Service Operations Management: Benihana

The Root Beer Game Supply Chain Simulation is one of a series of simulations Forio has developed in partnership with Harvard Business School Publishing.

This simulation models a typical night at a Benihana restaurant. It is organized as a series of challenges, each with a different set of options for managing operations and demand. In all of them, your goal is to manage the bar and dining area to maximize utilization, throughput, and most importantly profit for the evening. Challenges include:

• Batch Dining Room Customers. How does batching strategy affect throughput?
• Design the Bar. What's the optimum size of the bar for maximum profitability?
• Change Dining Time. What is the optimal dining time across an evening?
• Boost Demand with Advertising and Special Programs. How will marketing efforts affect operations and profitability?