Global Supply Chain Management

Simulation Overview

Organizations of all kinds are faced with difficult supply chain decisions. In this simulation, learners balance process and results to design and manage a cost-effective and flexible supply chain.

Time Requirement

• Introduction - 15 minutes
• Learners Prepare - 15 minutes
• Game Play - 60 to 120 minutes
• Debrief - 45 to 90 minutes

The Story

In this single-player asynchronous simulation, participants are in charge of the supply chain for a global mobile phone manufacturer. They must design the product line, forecast demand, choose a set of suppliers (each of which has different costs, lead-times, and capacities), and allocate production among their suppliers. Learners then observe actual demand, and have opportunities to respond to demand shifts and unexpected events over the course of four simulated years. The participants are scored both on their cumulative results, reflected in their profits, and on their process choices, reflected by the support of board members with specific expertise and perspectives. Ultimately, the participants must balance competing priorities and create a flexible supply chain to react quickly to fluctuating demand.

Learning Focus

• Create a cost-effective and flexible supply chain
• Evaluate forecasting methods, including understanding the pros and cons of consensus forecasting
• Build a production plan based on a probabilistic demand forecast
• Distinguish between a forecast and a production plan
• Weigh the relative importance of results and process performance measures
• Provide classroom experiences in supply chain management

Topics Covered

• Demand Analysis
• Capacity Analysis
• Cost Analysis
• Forecasting
• Sourcing
• Operations Management
• Product Management
• Supply Chain Management

This simulation is WCAG Compliant for the participants.

Each simulation comes with a Teaching Guidebook for the facilitator along with 1:1 facilitator training and free trials.

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This simulation is by Janice H. Hammond, Harvard Business School Publishing, and Forio