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The Bicycle Assembly Line Game
Author(s) -
Klotz Dorothy
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
decision sciences journal of innovative education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.52
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 1540-4609
pISSN - 1540-4595
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-4609.2011.00317.x
Subject(s) - task (project management) , line (geometry) , revenue , computer science , class (philosophy) , constant (computer programming) , operations research , operations management , artificial intelligence , business , management , economics , mathematics , geometry , accounting , programming language
ABSTRACT “The Bicycle Assembly Line Game” is a team‐based, in‐class activity that helps students develop a basic understanding of continuously operating processes. Each team of 7–10 students selects one of seven prefigured bicycle assembly lines to operate. The lines are run in real‐time, and the team that operates the line that yields the highest revenue wins. Students learn through discovery “What drives output rate?”; “How is capacity managed relative to market demand?”; and “Why does inventory accumulate?” Because task times are constant, the game provides a nice lead‐in to the topic of line balancing. This game has been successfully used in both undergraduate‐ and MBA‐level operations management courses.