Understanding production systems through human simulation

Teaching students basic differences among various production systems, such as the American JIC (Just-in-case) system, the Japanese JIT (Just-in-time) system and the latest OPR (Optimised-Production-Technology) system, is not a simple task. Students can be taught basic principles, but whether they truly understand the appreciate what makes one technique superior to another is questionable. After considerable experience in teaching JIC, JIT and OPT, and because of the above concerns, this author has designed a human simulation, called the Production Walk Games. Through these production walks, students not only learn, but also experience, three production methods. The production techniques are briefly discussed and how they are simulated for the students through their production walk games is explained. Two sets of results of these walks are presented and briefly analysed.