Business Process Management (BPM)

Abstract

The course provides a basic understanding of business processes management (BPM) and management of change, and establishes a correlation between materials engineering and BPM. The course treats concepts and explains practical solutions (some with guest speakers and company visits). Group projects of the students allow the application of the concepts.

Objective

The goal of this course is to provide a basic understanding of BPM – business processes and management of change processes, and to establish a correlation between materials engineering and BPM.

Content

Business Process Management (BPM) delivers the crucial business glue that synchronizes the planning, designing, building, operating, maintaining, monitoring and improvement of the capabilities of the enterprise. BPM is unique in its ability to tame the relentless competitive, service and cost pressures in all organizations. It enables enterprises to continue to adapt faster and faster while enhancing quality. The course starts with an introduction into basic concepts and experiences with BPM and gives examples why and where a materials engineer will need BPM (process mapping, process management, internal and external consulting, investor’s perspective). The following aspects of BPM will be covered: Business processes and organization in small, medium-sized and global companies; virtual organizations and supply chain management; cultural aspects Importance of various processes in relation to core competences Innovation process (R&D, technology development); product and process development processes Process to win and execute orders Customer service process Relation to management and support processes BPM and change management. The course will build on several case studies, both from Swiss and international companies.

Resources