manager must also maintain good and cordial relations with suppliers, vendors and distributors.

A supply chain manager must possess the following skills:

Planning and analysis

Transportation planning and execution

Inventory management and communication

If you think you possess the necessary skills then a job as a supply chain manager is the one for you.

Operations Research

Research is essentially the application of statistical and analytical methods to gain insights to make informed decisions. As you might have deduced operations research is a discipline that uses statistical and analytical methods to gain insights and make informed and better decisions in the domain of operations management.
The intention behind operations research is to arrive at optimal or near optimal solutions. An operations researcher uses techniques such as mathematical modelling, mathematical optimization and statistical analysis. An operations research manager must identify business problems in logistics, production and sales.
An operations research manager must possess the following skills:

Problem-solving skills

Math skills

Analytical skills

Critical thinking skills

If you think you possess these qualities then the career of operation research could be the right choice for you.

Inventory Control Manager

As the name suggests an inventory control manager checks if a company has enough stock. But it is not his only responsibility; he must take care of several other aspects as well such as production control, employee satisfaction and supply chain management. One of the most important responsibilities of an inventory control manager is planning when to order, how much to order, where to order from and how to bring about its execution.
An inventory control manager must possess certain qualities such as:

Stock management

Time management

Communication skills

Leadership qualities

If you think you possess the necessary skills then a job as an inventory control manager is the one for you.

These are the jobs you can land after pursuing an MBA in operations. If you possess the necessary skills and have the aptitude this can be a very lucrative and rewarding career.