Top 10 Best Operation Management Books

As we have shared with you a list of entrepreneurship magazines and marketing books as your resources for continuous learning, in this article, we are going to give you another resource that can help you improve your current operations— and this is none other than operation management books. 

 

Operations Management Textbooks for CEO

Below are the best operations management books that will help your business maximize efficiency. 

 

1. Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done

Written by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan, the book Execution has helped people in the business to take the final step toward success by analyzing the discipline of getting things done.

 

 

The authors of this operation management book redesign their empowering message for a world in which the old rules have been shattered and radical change is becoming routine.

 

 

The book Execution shows its readers how to connect the fundamental elements of every organization and create a business based on intellectual honesty, realism, and exchanged ideas.

 

Moreover, Execution gives its readers a realistic and hard-nosed approach to business success. 

 

Amazon reviews: 4.4 out of 5 from 934 reviews

 

2. Competing Against Time: How Time-Based Competition is Reshaping Global Markets

Competing Against Time is based upon ten years of research.

 

 

This operation management book is written by George Stalk, Jr., and Thomas M. Hout where they argue that how leading companies manage time in production, in new product management, and in sales and distribution represent the most powerful new sources of competitive advantage.

 

The authors have also emphasized that time is the equivalent of money, productivity, quality, and innovation and how reducing the amount of time that passes can mean the difference between success and failure.

 

Amazon reviews: 4.4 out of 5 from 64 reviews

 

3. The Checklist Manifesto: How To Get Things Right

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande shows its readers that checklists help us be more effective with complex tasks.

 

 

 

The author reveals what checklists can do and can’t do and how checklists can bring improvements in a variety of fields and businesses of all kinds. 

 

 

A simple surgical checklist from the World Health Organization following the ideas in this book has been adopted in more than twenty countries as a standard for care and has been named “the biggest clinical invention in thirty years”. 

 

Amazon reviews: 4.6 out of 5 from 6784 reviews

4. The Goal: A Process Of Ongoing Improvement

We are in an unstable and fast-growing environment where flexible operations and the quick turnaround can offer real competitive advantages that allow us to respond quickly to the market.

 

 

Written by Eliyahu Goldratt, The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement is a gripping novel that explains various interrelated management concepts which are useful for operations management and strategic planning.

 

 

This operation management book shares the story of how Alex fights to save his plant, delivering a message to all managers in the industry and explaining the ideas, which underline the Theory of Constraints, developed by Eli Goldratt.

 

 

Amazon reviews: 4.6 out of 5 from 4227 reviews

5. Reengineering The Corporation: A Manifesto For Business Revolution

Reengineering The Corporation which is written by Michael Hammer and James Champy is one of the best operation management books of the last decade.

 

 

This book highlights the radical redesign of a company’s processes, organization, and culture to achieve a quantum leap in performance.

 

 

Its authors have updated and revised their milestone work for the New Economy to help corporations save more money, increase customer satisfaction, and help corporations grow ever more nimble in the years to come.

 

Amazon reviews: 4.3 out of 5 from 115 reviews

 

6. Operations Management for Dummies

This operation management book helps its readers to develop and execute efficient and effective processes with operations management.

 

 

 

Operation Management for Dummies tracks typical courses that cover topics such as evaluating and measuring existing systems’ performance and efficiency, materials management, and product development, and using tools like Six Sigma and Lean Production.

 

 

7. The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms To Fail

As one of the best operation management books, The Innovator’s Dilemma which is written by innovation expert Clayton Christensen shows that even the most outstanding companies that can do everything right can still lose market leadership.

 

 

He also points out the reason why most companies miss out on new waves of innovation.

 

 

He said that a successful company with established products will get pushed aside unless managers know how and when to abandon traditional business practices.

 

 

This book provides you with a set of rules for capitalizing on the phenomenon of disruptive innovation.

 

Amazon reviews: 4.5 out of 5 from 2005 reviews

 

8. My Years With General Motors

My Years With General Motors by Alfred P. Sloan Fr. is one of the best operation management books to read.

 

 

This book serves as a manual for managers offering the practice of the “discipline of management” and became an instant bestseller when it was first published in 1963.

 

 

Businessweek has also named this book as the number one choice for its “bookshelf of indispensable reading.”

 

Amazon reviews: 4.4 out of 5 from 160 reviews

 

9. Operations Management for MBAs 4th edition

This operation management book arms its readers with the information needed to succeed.

 

 

This book provides case studies showing how the concepts are applied on the job.

 

 

Overall, this provides basic concepts of operations management with a strategic, conceptual, and contemporary approach.

 

Amazon reviews: 4,2 out of 5 from 38 reviews

 

10. Toyota Production System: Beyond Large-Scale Production

The Toyota Production System and Lean manufacturing, Taiichi Ohno shares what sets him apart as one of the most disciplined and creative thinkers of our time.

 

 

His book explains how Lean principles can improve any production venture.

 

 

Moreover, this book continuously provides inspiration and instruction for those seeking to improve efficiency through the elimination of waste.

 

 

Operations management books for beginners

Operations management plans, organizes, and oversees all the tasks needed to make products or provide services. It is an important part of running a business.

 

 

It makes sure that a company can turn its resources into goods and services quickly to meet customer needs.

 

If you are new to operations management or looking to expand your knowledge, here is a list of must-read books for beginners:

 

1. “Introduction to Operations Management” by John Naylor

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of operations management, including topics such as process analysis, capacity planning, and quality management. It also covers real-world examples and case studies to help readers understand how these concepts are applied in different industries.

 

2. “Operations Management: Processes and Supply Chains” by Lee Krajewski, Larry Ritzman, and Manoj Malhotra

This book offers a broader perspective on operations management, covering topics such as supply chain design, inventory management, and lean operations. It also includes practical tools and techniques used in the field of operations management.

 

3. “Operations Management for Dummies” by Mary Ann Anderson, Edward J. Anderson, and Geoffrey Parker

This book is an excellent resource for those completely new to operations management. It provides a simple and easy-to-understand overview of the key concepts, along with tips and techniques for improving efficiency and productivity.

 

4. The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement” by Eliyahu M. Goldratt

This best-selling novel uses a story format to introduce readers to the principles of operations management, specifically the Theory of Constraints. It offers a unique and engaging way to learn about supply chain management and production processes.

 

5. “The New Factory: A Guide to Organizing and Managing Manufacturing Plants” by Edward W. Davis

This book is ideal for beginners looking to understand the inner workings of a manufacturing plant. It covers various aspects such as factory layout, production planning, and inventory management, providing practical advice and examples.

 

 

Takeaways

Successful businessmen never stop learning. They are great readers of books on operations. They consume information, digest it and then use it to help themselves and others. So, we hope that the best operation management books that we have listed above can help you maximize your business efficiency.