Operations management has evolved and changed over the years, affecting areas such as manufacturing and service. The process of globalization of the market, the emergence of new information technologies, as well as the growth of the movement for preserving the environment, have influenced modern trends. Moreover, in the 21st century, the world is facing new global challenges. The threat of terrorism, the problem of energy security, and many others have also forced the world to reconsider the established principles of OM. Thus, the new trends in operations management are characterized by robotics, innovation, and extraordinary progress.
One of the new trends in the development of digital production and robotization. Thus, due to the emergence of these trends, the demand for labor changes, which affects and leads to the development of education (Demeter, 2017). Moreover, various global challenges influence the decision to locate production facilities on a particular territory. The location of the plant or factory determines the flow of investment, materials, and other necessities for production. In this sense, it is the emerging awareness of production that leads to the trend of development of robotization and digital production. Data collecting is also one of the latest trends in OM.
The invention of new tools and technologies allows industries to achieve serious success. Moreover, the collected information is critically useful for further research in the field of operations management. Thus, data collection is used not only in factories and plants but also in the concept of a smart city (Guha et al., 2018). Each element of the city consists of a special device that is connected to the rest of the same. The devices collect data from the environment, which allows them to manage the city more efficiently.
As mentioned earlier, the main focus in operations management is the development of communication technologies. Therefore, mobile communication, being a tool, allows businesses and industries to conduct better cooperation (Machuca et al., 2018). This technique helps to eliminate boundaries, helping employees, firms, and organizations to communicate quickly. In turn, this significantly facilitates the entire process of operations, which is a positive result.
In addition to mobile communication, the role of artificial intelligence in the field of operations management is increasing. The introduction of artificial intelligence allows industries to avoid mistakes related to the human factor (Grover et al., 2020). Hence, the advantages of AI are its speed and accuracy, which for a number of reasons may not be enough for a regular manager. Thus, the widespread deployment of this new technology is considered a more profitable investment than hiring a large staff.
In conclusion, it becomes obvious that the world’s progress forces almost every sphere to change. Operations management is undergoing innovations in both tools and technologies due to a number of factors. The increasing importance of environmental conservation, as well as various global challenges, are forcing industries to gain awareness. Thus, the question of which territory to place production becomes more relevant, because its effectiveness now depends on it. The threat of terrorism and the conflict situation in many regions of developing countries also encourage managers to solve the problems of locating production facilities.
Moreover, information technology, artificial intelligence, and the development of communications are also new trends. These tools allow you to increase the efficiency of enterprises and lead to more effective results. Innovation and robotization equip production facilities with the latest technologies, which also lead to progress.
References
Demeter, K. (2017). Research in global operations management: some highlights and potential future trends. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management.
Grover, P., Kar, A. K., & Dwivedi, Y. K. (2020). Understanding artificial intelligence adoption in operations management: insights from the review of academic literature and social media discussions. Annals of Operations Research, 1-37.
Guha, S., & Kumar, S. (2018). The emergence of big data research in operations management, information systems, and healthcare: Past contributions and future roadmap. Production and Operations Management, 27(9), 1724-1735.
Machuca, J. A., Größler, A., & Morita, M. (2018). Joining P&OM forces worldwide: present and future of operations management. International Journal of Operations & Production Management.