Operations Management Techniques in Excel

Unlock the full potential of your spreadsheets and stop letting the software push you around with the course Operations Management Techniques in Excel. Led by expert David Ringstrom, CPA, this course is designed to transition users from brute-force manual data entry to efficient, automated operations management. Whether you are an accountant or a business professional in any field, you will learn how to overcome common obstacles in Excel and establish workflows that save time and reduce errors.

This comprehensive training moves beyond basic spreadsheet usage, focusing on the specific tools and techniques required to manage operations effectively. You will discover how to streamline data extraction, automate repetitive cleaning tasks, and utilize advanced analysis features to make data-driven decisions. By mastering these techniques, you ensure that you are controlling Excel, rather than letting it control you.

Key topics covered in this course include:

• Data Automation with Power Query: Learn to connect to external data sources, specifically extracting data from PDF files, and automate data transformation steps to create set-and-forget connections.
• Advanced Lookup Functions: Master modern tools like XLOOKUP and contrast them with legacy functions such as VLOOKUP and INDEX/MATCH to retrieve data dynamically.
• Decision-Making Tools: Utilize the IF function for logical tests and leverage What-If Analysis tools like Goal Seek and Solver to optimize business scenarios and solve for missing inputs.
• Data Visualization and Forecasting: Create instant reports using Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts, add interactivity with Slicers, and project future trends using the Forecast Sheet feature.
• Conditional Formatting: Apply live layers of formatting, such as data bars and highlight rules, to instantly identify trends, outliers, and anomalies in your data.
• Macro Recording: Streamline formatting tasks—specifically utilizing Center Across Selection to avoid the pitfalls of merged cells—by recording and assigning macros to custom ribbon icons for one-click access.

By the end of this course, you will possess a robust toolkit for handling complex data operations, allowing you to summarize, visualize, and forecast with confidence.