Future-Proofing Production and Operations Management Education: An IFIP WG5.7 Benchmarking Study

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace – a Norwegian multinational company that develops and delivers innovative technologies to safeguard people and critical infrastructure – is experiencing a fast-growing order backlog and a growing need for production managers to ensure efficient, high-quality and competitive production processes in its factories around the world. Recognizing this need, and through the establishment of a professorship in production management at the University of South-Eastern Norway, the company is seeking to establish a world class education program in production and operations management to develop and strengthen education in the field. As such, this paper sets out to benchmark production and operations management programs across the member institutions of the IFIP working group 5.7: Advances in Production Management Systems. We analyze both bachelor and master programs in the fields of engineering and management from 16 institutions spanning twelve different countries: Norway, the Netherlands, Mexico, Italy, Brazil, France, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, the UK and the USA. We also present the findings of an industrial focus group initiative in which participants considered the results of the global benchmarking study and identified areas for development based on gaps in the current offerings. The findings can be used by member institutions to help navigate current and future geopolitical challenges.