Vientiane. EDC Conference Room. Time: 16:00 pm. The EDC has successfully implemented the Timber Game (adapted from John Sterman’s famous Beer Game) for its forthcoming supply chain courses for several sectors in Laos. 
The Game can be played by as many as ten teams with each team representing four to six key chain actors. In the Timber game, the actors included: independent gatherers (up in the mountains and hinterlands), aggregators, saw millers, lumber retailers and construction firms. In-between the actors are a series of transport delays and elaborate ordering systems. The EDC version was moderated by Ed Canela and Buakhai Phimmavong and consisted of two competing supply chains. One was supplying the Thai construction firms in the North and the other supplying the Vietnam and Cambodia construction industries.
After the usual introduction on supply chain, navigation of the Game Board and the final instructions, the game started slowly with each chain actor ordering timber cautiously. Everyone in the chain mastered the skills in getting orders, delivering, making new orders, transaction recording. Everyone tried to maintain low inventory level in their operations and in the logistics pipelines. Then, tension mounted. The gatherers felt the need to supply more time (within eco-limits) and the tension flowed throughout the chain. Then as a sudden construction booms happened, the retailers felt severe pressure to deliver. Everyone felt the constant pressure to meet their delivery requirements. Every time a new order comes in, their heart momentarily stopped, Can I meet this order? Everyone ordered feverishly. Both teams started blaming the other factors for sudden oscillations in the supply chain. Everyone was asking for rationality and cautiousness in dealing with the fluctuations. There were times when some chain actors just refused to order some more. Others continued pushing the chain. The atmosphere was tense until the facilitators announced that the Game was over.
In the processing, several issues were discussed: chain delays, timber processing time, order decision making, chain architecture, chain velocity, high impact cooperation systems, use of agents and brokers, logistics tracking systems, etc. Future developments will include adaptations for food systems, fruit sector, cash crops, money and profit flows, and a standalone Excel-based PC version. Inquiries about this game can be made via Ms. Buakhai or Ed Canela.
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