A Case Study of Educational Games in Virtual Reality as a Teaching Method of Lean Management

Martin Krajčovič,Vladimír Vavrík,Gabriela Gabajová,Beáta Furmannová,Martin Gašo,Marián Matys

doi:10.3390/electronics10070838

Abstract

(1) At present, it is important to bring the latest technologies from industrial practice into the teaching process of educational institutions, including universities. The presented case study addresses the application of educational games in virtual reality to the teaching process in a university environment. (2) The study took place at the Department of Industrial Engineering of the University of Žilina in Žilina and consisted of two phases. In the first phase, students’ satisfaction with current teaching methods was examined. The second phase focused on an educational game in virtual reality, which introduced a non-traditional approach for teaching lean management, namely the tool 5S. (3) This game was designed by the study authors and created in the Godot game engine. The educational game was provided to students during class. After completing the game, participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire. The aim was to enable students to express their opinion on the educational game and to identify the main benefits of this approach in the teaching process. (4) In the study’s final phase, based on the acquired knowledge, the authors examined the benefits and disadvantages of virtual reality educational games for the teaching process of industrial engineering tools.

Highlights

The concept of Industry 4.0 resonates in the field of industrial engineering in a significant manner
The second phase focused on an educational game in virtual reality, which introduced a non-traditional approach for teaching lean management, namely the tool 5S. (3) This game was designed by the study authors and created in the Godot game engine
From the case study results, it can be concluded that the use of virtual reality educational games in the academic environment results in additional benefits

Summary

Introduction

The concept of Industry 4.0 resonates in the field of industrial engineering in a significant manner. In the industrial environment of the Slovak Republic, Industry 4.0 can be understood as an extensive transformation of the entire field of industrial production into a highly integrated value chain through the connection of digital technologies and robotics with conventional industry [1]. The digital factory provides a 3D representation of computer and information technologies that collaborate to create an integrated environment. In the context of Industry 4.0, the digital factory provides an important foundation for advanced manufacturing systems. The design of production systems is linked with the use of a wide range of modern tools and technologies. These are known as Advanced Industrial Engineering (AIE) [4]. Lean management tools are closely related to the design and optimization of production and logistics systems

Methods

Results

Conclusion