Instructions for the on$-$line Supply chain game

Purpose of the Game: To maximize the company$$s gross profit by meeting the customer demand with minimal excess inventory.

This game features a fashion supply chain that produces two types of dresses $($black and red$).$ You are responsible for managing the supply chain and performing different production tasks for four game rounds $($known as seasons$).$

The game is played for four seasons. A team consisting of one, two or three persons performs the production tasks in the initial supply chain setup $($Figure $1).$ Red and black dress patterns are $$delivered$$ by the supplier. The staff in the cutting stage must cut out the front$-$ and back$-$side of the dresses using scissors. You will be provided with two pieces of paper marked $$F$$ for the front and $$B$$ for the back. The center of the paper will be marked Black dress or Red dress. You are to cut out up to $30$ pieces of Black and Red dresses, each having front and back separate sides. The cut$-$outs are forwarded to the sewing stage where both sides will be stapled together with two staple pins during the game. The finished dresses are forwarded to the $$retail store$$ where they can be sold to the customers.

Please endeavour to cut out at least $20$ pieces of the plain front and back paper and keep them away from the other cut$-$outs whose centers are marked black or red.

Each season lasts five minutes and may be extended if necessary: At the beginning of a season, you will receive a demand forecast and can start production immediately.

After four minutes, you will be verbally informed of the observed $($real$)$ demand. You have only the last minute to adjust your production and fill the demand.

In the first season the forecasted demand is correct and matches the observed demand. The purpose of this season is to make you familiar with the game. However, the observed demand in seasons two and three will be very different from the demand forecast.

Now, commence production. I will keep the time. We will review your performance after the third season.

Note that Inventories are reset before every round, which means that production always starts with zero WIP$-$ or FG$-$inventory.

You are to keep on your table for the game, the following items:

$1.$ A pair of scissors

$2.$ About $30$ Cut$-$out plain papers with marked black and red at the center including the $$F$$ for front and $$B$$ for back.

$3.$ About $30$ cut$-$out plain papers without any center markings, but with F and B as front and back.

$4.$ Black and red markers.

$5.$ Stapler or cellotape

$6.5-10$ plain A$4$ sized white papers.