Serious Games in Academic Education – A Multi-dimensional Sustainability Analysis of Additive Versus Conventional Manufacturing Technologies in a Fictitious Enterprise Project

Abstract Metal additive manufacturing among other advantage offers a high degree of freedom in the design of components and shortening of conventional manufacturing process chains. Hence, there are questions of technological feasibility, efficiency and sustainability. Current relevant studies, especially on the sustainability of selective laser melting, often examine only one aspect. At the same time, companies in various sectors are faced with the question of whether and if so, to what extent it is worth converting their production towards additive manufacturing units. In any case, the context is filled with complex issues in several decision-making dimensions. In this paper, a special concept for academic education is introduced. It mirrors the complexity of decision-making issues, relevant problems and solutions, in a fictitious enterprise project named „AM for Future!?”. The project is played as a serious game with an explicit educational purpose. It is an adaptable toolbox-like game structure on a solid methodical basis. Besides clear roles with a focus on different dimensions of sustainability, it also enables variation of products and process chains. Gameplays of different project settings, spanning over three consecutive semesters, confirm the game plan as a safe environment and suitable world of experience. For research, the output of the different game seasons can be used as a simplified parameter study. This applies to objectively quantifiable as well as different qualitative approaches. These approaches influence the answer to the question of whether and, if so, how a conventional process chain can be specifically replaced and/or supplemented with metal additive manufacturing.