Case Study: Novia University of Applied Sciences achieves hands-on production planning and forecasting training with frePPLe

How frePPLe became a learning tool for students

Novia University of Applied Sciences, a Swedish‑speaking Finnish university with over 4,000 students, needed a way to give industrial management students practical, real‑world experience in production simulation and planning alongside theoretical coursework. Instructor Mikael Ehrs integrated the vendor frePPLe into his classes, using frePPLe’s free version to illustrate ERP concepts and show how companies use production planning and demand forecasting tools in practice.

frePPLe was implemented as a hands‑on, gamified tool that students progress through by unlocking features and completing challenges, helping them see how planning data interrelate. According to Ehrs, frePPLe improved students’ practical understanding of production planning and made classroom simulation align more closely with industry practice; no quantitative metrics were provided, but the reported qualitative impact was clearer concept mastery and better readiness for real‑world production planning.

Novia University of Applied Sciences

Mikael Ehrs

Teacher