Choosing an academic institution to take your education to the next level is not an easy decision. There are lots of institutions from which to choose. Then, making the decision about the “right” degree for your career may even be more difficult. Is the MS Engineering Management or Operations Management right for you?    

Kettering University Online offers a range of program choices. Classes are asynchronous and you can work ahead if your schedule demands it. Adding a Master’s degree can catapult your personal and professional career in a number of ways: experience with industry leaders who teach KUO courses, opportunity to develop expertise and effective communication skills, and practical application of theory with our Learn Today-Use Tomorrow approach. You also have the choice of customizing your degree with a certificate in: Global Leadership, Healthcare Management, or Supply Chain Management.

Become part of the network of thousands of Kettering University Alumni who occupy C-Suites in companies across the globe - as a graduate of Kettering University you are part of an extensive alumni network with connections to notable organizations such as General Motors, Bosch, Boeing, Fisher-Price, Whirlpool, GE, and NASA to name only a few of the 550 Kettering corporate partners.

Getting an MS in Engineering Management or an MS in Operations Management can help you to play a larger and more impactful role in your organization. Recent graduate, George Zaharopoulos ’19, notes, “Kettering University Online really gives you the experience that you need in order to be able to function in different roles no matter where you are in any corporation” (Kettering University Online, 2019). Nicholaus Katakis ’18 adds, “What I really enjoyed about the program is that it allowed me to bring value to my position immediately. If you’re working, if you’ve already started your career, this allows you to just kind of really work it into your life and have the program work around you and what you want. This is definitely the better route to go” (Kettering University Online, 2018).

Engineering Management and Areas of Responsibility

Engineering managers lead research and development teams working on new products, processes, or designs, and/or working to improve existing ones. Their work also includes creating project budgets, hiring and managing staff, preparing staff training, determining equipment needs, monitoring the building and maintenance of equipment, and creating detailed plans for reaching technical goals.

Engineering Managers typically have responsibility for:

• Supervising engineers or engineering technologists
• Managing projects and working with clients
• Providing leadership, motivation, support, and resources to their team
• Keeping abreast of industry changes and regulations
• Conferring with management, marketing, and production staff to discuss      
• Project and/or product specifications and procedures
• Directing and coordinating production, testing, and quality assurance 
• Overseeing research and development of new products and procedures
• Analyzing market demand and assessing available resources
• Planning and directing the installation, testing, operation, maintenance and repair of both facilities and equipment                                                                   

In addition to supervising engineers, engineering managers work with other professionals from different departments such as finance, production, and marketing, as well as with outside contractors, and vendors. Engineering managers must also be able to work well with clients. Therefore, organizations place a high value on engineering managers with effective interpersonal communication skills including the ability to listen well, negotiate conflict, and effectively communicate their thoughts and ideas to others. Typically, scientists and engineers do not perfect these skills as part of their undergraduate education so they often have to learn them either on the job or in graduate school.

Choose Engineering Management If You Want To:

• Gain project management skills
• Lead cross-disciplinary teams
• Apply your technical skills in a managerial environment

Operations Management and Areas of Responsibility

Operations managers engage in all types of critical analysis with a particular emphasis on effective decision-making. Researching, initiating, and consistently evaluating best practices in order to meet the needs of clients and stakeholders and to achieve organizational goals, are all within the purview of operations managers. Operations managers, who bring innovation and cutting-edge best practices to quality management, inventory control, delivery, supply chain, and information management, are those who make the difference between a marginally successful company and a company that dominates their share of the marketplace.

Additionally, operations managers assist their employers in meeting fiscal objectives by building their methodological, practical, and financial competence in a variety of areas such as end-to-end supply chain management, management, marketing, finance, enterprise information systems, and managing people and projects.

Operations Managers typically have responsibility for:

• Designing, executing, and controlling the processes that transform raw materials into the goods and services consumers purchase
• Combining their technical expertise, management, and leadership abilities to create workplaces that are productive, profitable, and most importantly safe
• Planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling the resources required to produce a company’s goods or services
• Developing solutions for challenges in scheduling, sourcing, logistics, quality control, and technology implementation

Choose Operations Management If You Want To:

• Link people, performances, and processes
• Directly manage the production, pricing, sales, and distribution of goods and/or services
• Advance your career in the supply chain industry

Becoming a graduate of Kettering University Online uniquely positions you to become an expert in a more specialized field whose global demand is increasing. Your ability to apply sound management theories to the daily challenges you face allows you to confidently lead your staff through activities designed to improve processes, reduce costs, leverage strategy, and influence your company’s trajectory to reach its strategic goals.

Speak with a professional advisor now and get all the need-to-know information about Kettering University and its online graduate programs.

It is your turn to be #ketteringbuilt!