Web-Based Simulation Games for the Integration of Engineering and Business Best Practices

Web-Based Simulation Games for the Integration of Engineering and Business Best Practices

Bruno A. Calfa[1] and William F. Banholzer¹

Universities do an outstanding job providing a technical education. From undergraduates to postdocs, students learn science and engineering fundamentals, how to read the literature, analyze data, and test hypothesis. However, we believe there is a serious need to improve training on industrial/business fundamentals. Therefore, there is a pressing need to introduce business fundamentals into the engineering curriculum. Producing students who have a stronger appreciation of industrial realities and technical evaluation skills will provide a more competent workforce, as well as more knowledgeable government employees.

Case studies and business simulations are proven teaching tools (Sin and Center (2002), Bequette et al. (1998), Seay and Eden (2008), Corsi et al. (2006)). They immerse students in realistic actual or hypothetical situations developing their problem-solving skills. In addition, cases and simulations are a natural way of using and applying open-ended and practical problems, team projects, and written reports and oral presentations.

In this talk, we introduce a new web-based tool, Chemical Business Simulator (http://uwchembussim.che.wisc.edu/) that consists of a framework for business simulation games. The games enhance the chemical engineering curriculum by requiring application of both engineering and finance principles to define successful commercial chemical processes. The framework is extendable, i.e., additional cases can be developed and integrated without completely redesigning the website. We will briefly discuss currently implemented cases and share some feedback from students.

References

A. Sin and A. M. Center. Gas Station Pricing Game: A Lesson in Engineering Economics and Business Strategies. Chemical Engineering Education., 36(4):278-280, 2002.

B. W. Bequette, K. D. Schott, V. Prasad, V. Natarajan, and R. R. Rao. Case Study Projects in an Undergraduate Process Control Course. Chemical Engineering Education., 32(3):214-219, 1998.

J. R. Seay and M. R. Eden. Incorporating Risk Assessment and Inherently Safer Design Practices into Chemical Engineering Education. Chemical Engineering Education., 42 (3):141-146, 2008.

T. M. Corsi, S. Boyson, A. Verbraeck, S.-P. van Houten, C. Han, and J. R. Macdonald. The Real-Time Global Supply Chain Game: New Educational Tool for Developing Supply Chain Management Professionals. Transportation Journal., 45(3):61-73, 2006.

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[1] Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. University of Wisconsin-Madison. Madison, WI 53706. USA.