Production and Operations Management

Production technology and supply chain topics shape the future of the manufacturing industry in this world. Fundamental concepts are conveyed for the analysis, design and realisation of innovative concepts for operations management (e.g. Industry 4.0) and also for methods of screening the performance of a manufacturing industry.

Overview Engineering Modules (EM):
EM 1: Fundamentals in Production and Operations Management
Courses: Introduction to Industrial Engineering; Information Systems: Fundamentals of computer science for engineers; Operations Research: Decision-making with linear models & networks; Introduction to industrial engineering; Industrial services
EM 2: IT Support of Production Systems
Courses: Information Systems: Product life cycle management; Simulation of Production Systems; Operations Research: Decision making with discrete & non-linear models
EM 3: Methods of Operations Management
Stochastic models of manufacturing systems
Courses: Operational & tactic supply network management; Production Engineering; Human factors & ergonomics; Technologies of distribution networks
EM 4: Networks of Supply & Production Systems
Courses: Supply Network Management: Inventory management in an uncertain environment; Distribution Networks; Strategic supply network management; International Production; IT for logistic systems
EM 5: Global Production and Distribution Systems
Courses: Quality Management; Supplier management; Smart manufacturing & automation with industry 4.0

Overview Management Modules (MM):
MM 1: Innovation & Projects
MM 2: Finance & Value
MM 3: Marketing & Information
MM 4: Strategy & People
MM 5: Decisions & Risk

Educational organization

The Master's program is offered at the HECTOR School, Technology Business School of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). It is especially designed for engineering professionals who have already worked in their jobs for approx. three years. It is designed as a part-time program over a duration of about 20 months and concludes with a Master of Science awarded by the KIT.
The academic calendar for all Master's programs of the HECTOR School starting in October each year consist of 10 intensive modules, each with a duration of 10 days. At the end, the Master's program concludes with a Master's thesis.

Study abroad unit(s)

Engineering Module 5 of the Master's program "Production & Operations Management" takes place in Shanghai/Suzhou at the KIT China branch.

Forms of assessment

Written and oral exams at the end of each module and Master's thesis and colloquium after completion of the modules.

Course objectives

Graduates of the Master's program Production & Operations Management (POM) are able to analyse and optimise the efficiency of value-added processes within the operation of production and service systems. They can understand and analyse service and production processes, capture and formally describe requirements, frame boundary conditions and targets and achieve a targeted improvement by means of the skills they have acquired in the Master's program.
Graduates are familiar with state-of-the-art concepts and methods and are able to apply those in a problem-oriented way. Methods and techniques in conjunction with decision making are especially focused on in the Operations Management program.
In addition, graduates can identify the possibilities and limitations of formal methods and models as well as the challenges that represent the transmission between the modelled world and reality and handle them in a solution-driven way. Given that nowadays in production and logistics the flow of data, products and money are closely interconnected, graduates are able to solve problems taking into account these tree factors and multi-disciplinary solution approaches.

Language requirements

English language test (e.g. TOEFL or IELTS) for non-native speakers (TOEFL score of at least 95 iBT)

Academic requirements

University qualification:
Bachelor's, Master's, Diplom etc. (university, university of applied sciences, cooperative state university)
Exception: other degrees may be accepted (e.g. professional experience)

Professional experience:
Depending on the first degree's level (210 or 180 ECTS points)

• One or two years of practical experience in the specific field of the course is required.
• Three years' work experience are recommended.
• References are needed as evidence.

English qualification:
Evidence of an adequate knowledge of the English language is required, normally in the form of a TOEFL (at least 95 iBT) or an equal qualification which must be checked individually.

For further details, please see:

www.hectorschool.kit.edu/admissions_msc.php

Enrolment fees

The tuition fee for the entire M.Sc. Program is 30.000 € (thirty thousand EUR). Please note that this fee is tax-deductible.

Arrival support

The HECTOR School office offers support to international participants regarding e.g. arrival procedures, VISA requirements etc.

Services and support for international students

The HECTOR School office takes care of international participants during their stay in Germany, also offering a wide range of social and cultural events, workshops etc.

Accommodation

The HECTOR School is integrated into the campus of the International Department of the KIT with its own campus accommodation, which is available to all students of the International Department upon request.
For further information, see the website of the campus: www.hectorschool.kit.edu/accommodation.php