PHYSICAL LAYOUT AND ROLES

• Manager releases the orders and to collect the complete products
• In each workstation: one worker performs the tasks and one supervisor measures the time to complete such tasks

PREPARING

Four production modes are simulated in four subsequent rounds, namely, Craft Production, Mass Production, Mass Customization, and Mass Customization with Delayed Product Differentiation (DPD). Each round consists of five orders. Before each round, the Manager provides each workstation with the necessary material.

PLAYING EACH ROUND

STEP 1

Manager releases Order 1 to workstation 1

STEP 2

Worker 1 draws^* and cuts** the materials (papers) according to order and sends the order and inventory (house body and roof) to workstation 2. (Immediately after an order is completed in Workstation 1, Manager issues the subsequent order).

* Drawing applies only to Craft Production. In other production modes, parts are provided already drawn.

** In Mass Customization with Delayed Product Differentiation, some materials are provided already cut to Workstation 1.

Supervisor 1 measures the time to complete tasks in Workstation 1 (which start when the order is received and ends when the order and inventory are passed on the Workstation 2) and writes it down in TimeSheet_W1.

STEP 3

Worker 2 draws* and cuts** the materials (paper) according to order and sends the order and inventory (window and door) to Workstation 3.

* Drawing applies only to craft production. In the other production modes, parts are provided already drawn.

** In Mass Customization with Delayed Product Differentiation, some materials are provided already cut to Workstation 2.

Supervisor 2 measures the time to complete the tasks in Workstation 2 (which start when the order is received and ends when the order and inventory are passed on the Workstation 3) and writes it down in TimeSheet_W2.

STEP 4

Worker 3 glues (assembles) the house-body, roof, window, and door according to order.

Supervisor 3 measures the time to complete the tasks in Workstation 3 (which start when the order is received and ends when the house is completed) and writes it down in TimeSheet_W3.

Steps 1-4 are repeated until completing the five orders. At this point, the five houses (complete products) are glued into Complete Order and the processing times are entered in TimeCalculation to calculate the average lead-time.

PICTURES

In the following galleries you can find the pictures related to each production mode and referring to the steps above. The pictures are an illustrative way to understand how the game works.

Craft Production

Mass Production

Mass Customization

Mass Customization with Delayed Product Differentiation (DPD)