Operations & Supply Chain

Operations Strategy and Capacity Planning

Operations strategy decides how an organisation will compete through cost, quality, speed, flexibility and service. This course covers operations strategy and long-term capacity planning: aligning operations with business strategy, capacity measurement and forecasting, make-or-buy, facility decisions, technology investment and operations performance objectives.

5 days Classroom or live online English

Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants

Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

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Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Capacity decisions lock in costs and capabilities for years. You will learn to make them strategically rather than reactively.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.

Course methodology

How you will learn.

Strategy case studies, capacity modelling exercises, investment appraisal and group workshops.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Align operations strategy with business strategy
Define operations performance objectives
Measure and forecast capacity needs
Evaluate make-or-buy and outsourcing
Plan facility and technology investments
Monitor operations strategy execution

Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

Operations directors and managers
Plant and site managers
Supply chain leaders
Strategy professionals
Engineering managers

Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

Strategic alignment
Capacity planning
Investment evaluation
Make-or-buy analysis
Performance management

Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Operations Strategy

09:00–10:08Role of operations in strategy
10:08–11:00Performance objectives
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Performance objectives (continued)
11:45–12:53Trade-offs
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 2Capacity Measurement

09:00–10:08Design and effective capacity
10:08–11:00Utilisation and efficiency
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Utilisation and efficiency (continued)
11:45–12:53Bottlenecks
12:53–14:00Workshop

Day 3Long-Term Capacity

09:00–10:08Demand forecasting
10:08–11:00Capacity strategies
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Capacity strategies (continued)
11:45–12:53Timing
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 4Make or Buy

09:00–10:08Outsourcing decisions
10:08–11:00Facilities and location
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Facilities and location (continued)
11:45–12:53Technology
12:53–14:00Case study

Day 5Execution

09:00–10:08Roadmaps
10:08–11:00Measures
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Measures (continued)
11:45–12:53Review
12:53–14:00Action plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

Keep exploring

Your next horizon awaits.

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