Simulation gaming to train engineers to efficiently collaborate in manufacturing networks

As products are getting more complex, it often requires various enterprises with certain key competencies to produce a product in collaboration. The resulting specialization leads to an increased demand for knowledge. Thus, especially inter-organisational learning gains importance. As a consequence of the stated developments, the way of working and thus the educational requirements have changed as well. Performance skills about processes and challenges within inter-organisational product development and -learning are becoming vital to take part in future working scenarios. This paper describes the development and the initial testing of a web based group simulation game that has been built to address these new educational demands. An initial version of the simulation has been evaluated and validated.