A Computer Simulation Game for Learning Product Lifecycle Planning Through the Engineer-To-Order Case Articles uri icon

authors

  • GUTIERREZ FERNANDEZ, MIGUEL
  • SASTRON, FRANCISCO

publication date

  • June 2009

start page

  • 864

end page

  • 875

issue

  • 5

volume

  • 25

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0949-149X

abstract

  • In this paper we present a computer-supported simulation game intended for teaching the planning aspects of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). The game deals with product lifecycle planning dynamics in the Engineer-To-Order (ETO) industry. The ETO environment that serves as the Working case allows the eliciting of important PLM concepts: unified product development multiproject planning and manufacturing planning, links between PLM software and ERP systems, and emphasis on the PLM holistic approach. The game is designed as a series of group sessions in which the different planning decisions appear progressively so that in the last session a complete lifecycle planning problem is completed The sessions act as a series of practical cases encouraging group discussions. The computer system consists of two main components: a discrete event simulator and a planning decision supper system. The simulator guides the game and stochastically generates the different events that cause the need for planning decisions in the working case. The planning decision support system makes it possible to emulate the resolution of the day-to-day tasks.