Frog Factory Kanban Game
The Frog Factory is a professional quality Lean kanban simulation available with all the fixings for free! It looks like a lot of work went into making this excellent game, using origami frog folding to teach Lean basics. The game is clearly outlined in the instructions, detailing how to run 5 rounds of six minutes each. Including discussion, the simulation should take about 2 hours.
There are four stations doing different parts of the folding process. Teams compete against each other trying to run the most efficient factory and make the most money. Unbalanced work flow will contribute to bottlenecks in the process, which can be addressed by each team using different approaches.
As the rounds progress, more complexity is added to the game, including colour mix, training and random events. I like how the instructions break each round out and include discussion points for each section.
The downloadable .zip file contains everything you need to run this game, including an Excel file for the scoring, a timer, the instructions and even a paper die to be used to determine value of the different colours!
If you are looking for a good simulation for your Lean training, take a look at this one. It is professionally done and includes everything you need, except for the origami paper. This is available at the
Dutch website aboriginemundi.com, but all instructions are in English.
There are four stations doing different parts of the folding process. Teams compete against each other trying to run the most efficient factory and make the most money. Unbalanced work flow will contribute to bottlenecks in the process, which can be addressed by each team using different approaches.
As the rounds progress, more complexity is added to the game, including colour mix, training and random events. I like how the instructions break each round out and include discussion points for each section.
The downloadable .zip file contains everything you need to run this game, including an Excel file for the scoring, a timer, the instructions and even a paper die to be used to determine value of the different colours!
Dutch website aboriginemundi.com, but all instructions are in English.
Hi, I am new to this and have a couple of questions about the game. Would you have time to discus it sometime this week? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi! I'm not the designer of the game, but I can help you out with what I know. Email me at leansimulation@gmail.com and we can work out a time to talk.
ReplyDeleteOr you can also discuss the game at http://www.aboriginemundi.com/index.php/2010/04/the-frog-factory-a-kanban-experience-game/
Hello, good afternoon
ReplyDeleteI found your blog related to lean simulations.
I congratulate the excellent work, there are not many sites where we can find these materials, congratulations!
I tried to get FrogFactory simulation, but I can not download from official website, you would be kind enough to send the file?
Thank you very much!
Greetings
Juan
Hi Juan,
ReplyDeleteIt looks like hosting site is currently password protected. I'm not sure what's going on. Perhaps it's temporary. I posted a message there and we'll see if there's a response.
Hi,
ReplyDeletethanks for this post and the discussion. There was a hiccup on the site with the files, but it's fixed now and you should be able to grab it. Comments also welcome on the site http://www.aboriginemundi.com/index.php/2010/04/the-frog-factory-a-kanban-experience-game/
After all, lean is all about feedback no?
PeteR.
Hi PeteR,
DeleteI am trying to find this page and the instructions on how to do this game, but the link does not work any more. Can you please help me??
Best Regards,
Hanne
Looks like the site is down and goes only to a basic Wordpress installation. Hopefully it will come back!
DeleteHello, the site still looks like a basic wordpress Installation. No chance to find the game. Does anybody have another link or the .zip file to send?
DeleteRegards,
Val
Did you ever find this file anywhere?
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteJust a question. What happens when someone finishes his work? is it allowed to start to work on another frog or he has to wait until the bleep? Maybe, it would be good to allow it in the first round just to see how the WIP increases a lot. What do you think?
Thanks.
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteThe game is meant to be played in rounds, as you stated. Like most lean games, you should use the first round to just make, make, make and go as fast as possible. As the coach, you should be cracking the whip. And the outcome should be tons of unfinished product.
Now, I think with this particular game, it's not entirely clear how the progression goes from round to round, but that's how I would play it. You can always send a message to the designer, Peter, above.
Thanks for the question.
I am unable to find this game on the link above. Does anyone have an updated link, or the file they can send me?
ReplyDelete