The Bicycle Assembly Line Game |
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| Authors: | Dorothy Klotz |
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| Institution: | Gabelli School of Business, Fordham University, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, NY 10458, e‐mail: Klotz@fordham.edu |
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| 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. |
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| Keywords: |
Assembly Line
Capacity Game
In‐Class Exercise
Inventory
Line Balancing
Operations Management
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