A simulation illustrates a fundamental concept in Operations Management and can be used to reinforce key learning objectives in case studies and readings. In this single-player simulation, students learn about two basic production triggering mechanisms used in production planning and inventory control, Push and Pull. Students explore the differences between these common mechanisms in the context of a computer manufacturing supply chain that feeds a retailer. In the process they learn about implications for meeting demand and managing inventories and capacity utilization. The professor can select corresponding assignment questions for each process. This simulation can be used for courses in Operations Management for both MBA and undergraduate students. It is delivered entirely online and requires one class meeting or less for students to run the simulation and discuss the results.
Company: Harvard Business Publishing
Approximate price: $10.00
Playtime: 30 minutes
Learning objectives: 1. To give students some intuition about production flow in a complex, multi-stage process, and how that flow is affected by bottlenecks and production triggers;
2. To contrast the dynamic of Push, Pull, and mixed systems;
3. To explore the relations between batch size and set-up times in those systems.
Link to simulation home page: https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/4402-HTM-ENG?Ntt=Operations%20Management%20Simulation%3A%20Push%20vs.%20Pull%20Production&additionSource=Item%20Detail%20Page&dialog=teaching-note&itemFindingMethod=Search&loginAction=LOGIN_SUCCESS&parentProductId=4402-HTM-ENG