Certified Production & Operations Manager (POM) 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

An operations manager typically focuses on the internal processes and organizational efficiencies that directly relate to production and operations. This includes tasks such as resource allocation, which involves determining how to best utilize the company’s resources, and process design, which centers around creating efficient workflows to maximize output and minimize waste. Supply chain management is another critical aspect of operations management, as it involves overseeing the flow of goods, information, and finances across the entire supply chain to optimize overall performance.

Identifying customers' wants and needs, on the other hand, generally falls more under the purview of marketing and customer service teams. While an operations manager may have indirect knowledge of customer feedback and preferences to inform operational decisions, they are not primarily responsible for researching or engaging directly with customers to understand their desires. Instead, this crucial function is typically driven by marketing strategies aimed at understanding market demands. Thus, the involvement of the operations manager in customer identification is limited compared to the other aspects of operations management, making it less likely that they would engage directly in this area.