Balancing Process Capacity
Simulating high-volume car wash operations
Simulation Overview
In this simulation, students optimize operations at a car wash by eliminating bottlenecks, managing variability, and maximizing efficiency across vacuum, wash, and hand-dry stations.
Players
Single Player
Languages
English
Simulation Time
Total Time: 1.5 hours
Intro 10 minutes, Gameplay 20 minutes, Debrief 1 hour
Accessibility
No Accessibility Compliance
Price
$165 per person
Simulation Categories
The Story
In this hands-on simulation, students take on the role of operations managers at a busy car wash, responsible for streamlining performance across three key areas: vacuum, machine wash, and hand-dry stations. Their mission is to eliminate process-related bottlenecks, boost resource utilization, reduce variability, and ultimately improve overall profitability. The simulation presents two configurable challenges—one with steady, predictable demand, and another where both demand and process times fluctuate. Through these scenarios, students learn to adapt their strategies, balance efficiency with flexibility, and make data-driven decisions to keep the car wash running smoothly.
Core Competencies
Operational Efficiency
Systems Thinking
Measurement and Analysis
Learning Objectives
Resources to Power Your Simulation
Each simulation comes with a Facilitation Guide along with 1:1 facilitator training and free trials.
Available with this simulation
Facilitation Guide
Free Trial & Demo
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