In operations management, the teaching- learning process involves many practical aspects quite difficult to show students only from the theoretical angle. Specially, the design of products and processes, this is more effectively taught when students could experience it by themselves, and make their own decisions about how, what, and how many goods are to be produced during that process. Even more, if students play the role of operators in a production process, they get more involved, and this will provide them with a deeper knowledge on the subject.

In order for the students to achieve a better understanding of the design process, we have developed a production role-play game. It is played in teams of 6/8 students. The role of the monitor is played by the teacher, directing the game and informing them about the rules. The students must solve the problem of designing a manufacturing process. Their decisions will be driven by standards of quality, flexibility, productivity and execution of plans. In order to solve that production problem students must follow the stages explained below:

1. Planning

Each teem will have to plan and manufacture a specific product. The product is the same for each team. The monitor will fix all resources available and the constraints teams will work under. During this phase each team will plan and design their own production process and will decide all the relevant aspects about timing, quality and quantity. This will have to be completed in 45 minutes.

2. Execution

Each team will implement the manufacturing process designed in the previous phase.
This stage should last 15 minutes.

3. Measure the results

According to the rules of the game, the monitor will measure the outcome achieved by each team and give feedback.

This game can be played using a two hours session. A simple and accessible technology should be used.
This teaching and learning method allows students an easy access to the different stages of the manufacturing process. It will improve their competences while they are planning, programming and performing. They will also apply important trade-off concepts in design: innovation and flexibility vs. rate of production, quality vs. cost…
We have played this game with five groups of Operation Management students (18 – 25 each). We have improved the methodology applying the feedback received from our students. At the end of each session, the students filled a questionnaire about the success of the game, more than 90% of them, rated it very positive to their learning process and experience.