Full-time Diploma of Technology 6910diplt

BCIT Business Operations Management


The BCIT Business Operations Management diploma program explores how organizations produce and distribute goods and services in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. You will analyze available resources, transportation delivery routes, and production schedules to ensure businesses operate efficiently. Graduates can view the entire business operating system and find ways to improve performance.

BCIT Business Operations Management students learn to:
  • Provide business consulting services
  • Control inventory levels
  • Analyze business operations
  • Manage complex projects
  • Interpret ERP and analytics software
BCIT BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT DIPLOMA
BCIT Credential: BCIT Diploma of Technology
Program Length: 2 years, Full-time
Program Start: September
Number of Courses: 38 courses, 130 credits
Total Tuition/Cost: Learn about Tuition & Fees
Business Consulting Project: 10 weeks, 3 days a week
1st Year Entry: View Requirements
Advanced Placement: View Requirements
Laddering Options: Bachelor of Business
Administration BBA Degree

Business Consulting Project

Business Operations Management students undertake a 10 week Business Consulting Project in their final term. Students work in groups of 2-3 and spend three days a week developing a solution to a real business problem for a company. The student teams collect and analyze data, create recommendations, and present their findings to company management.

Professional Designations

Graduates of the Business Operations Management diploma program can pursue additional career building opportunities. Graduates are eligible to enter the following professional designation programs:

Business Operations Jobs & Careers

Graduates of the Business Operations Management diploma program have a strong foundation of business and operation specific skills that will lead to a wide variety of job opportunities.

Entry-Level Positions:
  • Buying Specialist
  • Purchaser
  • Planner/Scheduler
  • Logistics Coordinator
Mid-Level Positions:
  • Project Manager
  • Inventory Manager
  • Warehouse Manager
  • Operations Manager

Program Entry

Entrance requirements

Check for acceptable equivalents or upgrading courses taught at BCIT.

It is strongly recommended that you assess your fundamental mathematical skills. The Mathematics Self-Diagnostic Test below is voluntary. If you find these problems difficult, we strongly recommend that you attend OPMT 0199. You should be able to do this exercise in about an hour, after which you should compare your answers with the correct ones supplied. If you scored less than 20 out of 26 correct, you should seriously consider upgrading your mathematical skills.

Note: The following full-time business programs are accepting applications from students with a (C) in Math 11:

Advanced Placement

Entry into the middle of the first year or the start of the second year may be possible. View the Advanced Placement section for details.

Transfer credit

Transfer credit may be granted for courses completed at BCIT or another post-secondary institution where the learning outcomes duplicate those of the BCIT course. As per Admission Procedure 5003-PR1, the department reserves the right to determine the granting of credit where appropriate.

Applications will be accepted up to day 14 of the term; an official transcript and a course outline where appropriate must be provided (or be on file with BCIT) to process the request. A maximum of two courses per level are eligible for credit through this process.

BC provincial exams

Provincial exam marks are required for English 12, Communications 12, and Technical and Professional Communications 12. BCIT does not require applicants to write provincial exams for Grade 12 Math and Science courses.

Apply to program

Submit an application: online or by mail [PDF].

You can check the status of your application online at any time using the Student Information System.

Scheduled intakes

September each year.

Application processing

October 1* of the previous year until the program fills.

Applications are considered for a specific intake.

*Or next business day

myCommunication

Within 2 to 3 weeks of applying to a program, you will be sent a letter in the mail confirming receipt of your application. The letter will identify your student number, BCIT e-mail address and instructions on how to login to your myBCIT account.

All official BCIT correspondence will be sent to your myBCIT account. Check myCommunication often during the application process and throughout your studies at BCIT.

You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within 2 to 8 weeks.

Costs & Supplies

Tuition fees

Please see the Fees, Payments and Refunds section of the website for more information on full-time tuition fees.

Books and supplies


Level 1: $800
Level 2: $450
Level 3: $350
Level 4: $250

(general estimated cost, and subject to change)

Financial assistance

Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.

Courses

Operations Management training will give you a broad range of specialized skills that will let you take your career anywhere you want to go:

  • How to manage an operation
  • How to manage inventory to meet customer demand while maintaining efficient levels for business
  • How to be a buyer – sourcing product or raw materials, deciding how much to buy, at what cost, when, and how it will be delivered
  • How to manage a project from start to finish, including cost-benefit analysis, workflow, resource allocation, communication, and implementation
  • How to manage quality, ensuring safety and consistency
  • How to analyze and improve operating systems to improve business performance
  • How to apply management information systems to enable leading-edge operations strategies
  • How to apply lean strategies to improve operations
  • How to develop a facilities plan

To round out these specialized skills, you’ll also gain a strong foundation in business, including:

  • How to work as part of team – group dynamics, leadership and conflict resolution
  • How to present your ideas effectively in writing and verbally
  • How to manage your time
  • How to use the latest technology and IT resources for operations management

Program matrix

Level 1 (15 weeks) Credits
  BSYS 1005 Business Information Systems 1 3.0
  COMM 1100 Business Communication 1 3.0
  ECON 2100 Microeconomics 3.0
  FMGT 1100 Accounting 1 4.0
  MKTG 1102 Essentials of Marketing 3.0
  OPMT 1103 Introduction to Operations Management 3.0
  OPMT 1108 Applied Mathematics for Business and Industry* 4.0

* Note: During the first week of OPMT 1108 Applied Mathematics for Business and Industry, an assessment test will be administered to all students. Based on the outcome, students may be required to attend a weekly Business Math Success Workshop.

 
Level 2 (20 weeks) Credits
  BSYS 2060 Business Information Systems 3* 2.0
  BUSA 2100 Principles of Management* 2.0
  COMM 2200 Business Communication 2 4.0
  ECON 2200 Macroeconomics 4.0
  FMGT 2100 Accounting 2 5.5
  OPMT 1208 Applied Statistics for Business and Industry 5.5
  OPMT 2175 Process Improvement for Operations Management* 3.5
  OPMT 2300 IT Systems* 2.5
  OPMT 2365 Production and Inventory Management 5.5
  OPMT 2400 Systems Analysis and Design* 3.5
  ORGB 1100 Organizational Behaviour* 3.0
*denotes a half-term course
 
Level 3 (15 weeks) Credits
  FMGT 3224 Managerial Accounting (OPMT) 4.0
  OPMT 1170 Project Management 2.5
  OPMT 3100 Logistics 1 2.0
  OPMT 3170 Industrial Engineering Techniques 3.0
  OPMT 3240 Quality Management 3.0
  OPMT 3308 Quantitative Business Analysis 4.0
  OPMT 3341 Process Improvement Project 6.0
  OPMT 3361 Microcomputer Applications: Database 4.0
 
Level 4 (20 weeks) Credits
  BLAW 3440 Introduction to Law for Operations Management* 2.0
  HRMG 3205 Labour Relations 1* 3.0
  MECH 1905 Manufacturing Systems for Operations Management* 2.5
  OCHS 1441 Introduction to Safety for Operations Management 2.0
  OPMT 4100 Logistics 2* 2.0
  OPMT 4408 Math Models for Decision Making* 2.5
  OPMT 4438 Entrepreneurial Business Plan Development* 2.0
  OPMT 4441 Change Strategies* 2.0
  OPMT 4442 Issues in Operations Management* 2.0
  OPMT 4449 Industry Project* 12.0
  OPMT 4460 Purchasing* 2.0
  OPMT 4465 Lean Synchronous Systems* 3.5
  OPMT 4651 Enterprise Systems* 2.0
*denotes a half-term course
 
Total Credits: 132.0

Transfer credit

Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.

Program Details

As a Business Operations Management student, you'll benefit from BCIT's unique learning model of lectures, large auditorium sessions where you learn a subject, and labs, small classes with 20-25 students where you put what you learn into action.

This group is called your 'set' and you will take all of your classes together. This allows you to form close working relationships with your classmates, coordinate your schedules effectively for group work, and get the support you need from your instructors.

Your learning will focus on opportunities to complete real projects for business clients. This means you get the skills that employers are looking for and connections with professionals.

When you're accepted into the program, you're guaranteed seats in every class you need to graduate. That means there's no registering for individual classes, no taking classes that aren't relevant and no need to wonder when you'll graduate and launch your career.

Program length

Two years, full-time

Program location

Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC

Continue your education

Degree Completion

Graduates of this program may continue their studies to complete the BCIT Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program. The BBA program provides you with the flexibility to complete your degree full-time within 8 to 12 months (depending on previous transfer credits from other institutes), or you can choose to begin your career and finish your degree courses part-time, usually within 2 to 3 years.

Block credits from your diploma may also be transferred to business degrees at Simon Fraser University, the University of Northern British Columbia, Royal Roads University, Lakehead University and others. Please confirm details with the respective program that you are considering if this option is of interest.

Graduating & Jobs



Growth Opportunities

The Operations Management program is a pathway to BCIT’s Bachelor of Business Administration program, giving students the opportunity to earn your degree in as little as one year after earning your diploma.

You can go on to write certification exams for professional associations such as APICS’ Certified Production and Inventory Manager (CPIM) or Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) certification plus a host of others offered by relevant professional associations.

Job Opportunities

Your career options and earning potential are diverse and exciting:
  • Manager/Team Leader 
    Plan, implement, evaluate, and improve business processes to maximize results
  • Project Manager 
    Lead a team towards the successful completion of a project by defining objectives, tasks and resources required, developing a schedule and budget, and overseeing implementation
  • Buyer/Purchaser/Procurement Specialist 
    Source, negotiate and manage the purchase and expediting of goods
  • Operations Analyst 
    Conduct operational analyses to ensure efficient and effective coordination between business units  
  • Inventory Manager/Materials Manager 
    Ensure timely and effective inventory control to meet business targets and customer needs 
  • Warehouse Manager 
    Lead a team of employees in the fulfillment of daily warehouse operations  
  • Planner/Scheduler
    Plan the flow of work and schedule resources to meet customer demand  
  • Logistics Coordinator 
    Coordinate transportation and the flow of materials to meet customer demand
  • Operations Manager
    With related experience, Operations Management graduates may achieve positions such as Director of Operations, Plant Manager, General Manager, Manager of Information Systems, Owner, VP of Operations and President/CEO, 

Professional Organizations


Operations Management students are excellent candidates to pursue professional membership in:

  • APICS
  • American Society for Quality
  • Purchasing Management Association of Canada
  • Canadian Material Handling and Distribution Society
  • International Facilities Management Association
  • Data Processing Management Association

Graduate employment outcomes

The following link takes you to graduate outcome survey results containing mostly labour market results from the 2009-2011 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2008-2010 Graduates.
Note: The survey results will be displayed in a separate browser window. To view these results, you need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.

Professional associations

Operations Management students are excellent candidates to pursue professional membership in:

  • APICS
  • American Society for Quality
  • Purchasing Management Association of Canada
  • Canadian Material Handling and Distribution Society
  • International Facilities Management Association
  • Data Processing Management Association

Advanced Placement

Do you have a degree, diploma, or completed a substantial amount of post-secondary courses? You may qualify for advanced placement into the Business Operations Management program. Students that qualify for advanced placement can enter the program in the middle of first year or the beginning of the second year depending on the number of transfer credits received.

Acceptance into advanced placement is dependent on a number of factors including: seat availability, course transfer credits, and the number of applications received. Most applicants are required to complete additional course work before entering their desired program. Early application is strongly recommended.

Entry into the middle of Year 1 (January) – Application process opens on February 1st
Entry into the start of Year 2 (September) – Application process opens on October 1st

For more information about eligibility requirements and the application process, please download the Business Operations Management Advanced Placement Guide [PDF].

Faculty, Advisors & Staff

Business Operations Management instructors are highly experienced in industry, bringing their first-hand knowledge to the classroom and taking your learning beyond just a textbook.

Most of the faculty are active in industry today, through consulting and as members of professional organizations, including: 

Advisory committee

  • Barry Heselgrave, Ripple Road Consulting
  • Brian Holmes, Columbia Plastics Ltd.
  • Bruce Marsh, DBM Consulting
  • John Wiseman, Telus
  • Walter Wardrop, Alliance of Manufacturers and Exporters Canada
  • Keith Stewart, ICBC
  • Aileen Green, CreoScitex
  • Larry Berglund, City of Vancouver
  • Anna Starak, Source Medical

Contact Us

Mary Tiberghien
Assistant to the Associate Dean, Operations Management
604-432-8385

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Testimonial

Business Consulting Projects Help Industry and Students

“The BCIT Operations Management students integrated very well into the Six Sigma project. We have led several other Staples Advantage divisions across North America to seek similar relationships in their areas…we now have other SSBB (Six Sigma Black Belt) leaders wondering: ‘How can we get some of those great students!’”

David Muncaster, Manager, Continuous Improvement, Staples Advantage