The document summarizes key lessons from a beer game simulation exercise:
1) Small changes or perturbations in one part of a supply chain can create large disruptions throughout the entire system due to ripple effects and delays in communication.
2) Adopting a systems perspective is important to understand how actions in one area can impact others across organizational boundaries.
3) The bullwhip effect describes how demand forecasting volatility increases further away from the customer in a supply chain. Improved communication and reduced lead times can help address this.
The document summarizes key lessons from a beer game simulation exercise:
1) Small changes or perturbations in one part of a supply chain can create large disruptions throughout the entire system due to ripple effects and delays in communication.
2) Adopting a systems perspective is important to understand how actions in one area can impact others across organizational boundaries.
3) The bullwhip effect describes how demand forecasting volatility increases further away from the customer in a supply chain. Improved communication and reduced lead times can help address this.
The document summarizes key lessons from a beer game simulation exercise:
1) Small changes or perturbations in one part of a supply chain can create large disruptions throughout the entire system due to ripple effects and delays in communication.
2) Adopting a systems perspective is important to understand how actions in one area can impact others across organizational boundaries.
3) The bullwhip effect describes how demand forecasting volatility increases further away from the customer in a supply chain. Improved communication and reduced lead times can help address this.
while playing the game? • Did you feel yourself controlled by forces in the system from time to time? • Did you find yourself “blaming” the person next to you for your problems? • What is the total cost of your team? Why the large discrepancy between teams? What caused large inventories and backlogs? • Did you notice any patterns on your graphs? Typical Beer Game Results Typical Beer Game Results Back to the Beer Game . . . • What or who do you think caused the supply chain dynamics that we observed? How could such a small perturbation in one part of the system create such havoc in the rest of the system? Reflection and Knowledge Capture • What can your team and organization learn from the exercise? • Take ten minutes to discuss with your team. • Capture 3 to 4 lessons learned. Beer Game Lessons I • The structure of any system governs human behavior within the system. Changing people without changing the system structure may not lead to desired or permanent improvement. Beer Game Lessons II • To effectively manage a system a “systems” perspective should be adopted: Realize that . . . Often, . . . a lag between what one observes and what caused that observation. Ripple effects within and across organizational boundaries. Volatility directly proportional to distance from market. Beer Game Lesson III • The amplification in the supply chain is called the “Bullwhip effect.” • Suggested Solutions? Improved communication Reduced lead-time • What does research and experience tell us? Beer Game Lesson IV Characteristics of top Supply Chain performers? Agile: able make quick adjustments in output in response to the market. Adaptable: able to adapt supply chain structure and facilities to changing needs. Alignment: Partners in the supply chain are aligned in their objectives & incentive structures.
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