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I started playing @factoriogame after @tobi recommended it on a podcast & have spent 100+ hours being hooked to it over the past couple of weeks.
Looks like just another strategy game, but unfolds into a masterclass on operations management.
A short thread on things I learnt:
Looks like just another strategy game, but unfolds into a masterclass on operations management.
A short thread on things I learnt:
You play a character that crash-landed on a planet and has to build their way out on a rocket. The entire game is a race towards that eventual goal.
Turns out to be a better learning tool for operations management than any of the simplified simulations in B-school.
Turns out to be a better learning tool for operations management than any of the simplified simulations in B-school.
Lesson 1: Always look for the bottleneck
Not able to create enough circuits?
The solution to that could range anywhere from building an iron smelting plant, to mining more iron to creating a faster conveyor belt that can push raw materials fast enough.
Not able to create enough circuits?
The solution to that could range anywhere from building an iron smelting plant, to mining more iron to creating a faster conveyor belt that can push raw materials fast enough.
Lesson 2: Plan for expansions
Leave scope for expansion, else it could eventually cost you in terms of the time it would take to get to your goal.
Moving around 10 factories to make space for one is a poor use of time.
Leave scope for expansion, else it could eventually cost you in terms of the time it would take to get to your goal.
Moving around 10 factories to make space for one is a poor use of time.
Lesson 3: Don't expect to get it right in the 1st try
Iteration is essential to improving in the game & in business. I'm on my 4th run and I've gotten much better at it.
Life may not always give many chances of solving 1 problem, but at least we have that luxury with games.
Iteration is essential to improving in the game & in business. I'm on my 4th run and I've gotten much better at it.
Life may not always give many chances of solving 1 problem, but at least we have that luxury with games.
Lesson 4: Use managerial leverage
You start the game by mining & transporting resources by hand, but automation of basic processes enables you to focus on high-value activities.
Limited time & attention, you can use it for manually digging iron ore or designing your factory.
You start the game by mining & transporting resources by hand, but automation of basic processes enables you to focus on high-value activities.
Limited time & attention, you can use it for manually digging iron ore or designing your factory.
Lesson 5: Distribution is important
It's not enough to be manufacturing something if you can't get it to where it's needed.
A direct corollary is the hunger problem in the world, it's less about having enough food and more about having it where people need the food.
It's not enough to be manufacturing something if you can't get it to where it's needed.
A direct corollary is the hunger problem in the world, it's less about having enough food and more about having it where people need the food.
Lesson 6: Leave some slack in the system
Running a tight operation means that any small blip (eg. alien attack) would cascade across your factory & bring your operations to a grinding halt.
Leaving some slack might feel inefficient initially but allows you to handle variability
Running a tight operation means that any small blip (eg. alien attack) would cascade across your factory & bring your operations to a grinding halt.
Leaving some slack might feel inefficient initially but allows you to handle variability
This game was a perfect example of @tobi's comment about how you can make mistakes and learn at a faster pace from games.
Getting the same experience from real life would be costly & time taking, if it was possible.
Getting the same experience from real life would be costly & time taking, if it was possible.
