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Focus on LAI
Plenary
The
Game Teaches Real Skills
The game is more than
fun, say the developers of the Lean Enterprise Value (LEV) Training Simulation.
As players cluster around the manufacturing, supplier, or product development
tables, they can improve their own performance alone but they must work
together to make significant improvements to the whole enterprise. The
simulation, which translates lean principles into on-the-job actions,
will be offered to LAI participants from multiple companies in a June
workshop at MIT.
"It is fun –
that's why people like it so much – but it's also very immersive,"
said CTPID Research Associate Eric Rebentisch who, with consultant Hugh
McManus, has led the game's development. "We find that people quickly
fall into roles and behaviors that are typical of industry settings, which
creates a familiar environment to experience advanced lean enterprise
principles."
The game was born
two years ago as a way to teach lean enterprise concepts from the book,
Lean Enterprise Value: Insights from MIT’s Lean Aerospace Initiative.
The simulation has been tested, refined, and expanded as Rebentisch and
McManus have worked with Raytheon, Boeing, Rockwell Collins, and others
to incorporate the game into internal trainings. One company has rolled
out a six–hour version to hundreds of engineers.
"Each time we
work with LAI members to adopt this training, they tell us what lessons
they would like to emphasize and we develop appropriate materials and
features for the simulation," Rebentisch said. "This has been
a tremendous vehicle for learning about current practices and tools in
industry, and we've also gained valuable insights into lean enterprise
system behavior, which is influencing the questions we’re asking
in our research."
The goal of the simulation,
which is modular so can be run whole or in part, is to assemble Lego‘
aircraft to meet customer demand. Each participant is in charge of a facility:
an assembly plant, subcontractor fabricating plant, or product development
department. The hands-on action, analytical exercises, and lectures reinforce
the outcomes of lean decisions. “FINALLY saw how lean concepts actually
function!" commented one participant.
Learn more about
the June 14-17 LEV short course, including a three-day simulation and
one-day facilitators workshop, at Events on the LAI
web site.
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