The OSCM Landscape

Your map to Operations & Supply Chain Management. 22 chapters. 4 big zones. Countless career paths.

You don't need to master everything. Most professionals focus on just one or two areas. This semester, you're getting the full tour—so you know what exists and where you might fit.

Section One

Strategy, Products & Capacity

What should we make? How much can we make? Is this project worth doing?

Ch 1-2: Strategy Ch 3: Product Design Ch 4: Projects Ch 5: Capacity Ch 6: Learning Curves

Career Paths

Project Manager Strategy Analyst Product Manager

Companies

Apple Tesla SpaceX
Section Two

Manufacturing & Service Processes

How do we actually make it? Where do bottlenecks hide? How do we ensure quality?

Ch 7: Manufacturing Ch 8: Layout Ch 9: Services Ch 10: Waiting Lines Ch 11: Process Analysis Ch 12-13: Quality & SPC

Career Paths

Quality Manager Process Engineer Six Sigma Black Belt

Companies

Toyota Starbucks Mayo Clinic
Section Three

Supply Chain Processes

Where do materials come from? How do we move goods efficiently? How do we cut waste?

Ch 14: Lean Ch 15: Logistics Ch 16: Global Sourcing

Career Paths

Sourcing Manager Logistics Analyst Lean Consultant

Companies

Amazon Walmart FedEx
Section Four

Supply & Demand Planning

How much will customers want? When should we order? How do we balance supply and demand?

Ch 17: ERP & IoT Ch 18: Forecasting Ch 19: S&OP Ch 20: Inventory Ch 21: MRP Ch 22: Scheduling

Career Paths

Demand Planner Inventory Analyst Supply Chain Analyst

Companies

Procter & Gamble Zara Netflix

How It All Connects

When you order a latte at Starbucks, all four zones kick in:

📊
Forecast demand
🚚
Source beans & milk
Make your latte
🎯
Compete & grow

Why This Matters for YOU

Whether you end up in accounting, marketing, finance, or management—you'll work with operations people every day. Understanding their world makes you more effective, more valuable, and more promotable. Steve Jobs and Lee Iacocca didn't succeed by ignoring operations. They succeeded by mastering it.