APPLIED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning outcomes for supply chain and operations courses

ChainSim turns procurement, production, inventory, transport and customer-delivery concepts into a practical decision exercise. Students see the operational and financial consequences of their choices, then use results evidence to explain what happened and how they would improve.

Student simulation
ChainSim simulation showing suppliers, production, customers and performance results
5 applied outcomesFrom systems thinking to evidence-based reflection
8 ready-made coursesA progressively structured learning sequence
Results evidenceScores, charts and feedback for debriefing
WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN

Across the course sequence, students should be able to…

Each outcome connects an observable student action to evidence instructors can use in discussion and assessment. Use ChainSim as a formative activity or combine submitted results with your own reflection task, report or rubric.

01
SYSTEMS THINKING

Explain the supply chain as an interconnected system

Explain how sourcing, production, component inventory, finished-goods inventory, transport and customer delivery interact—and how a decision in one area can affect cost, availability and service elsewhere.

EVIDENCE FOR DEBRIEFSubmitted result, inventory history and on-time delivery performance.
02
QUANTITATIVE REASONING

Apply quantitative reasoning to cost, profit and replenishment

Interpret purchase, storage, transport, delay and inventory-related costs, connect them to sales revenue and total profit, and use demand, stock and lead-time information to justify replenishment timing and quantities.

EVIDENCE FOR DEBRIEFCost results, sales revenue, total profit and component-inventory charts.
03
TRADE-OFF ANALYSIS

Evaluate supplier and transport trade-offs

Compare supplier prices, available quantities and lead times, then weigh transport speed against transport cost. Defend a sourcing and transport strategy rather than selecting an option on price alone.

EVIDENCE FOR DEBRIEFSupplier order mix, shipment sizes, component-transport costs and delivery outcomes.
04
INVENTORY CONTROL

Manage inventory while balancing continuity, service and cost

Coordinate component orders, production and customer deliveries to avoid shortages, excessive stock and avoidable cost. More advanced courses introduce safety-stock targets, overstock penalties and delivery-time constraints.

EVIDENCE FOR DEBRIEFEnding stock, inventory histories, products delivered on time and related costs.
05
EVIDENCE-BASED REFLECTION

Evaluate performance and propose an improved strategy

Interpret the automatic performance score, operational and financial results, detailed charts and rules-based feedback. Link outcomes to specific decisions and propose a more effective strategy for a subsequent attempt.

EVIDENCE FOR DEBRIEFScore, profit and cost results, on-time delivery rates, inventory and shipment charts, and actionable feedback.
ChainSim Teacher’s View with submitted results, charts and rules-based feedback
ASSESSMENT & DEBRIEF

Evidence to support—not replace—assessment

Teacher’s View collects submitted results in one place. Automatic performance scores, detailed charts and rules-based feedback give instructors a consistent starting point for comparison, discussion and formative feedback.

Review the outcomeCompare products delivered, on-time delivery, total profit, ending inventory, costs and performance points.
Diagnose the systemUse inventory and shipment charts to identify shortages, excess stock, delayed delivery and avoidable cost.
Require justificationAsk students to connect one decision to one result and propose a feasible improvement.
Suggested instructor criteria: systems reasoning · quantitative justification · trade-off analysis · evidence-based improvement
DEBRIEF PROMPTS

Turn results into reflection

Use these questions after a submitted attempt to move the conversation from “what score did we get?” to “why did the system behave that way?”

1

Which decision had the largest effect on total profit, and why?

2

Where did inventory become too low or unnecessarily high?

3

When was faster transport worth the additional cost?

4

What would you change in a second attempt, and which metric should improve?

USED IN UNIVERSITY TEACHING

Classroom experience at Lund University

At Lund University, 101 students used ChainSim in groups of three and progressed through five simulation levels.

101students
3students per group
5simulation levels
Read the Case Study
FIT YOUR SYLLABUS

See how these outcomes fit your course

In a short instructor demo, we’ll show you a ready-made course, the student decision flow and the evidence available in Teacher’s View.