Unexpected changes in demand patterns will continue to escalate further up the supply chain.
Problems tend to escalate in supply chains where communication is minimal between supply nodes.
A small wave in the middle of the ocean may end up as a tidal wave near the shore. It is an exercise that showcases the problems that arise in a company with minimal communication in the supply chain. A quick 15 minute game graphically represents the variable opportunities that can be found in the supply chain. Feel free to e-mail me if you would like to know how the beer game could be used as a training tool at your company. The article was published by the International Journal of Purchasing and Materials Mangement 11-19.