BCOR-440/IE-425 • Operations and Supply Chain Management

Interactive Scheduling Games

Pick a game, hit play, and learn by doing. Each game builds intuition for a key scheduling concept — and prepares you for interviews.

Workcenter Scheduling (Ch. 22)
01

Priority Rule Race

Ch. 22SequencingDue Dates

Pick FCFS, SPT, EDD, STR, or CR — see how each rule changes flow time and lateness in real time. Then go Manual and try to beat the algorithm.

You'll learn: which rule minimizes flow time, which minimizes lateness, and the trade-offs between them.

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02

Johnson's 2-Machine Sprint

Ch. 22Flow ShopMakespan

Drag jobs into a 2-machine flow sequence. Apply Johnson's Rule to see the optimal order, then try to beat it manually. Spoiler: you can't.

You'll learn: Johnson's Rule algorithm, why M2 idles, and how to minimize makespan.

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03

Batch Size Showdown

Ch. 22SMEDBatches

See how setup time and batch size shape effective production rate, WIP, and lead time. Use SMED thinking to shrink setups and unlock small-batch flow.

You'll learn: the batch size formula, SMED logic, and why smaller batches often win.

Play →
Theory of Constraints (Ch. 22S)
04

Drum-Buffer-Rope Tuner

Ch. 22STOCBuffers

Set the bottleneck drumbeat, size the buffer, and pace release with the rope. Watch WIP, throughput, and missed demand respond in real time.

You'll learn: the bottleneck sets the pace, buffers protect the constraint, and over-release floods the system.

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05

Bottleneck or Mirage?

Ch. 22STOCROI

Improve a station's capacity and check the Mirage Index — did throughput actually move? Learn to find the real bottleneck before spending money.

You'll learn: system throughput = min capacity, and why improving non-bottlenecks is a costly mirage.

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06

WIP Bathtub — I/O Control

Ch. 22SWIPLittle's Law

Set the input valve against a fixed output drain. If input > output, the WIP "bathtub" and lead time rise fast — great intuition for release control.

You'll learn: WIP ↔ Lead via Little's Law, and why over-release always backfires.

Play →
Bonus Labs
B1

Two-Stage SMED Flow

Transfer BatchEconomics

Keep the production batch the same but shrink the transfer batch. Watch M2 start sooner and lead time drop — with a full cost & profit model.

You'll learn: transfer batches cut lead time even when throughput stays constant.

Play →