Beer Distribution Game
Open on AnyLogic CloudRetailer, wholesaler, distributor and factory place weekly orders with shipping and information delays. Watch backlog and inventory swing as the order signal amplifies up the chain.
This AnyLogic Cloud model is no longer published
The Beer Distribution Game model was removed from AnyLogic Cloud. The Lab hosts its own version of the game, so you can still play it here.
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About this tool
The concept
Simulation lets you run a supply chain forward in time under rules you choose, so the consequences of ordering, sourcing and routing decisions become visible before money is spent. These models are agent-based and discrete-event: individual orders, vehicles and events, not averages.
How it works
Each AnyLogic model has its own toolbar: run, pause, change speed and reset. Parameters sit on the model's control panel; charts update as the simulated clock advances. Nothing is saved between runs, so experiment freely.
Winning strategy
Change one input at a time and run long enough for the system to settle. Compare the same statistic across runs (service level, backlog, throughput) rather than eyeballing animation, and note where a small local change produces a large downstream effect.