Transitioning students from simulation mechanics to simulation as a process improvement tool: a multimedia case study approach

Many undergraduate industrial engineering programs offer a course in discrete event simulation. While students often grasp the theory behind simulation and can perform the mechanics of model building and analysis, they often have difficulty formulating creative, viable process improvement ideas, which is a need of today's industrial employers. In this paper, a novel multimedia case-based teaching approach is presented that addresses this need. These multimedia cases are presented as course learning modules to the students. The components of the case-based learning modules include not only the requisite problem background, summary and relevant data, but they also include additional streaming video of the real-world process being studied, actual engineering drawings and still photos of the product and process, and a base simulation model. It is these additional components of the proposed multimedia teaching approach that help "bring the factory to the student" and better prepare graduates for the national workforce.