Welcome to the Structured Management, Inc. catalog of seminars. Please use the table of contents below to navigate the links to Individual classes.
Subject & Link Reference Number
INTRODUCTION TO OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
Course Number 100
Executive Presentation
Recommended CPE Credits: 3
This half day seminar introduces Operational Management Concepts that broaden the perspective of both business executives and the professionals who advise them. The course provides an introduction to the concept of operational management as a system to improve business profitability. It provides an overview of today's competitive business environment and highlights the importance of developing and implementing strong, real time management control systems. The session reviews the concepts and philosophies supporting Operational Management and summarizes the procedures used by professional management consultants to implement Operational Management Controls Systems.
INTRODUCTION TO OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
Course Number 100A
Professional Seminar (Managerial Accounting)
Recommended CPE Credit: 3
At the Introduction to Operational Management seminars specifically directed at CPA professionals, in addition to the objectives established for course 100, the presentation will also review the CPA's emerging role in today's changing business environment and introduce the tools and training necessary to develop and expand their practices.
MAJOR TOPICS (Either Session):
● Definition of Operational Management Control.
● Definition of Operational Management Control.
● The OMC Management Philosophy and Thought Process
● The Well Run Company
● Profitability Measurements
● Advantages of the Two Tiered Profit System
● Integrating Financial and Operational Information
● Identifying Profit Leaks
● Effective Organizational Structure
● Benefits of Operational Management Control
● Additional topics covered in professional attendee seminars:
● The Likely Role of the Independent CPA in the 21st Century
● Competition, Technology and Client Expectations
PRESENTATION METHOD: Lecture and group discussion.
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE: Basic.
PREPARATION No advanced preparation required.
FOUNDATIONS OF OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
Course Number 101
Recommended CPE Credit: 24
This is the introductory and underlying course for the entire operational management series. This three day seminar provides an in-depth presentation of the underlying business principles, management philosophies and the procedural steps necessary to develop, document and implement Operational Management Systems.
The seminar starts with a thorough presentation of the operational management thought process and the underlying business philosophies supporting operational management systems. From that point it moves on to present a detailed discussion of the "discovery" process. The first step in the process of profit optimization is to determine where in the businesses operation, profits are being lost. The ability to successfully determine underlying operational problems and the related financial cost to a business is dependent upon having a complete understanding of operational management investigative techniques and tools and the thought processes necessary to use them. This portion of the course covers the techniques and procedures professionals and business owners must use to methodically analyze the operation to determine the areas of a business that require the application of profit optimization control procedures.
Having established the basis of operational management and the processes for determining specific operating problems in the business, this course moves on to provide a detailed presentation of the basic operational and financial reporting systems and control concepts to be utilized in the design, development and implementation of operational control forms and procedures.
To provide firsthand experience in the procedures and methods taught during the lecture and discussion phases of the class, participants will be introduced to the "Big Red Paint Company" and spend considerable time "discovering" the operating problems and developing the systems necessary to increase profitability in this multifaceted manufacturing and retail operating company. Participants will be able to utilize these very same procedures and tools to implement operational improvements in their own or client companies.
MAJOR TOPICS:
● Definition of Operational Management Control
● Thought Processƒn
● Business Philosophies Applicable to Operational Management
● Profitability Measurement (Concepts and Terms)
● Two Tier Profit Systems
● Profit Leaks
● Financial and Operational Information
● Financial Organization and Structure
● Basic Operational Management Procedures
● The How & Why of Written Recommendations
● Procedural Documentation
● Discovery-Where are the Profit Leaks?
● The Discovery Process
● Conducting Employee Surveys
● Use of Financial Analysis Tools
● Cash Flow Analysis from the operating point of view
● Operational Audits
● Organizational Audits
● Implementing Operational Management
● Payroll
● Purchasing
● Inventory Management
● Maintenance
● Financial Organization & Structure
● Profitability Concepts And Measurement
● Benchmarking
● Closed Loop Management
● Budgeting And Variance Control
PREREQUISITES None
PRESENTATION METHOD This course includes 24+ hours of lecture, group discussion and working breakout sections for cast study work spread over three contiguous days. The centerpiece of the case study approach for this course is "The Big Red Paint Company". This powerful and detailed 30+-page case study of a complex manufacturing company with retail operating units provides a large variety of operational and financial areas of study. Attendees will analyze the many operations of this company, develop detailed variance reports and be required to present operational recommendations to increase "Big Red's" profitability.
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE Basic
PREPARATION No advanced preparation required Homework will be assigned with regard to the case study.
CONTROLLING MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS
Course Number 201
Recommended CPE Credits: 8
From the simple to the complex, manufacturing operations provide a fertile area for increased profitability though the implementation of "situation specific" control procedures. This seminar will concentrate on the factory floor and address all aspects of manufacturing by providing detailed guidance and instruction relating to the development and implementation of effective control procedures and systems to maximize production efficiency, reduce manufacturing costs and increase overall control and profitability.
MAJOR TOPICS:
● Types of Manufacturing Operations
● Manufacturing Organization
● Major Cost Factors in the Production Process
● The Integration of Sales and Administration in the Manufacturing Environment
● Product/Job Estimating
● Production Control
● Production Scheduling
● Manufacturing Labor Utilization and Cost Control
● Controlling Manufacturing Inventories
● Factory Overhead and Corporate Expenses
● Product/Job Post Costing
● Space Utilization
● Manufacturing Quality Control
● Preventive Maintenance
● Safety
● Development and Implementation of Plant Level Pay for Performance Systems
PREREQUISITES: The three day "Foundations of Operational Management is recommended but not required.
PRESENTATION METHOD: Lecture and group discussion.
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE: Basic.
PREPARATION No advanced preparation required.
CONTROLLING DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS
Course Number 202
Recommended CPE Credits: 8
Distribution companies face stiff competition in many industries where margins are often measured in pennies per unit. Given this situation, operational efficiency and effective cost control are necessary not only to maximize company profitability, but to also assure its continued existence. This seminar will cover not only all aspects of distribution operations but will also present a variety of tools that can be utilized to build sales.
MAJOR TOPICS:
● The Future Of Wholesale Distributors
● Turnover - The Key to Distribution Success
● Development And Effective Utilization Of Sales Data
● Developing And Analyzing Product Mix Sales Data
● Product Mix Analysis For Pricing
● Developing Effective Purchasing Systems To Reduce Costs And Conserve Cash Flow
● Inventory Control ¡V The Name of the Game
● Purchasing
● Controlling Warehouse Operations
● Shrinkage, Loss And Waste Control
● Labor Cost Control
● Sales and Customer Order Processing
● Controlling Transportation And Delivery System Costs
● Delivery Scheduling & Control
● Transportation and Equipment
● Tracking And Minimizing Direct Selling Costs
● Utilizing Penetrated Profits in the Distribution Environment
● Operating Budgets
REREQUISITES: The three day "Foundations of Operational Management is recommended but not required.
PRESENTATION METHOD: Lecture and group discussion.
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE: Basic.
PREPARATION No advanced preparation required.
CONTROLLING RETAIL OPERATIONS
Course Number 203
Recommended CPE Credits: 8
It is an undisputed fact that every day American business is becoming more and more retail oriented. As this trend continues, efficiency of operations will become the most important factor in determining the survival of the fittest. This is an especially important consideration among the great many independent business operators who are faced with very strong competitive pressures from chain store giants and the franchise industry, both of which are masters at efficient operations. This seminar will address in specific detail those operational procedures and control systems that can be utilized to increase profitability in retail businesses.
MAJOR TOPICS:
● Sales Tracking And Analysis
● Sales And Cash Control At The Unit Level
● Margin Analysis
● Controlling Cost Of Goods Sold
● Inventory Management
● Shrinkage, Waste And Theft Control
● Labor Utilization And Control And Effective Customer Service
● Multi-Unit Management Structures
● Multi-Unit Operations And Control Systems
● Effective Marketing
● Developing Retail Oriented "Pay For Performance" SystemsI
PREREQUISITES: The three day "Foundations of Operational Management is recommended but not required.
PRESENTATION METHOD: Lecture and group discussion.
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE: Basic.
PREPARATION No advanced preparation required.
Course Number 204
Recommended CPE Credits: 8
In no other industry does the impact of Operational Management systems have a more immediate and direct impact than in construction contracting. To survive, let alone be profitable, in this ruthlessly competitive market requires fast accurate estimates with no margin for error, absolute minimization of labor expenses, maximization of productivity and systems that track changes without exception. This seminar will provide clear detailed instruction on how to develop and implement systems that manage expenses and cash flow, inform you precisely where you are on a daily, real time basis, maintain control of every job and every aspect of the overall operation, and put you in position to rapidly change as required: All of which are required to maximize profits in this industry.
MAJOR TOPICS:
● Introduction to the world of Contracting
● Contractor Organization
● Accounting, Financial and Operational Systems & Control
● Effective Cash Flow Management And Projection
● Job Costing, Estimates and Project Pricing
● Change Orders Systems That Don't Miss A Trick
● Labor Scheduling, Allocating and Payroll Control
● Central Facility and Job Site Material Control
● Subcontractor Control
● Equipment Utilization & Control
● Project Management
● Financial Management
● Human Resources Management
● Contracting & Lawyers
● Bonding
● The Service Aspect of the Construction Business
● Service Trucks
● Project / Job Based "Pay For Performance" Systems
● Developing Constructionl Oriented "Pay For Performance" Systems
PREREQUISITES: The three day "Foundations of Operational Management is recommended but not required.
PRESENTATION METHOD: Lecture and group discussion.
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE: Basic.
PREPARATION No advanced preparation required.
THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRY
Course Number 205
Recommended CPE Credits: 8
"Time is a Lawyer's Stock in Trade"
Abraham Lincoln
The same is true of every service professional. Due to this unique aspect which, more than anything else, defines the industry, time becomes the overriding factor which must be managed, controlled and constantly redefined for service businesses to optimize profitability. This seminar covers all aspects of professional service operations with special emphasis on the procedures and techniques necessary to control time utilization and maximization.
MAJOR TOPICS:
● Defining and Categorizing The Major Divisions Of The Professional Service Industry
● An Overview of the Professional Service Industry
● Common Elements of the Service Industry
● Defining and Valuing The "Product" In The Service Industry
● Developing and Implementing Effective and Accurate Estimating Systems
● Indirect Costs and Overhead Allocations In The Estimating Process
● Integrating Accounting and Estimating Systems
● Developing Project/Job Management Systems and Control Procedures
● Revenue Tracking and Analysis
● Labor Utilization, Scheduling and Control
● Tracking and Managing Non-Billable Time
● Productivity Measurement and Evaluation
● Maximizing the Return On Time
● Implementing "Pay for Performance" in the Professional Service Industry
PREREQUISITES: The three day "Foundations of Operational Management is recommended but not required.
PRESENTATION METHOD: Lecture and group discussion.
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE: Basic.
PREPARATION No advanced preparation required.
Course Number 206
Recommended CPE Credits: 9
A restaurant is one of the most complex and difficult types of business operation. When broken down into its component parts it encompasses and combines almost every activity included in all other business operations: The dining room or sales area is a retail business with high levels of customer service; The kitchen is a manufacturing plant utilizing perishable ingredients to produce even more perishable products; and the waitstaff represents a very personal delivery system. In addition, the very nature of the business (long days and nights, weekends and holidays) conspire to limit the availability of talented and motivated individuals to fill management and supervisory positions. The Food Service Management seminar will address each of the operating areas of this most complex type of business and provide in-depth instruction on the concepts, procedures, forms and policies necessary to maximize profitability. (NOTE: Due to the extensive amount of material to be covered, this seminar session will be 10 hours. The session will start at 8:30 AM and will end at 7:30 PM. Lunch will be served and is included in the cost of the Session.)
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Restaurant Control Functions and Process
Resources & Objectives
Management Functions
The Control Process
Operational Management Control & Reporting
Accounting and Financial Controls
Computer Systems
Financial Statement Format & Timing
Petty Cash Procedures
Sales & Cash Control
Department Operations
Restaurant
Bar/Lounge
Banquet
Off Site Catering
Carry Out
Menu Development and Costing
Design & Layout
Item Selection
Portion Size, Presentation & Costing
Using Product Mix Sales Data To Establish Menu Pricing
Specials |
Organizational Management
Organization Chart
Communication
Personnel
Compensation Programs
Operational Procedures
Front of the House Operations
Planning Food & Beverage Control
Dining Room/Sales Area Operations
Controlling Bar Operations And Liquor Cost Control
Service Policies And Procedures
Employee Training
Labor Scheduling For Customer Service
Back of the House Operations
Kitchen Operations
Development And Implementation Of Food Cost Control Procedures
Inventory Procedures To Reduce Costs
Purchasing Procedures
Kitchen Payroll Scheduling, Forecasting And Control
Marketing |
PREREQUISITES: The three day "Foundations of Operational Management is recommended but not required.
PRESENTATION METHOD: Lecture and group discussion.
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE: Basic.
PREPARATION No advanced preparation required.
MARKETING FOR SMALL BUSINESS
Course Number 301
Recommended CPE Credits: 8
In today's competitive business environment, companies must not only operate efficiently, they must also market efficiently. In many instances, small business owners do not have the depth of understanding necessary to maximize their operating profitability with "up-to-date" and effective marketing activities. This course will:
1. Provide a detailed presentation of the 5 marketing "P's": Product, Price, Packaging, Place and Promotion;
2. Highlight the importance of sales and revenue tracking and the procedures to be used; and,
3. Present and explain a variety of detailed procedures to be utilized as the tools for developing and controlling marketing activities.
MAJOR TOPICS:
● Defining and Categorizing The Major Divisions Of The Professional Service Industry
● Company Level Market And Sales Analysis
● Developing And Using Sales History Systems
● Industry Analysis
● Product Line Management And Control
● Advertising
● Market Distribution
● Developing And Using Product Pricing Models
● New Business Generation
● New Product Introductions
● Designing And Implementing Sales Department "Pay For Performance" Compensation Systems
PREREQUISITES: The three day "Foundations of Operational Management is recommended but not required.
PRESENTATION METHOD: Lecture and group discussion.
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE: Basic.
PREPARATION No advanced preparation required.
BUSINESS ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
Course Number 302
Recommended CPE Credits: 8
In ¡§Oops, it must have fallen through the cracks.¡¨ Anonymous Employee
The basis of Operational Management is the implementation of situation specific systems and controls. In order for implementation to be effective these procedures must be integrated into the management and organizational structure of a company. If there is no effective corporate structure with clearly delineated lines of responsibility and authority all efforts at control will fail. Therefore, few Operational Management principals are more fundamental to the control and maximization of profitability in a business than an effective management system and organizational structure. Despite this fact, proper management and organization systems and structure are perhaps the least valued topics in business. This course will address how to: analyze business systems and organizational structures, identify areas systemically inefficient, develop an effective corporate organization and implement personnel management systems that utilize structure as a framework for success. Upon completion participants will be able to determine and develop an effective corporate structure, effectively assign personnel tasks, responsibilities and authority throughout an organization and utilize compensation and benefits as a management tool to drive employee actions in support of the corporate mission.
MAJOR TOPICS:
● Defining and Categorizing The Major Divisions Of The Professional Service Industry
● Business Management and Organization
● Control Functions & Processes
● Management Resources and Objectives
● Management Functions
● Designing and using Closed Loop Management Systems
● The Importance of Organizational Structure
● Formalizing the Organizational Structure
● Formalizing Personnel Policies & Procedures
● Formalizing Compensation Policies & Procedures
● Formalizing Operational Policies & Procedures
PREREQUISITES: The three day "Foundations of Operational Management is recommended but not required.
PRESENTATION METHOD: Lecture and group discussion.
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE: Basic.
PREPARATION No advanced preparation required.
STRATEGIC PLANNING AND BUDGETING
Course Number 303
Recommended CPE Credits: 8
We¡¦ve all heard it, ¡§If you do not plan to succeed you are planning to fail.¡¨ Despite the truth of this old axiom, few businesses truly institutionalize the planning process and as a result move from one crisis to another never recognizing that it is always easier to modify an existing plan than to create a new one. This course delves into not only the mechanics of how to develop and implement an effective and useful strategic planning and budgeting process, but also addresses the use of strategic planning as a living tool for growth and the management of contingencies.
MAJOR TOPICS:
● Defining and Categorizing The Major Divisions Of The Professional Service Industry
● Strategic Planning
● Corporate Vision
● Corporate Mission Statement
● Long Term Goals and Objectives
● Strategies
● Action Plans
● Developing the Five Year Profit Plan
● Developing the Annual Operating Budgeting
● Implementing Variance Report Procedures
● Succession Planning
● Business Valuation
PREREQUISITES: The three day "Foundations of Operational Management is recommended but not required.
PRESENTATION METHOD: Lecture and group discussion.
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE: Basic.
PREPARATION No advanced preparation required.
BUSINESS SURVEY & ANALYSIS
Course Number 401
Recommended CPE Credits: 8
The Business Survey & Analysis is a diagnostic tool that has been used for years by successful management consulting and CPA firms to help business owners evaluate their operational, organizational and fiscal situation.
As an integral part of the curriculum you will learn how to use a range of analytical tools, forms and procedures that will serve to unearth management problems, profit leaks and the causes of negative cash flow in the operational, financial and organizational areas of any business. You will learn how to develop actual consulting project outlines that will serve as the blueprint for successful consulting projects that can generate a substantial increase in profitability and cash flow.
The Business Survey and Analysis course is supported by its own specially developed manual that includes extensive handouts, checklists, and computer disks with written forms and procedures providing detailed examples relevant to the material covered. Also included is a complete sample survey. All of the forms can be customized with your firm¡¦s name and logo so that you will immediately be able to use them as a sales tool example for your client meetings. Further, you will also receive two sets of pre-printed divider tabs to give your first several client surveys a truly professional appearance. Everything you need to get started.
MAJOR TOPICS:
● Consulting Services Sales And Marketing Strategies
● What Is The Business Survey And Analysis
● The Operational Discovery Process
● Survey Schedule And Procedural Overview
● Survey Forms
● The Owner's Questionnaire
● The Institutional
● Additional Opening Conference Activities
● Employee Surveys And Evaluations Analyzing Client Financials
● Building Urgency
● Client Organizational, Operational And Financial Evaluations
● The Initial Client Presentation
● Final Review
● Why Objections And Hedges Occur
● Writing The Business Survey
● Project Recommendations
PREREQUISITES: The three day "Foundations of Operational Management is recommended but not required.
PRESENTATION METHOD: Lecture and group discussion.
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE: Basic.
PREPARATION No advanced preparation required.
CONSULTING PRACTICE & PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Course Number 402
Recommended CPE Credits: 8
For the professional, the knowledge of how to design, develop, document and implement operational control systems and procedures is only part of what it takes to develop a successful consulting practice. The professional must develop the skills necessary to convert existing clients to consulting clients and learn how to best use problem-solving techniques to expand and upgrade their client base. It is also necessary to understand how to manage consulting projects in order to maximize the return for both the client and the professional. The operational management courses emphasized improving client profitability. This course will concentrate on improving the professionals' profitability as it relates to consulting activities, with a special emphasis on the link between ¡§discovery¡¨ as an analytical tool used to find operational problems and its use as a powerful sales tool.
In addition, the course will present and discuss in great detail the variety of forms and procedures used to track consulting project progress, maintain effective and continual communications with clients and assure there is a substantial "paper trail" supporting all consulting activities and client benefits.
MAJOR TOPICS:
● Client Motivations
● Marketing Consulting Services
● The Discovery Process As A Selling Tool
● A Review and Summary of the Business Survey & Analysis
● Cultivating Your Practice
● Developing Consulting Assignments With Current Clients
● Defining The Project Scope
● The Consulting Project Outline (CPO)
● Developing And Maintaining The Consultant/Client Relationship
● Managing Consulting Assignments
● Establishing Priorities
● Use Of Time
● Setting up and utilizing the "Client Book".
● The Consulting Services Summary (CSS)
● The Importance of Consulting Services Recommendations (CSR)
● The Weekly Client Meeting
● Consulting Project Status Report (CP Status Report)
● Maintaining Client Control
● Developing and selling project additions
PREREQUISITES: The three day "Foundations of Operational Management is recommended but not required.
PRESENTATION METHOD: Lecture and group discussion.
LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE: Basic.
PREPARATION No advanced preparation required.
