Operation refers to all the activities that are involved in creation of goods and services. Operation management refers to the control and the systematic management of all the processes that convert raw materials and other resources into finished goods or services. From the information given in the question, it can be seen that Steve is engage in manufacturing operation management.
The stanza and its imagery cause the reader to experience a nearly claustrophobic feeling. The character whose clothes and accessories are all "as tight as can be" seems to be going through a whole lot of tension, since the way he's dressed could be seen as a metaphor for how he's feeling deep inside, probably about to face a daunting situation.
