Operations Lab

15.784 Operations Lab

Operations Lab (Ops-Lab) provides interactive learning opportunities by having students solve operations challenges in small, medium, and large companies across the US and the world. Focus is typically on but not limited to problems in operations strategy, inventory and supply chain management, process improvement, operations analytics, and planning.

Dive deeper

Operations Lab is both a part of MIT Sloan, and MIT's Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program, which fosters both management and technical skills. 

Learn more about the MIT LGO Program

Enhancing efficiency

Ops-Lab students work with their host companies to streamline operations in a variety of industries. From improving sustainable practices, to increasing space in warehouses, Ops-Lab students are helping company processes become more efficient. 

See older Ops-Lab Impact Stories

The class

Ops-Lab lectures focus on project management, methods, team report-outs and discussion.

Projects that are local to Boston involve regular (weekly) visits to the host company site. During these visits, students engage directly with the employees, observing and assessing the processes and operations associated with the project scope. Projects outside the Boston area involve weekly calls with the company and require travel to the host company site during spring SIP week, where students also work with employees and assess company processes. The projects are done in teams of three or four students. The assignment of projects may give preference to students who are involved in sourcing them.

Interested in applying?

Ops-Lab is an application only course, and is open to Sloan MBAs, LGOs, and other Sloan and MIT grad students. 

The benefits of becoming a host organization

Organizations participating in Operations Lab have the unique opportunity to solve operations challenges that they may be facing with the help of our students. With the support of Action Learning mentors, students actively develop a relationship with host organizations and work with them in order to create deliverables that hosts can immediately use to help them improve operations. 

Projects mainly focus on:

• Inventory and supply chain management
• Operations analytics
• Operations strategy
• Planning
• Process improvement 

Interested in becoming a host?

Please contact Cathy Iacobo with your questions and proposals.