Simulations and supply chains: strategies for teaching supply chain management

Abstract

The Beer Game is one of the most popular simulations used to introduce students to the challenges of managing supply chains. While the basic simulation serves as a useful introduction to the problems, it does not take the next step of helping students or managers plan to surmount those problems and manage an efficient supply chain. This paper suggests a strategy for taking that next step, helping students move toward solutions of supply chain problems. The strategy builds supply chain teaching modules or an executive development program around modified Beer Game simulations. This paper also provides the tools for accomplishing both an introductory and a more advanced simulation. These simulation‐based programs have proved highly effective and popular in undergraduate, graduate and executive development programs.