ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the process of production management in distance education systems: that is, with the production and subsequent distribution of the learning materials which students make use of during their studies. Distance education systems share many of the characteristics of manufacturing and service industries, but in one respect the task of production and operations management is made infinitely harder, and this is in respect of the question of standardisation. Medium- to long-term requirements in respect of production, storage and distribution need to be established to enable staffing and space requirements to be properly planned. A major function of production management is to schedule the production, ensuring that the materials are delivered to the students in time for their use. Computer conferencing and electronic mail facilities are also likely to affect the way in which those working for a distance education system interact with each other.
