Beer Game
Supply chain simulations for continuous improvement
Companies, universities and consultants alike use our online beer game simulation to meet a wide range of objectives — from reproducing real challenges within supply-chain processes to optimizing an organization’s overall performance.
Students and trainees learn new business and team management skills by participating in a fun and engaging serious game experience.
Quick fact
This isn’t a
drinking game,
so why is it called the Beer Game?
The name is derived from a classic role-playing game developed at MIT in the 1960s.
Professors at the time found that they could grab university students’ attention more effectively by calling it The Beer Distribution Game.
Our beer games can be white-labelled, so whether you trade in aircraft parts or smartphones, you can customize The Beergame App to your specific widget, industry and audience.
The Object of the
Beer Game
The aim of the game is to fulfill requests at each stage of the
supply chain in order to meet the overall demand of end
customers.
Players are assigned to a role in their specific industry. For
example, in a beer supply chain simulation, participants play as
either Manufacturer, Distributor, Wholesaler, or Retailer.
Each role responds to order requests from the stage below and
places orders for the stage above.
→ The resulting game experience provides insights into:
Basic supply chain concepts
Stock, lead time, costs, orders, demand, etc.
The Bullwhip Effect
Erratic demand variations, which increase up the chain
Impact of various supply parameters
Visibility, batches, price fluctuations, etc.
Effects of human behavior
How collaboration — or lack of — can impact overall performance
Step 1
Setting Up a Game
Instructors have an extensive set of features and options for creating a custom Beer Game.
Customize the layout and scenario to fit your industry and lesson goals.
Configure the settings, such as lead time or game duration.
Create copies and manage templates of your game for future events.
Step 2
Hosting and Gameplay
Once your game is set up, you can send player invites and launch your game in a matter of seconds!
Invite as many as several hundred players with a simple click of the “Share Away!” button.
All onboarding and instructions automatically await players entering the game.
Announce surprise events, like a seasonal promotion, encouraging players to cooperate and adapt to common supply chain challenges.
Step 3
Debriefing and Discussion
Even though the game is over, the learning is not! Review automatically generated post-game analysis and statistics.
Utilize the analytics in the format of your choice — graphs, charts, PDF, Excel.
Compare individual and team performances at each game round.
Stimulate discussion and reinforce key learning objectives in the debriefing.
Go deep with our Beer Game Instructor Guides
Learn how to get started, access PowerPoint templates and get pro tips on hosting successful supply simulations.