Lean Office Simulation

A Hands-On Accounts Payable Simulation That Makes Waste, Flow, and Quality Impossible to Ignore

Most Lean training talks about waste.

This simulation makes people feel it — in under 2 hours.

Participants process real-looking invoices, deal with defects, experience batching and rework, and then redesign the system using Lean principles.

The result is faster learning, better engagement, and behavior change that sticks.

The Scenario

You are working for a government agency in Miami, Florida

Invoices are being sent into your agency for payment. The invoices have to go through multiple steps:

Vendor > Intake > Verifier > Analyst > Supervisor > Finance Rep > Manager > Quality > Bank

During the simulation, teams will:

Process up to 60 realistic invoices with hidden defects
Track cycle time, wait time, and rework
Experience the pain of:
- Batching
- Hand-offs
- Late defect detection
- Approval bottlenecks
Redesign the process across three improvement rounds
Measure improvements in real time

There are at least 3 rounds conducted (more if time permitting)

In Round 1, the team will process invoices in batches spread out in their own departments
In Round 2, the team will come together into a work cell and process invoices one at a time
In Round 3, the team will remove waste, balance the workload and improve quality to meet their takt time

Each round will review metrics and discuss observations and improvement ideas

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What This Simulation Delivers

✔ Realistic knowledge-work process (Accounts Payable)
✔ Designed for any company, but ideally for those who work in an office or digital service process (most simulations are geared towards manufacturing processes)
✔ Works in-person or virtual (in-person recommended)
✔ Scales from 5–30 participants
✔ No software required — basic materials for in-person or computers for virtual

Participants don’t just learn Lean concepts — they discover them.

Two Ways to Work With Me

🧑‍🏫 Option 1: Facilitated Lean Simulation (Recommended for First-Time Teams)

I run the simulation for your team — you focus on learning.

Includes:

Live facilitation (½ day virtual or full day in-person) – includes basic training of concepts
Simulation setup and execution
Real-time coaching during each round
Metrics tracking and analysis
Structured debrief tied to your organization’s reality

Best for:

Leadership teams and offsites
Process improvement teams
Cross-functional groups
Lean launches or refresher training
Organizations struggling to apply Lean beyond manufacturing

👉 Ideal if you want maximum impact with minimal internal prep.

🧰 Option 2: Simulation Kit + Train-the-Trainer (Build Internal Capability)

You own the simulation — I teach your people how to run it.

Includes:

Complete simulation kit:
- 60 realistic invoices
- Defect master log
- PO master list
- Dashboards and metrics
- Participant role instructions
- Facilitator guide
Live simulation delivery (Day 1)
Train-the-Trainer workshop (Day 2):
- How to facilitate each round
- How to manage timing and flow
- How to guide debriefs
- How to adapt the simulation for different audiences
Ongoing facilitator support from us (included in pricing)

Best for:

Internal Lean teams
Independent consultants (offer to your clients)
HR / L&D groups
Continuous improvement offices
Organizations that want repeatable training assets

👉 Ideal if you want long-term leverage and internal ownership.

Why This Simulation Works When Others Don’t

Most Lean training fails because:

It’s too abstract
It’s too much content all at once
It’s too manufacturing-centric

This simulation:

Uses knowledge work, not factory metaphors
Makes waste emotionally obvious
Forces participants to see the entire system (value stream) before making improvements
Creates “aha” moments without lecturing

Participants regularly say:

“This feels exactly like our real work.”
“Did you use to work at our company?”
“I feel like I’ve got the skills now to improve our processes”

Who This Is For

✔ Operations leaders
✔ Finance & Shared Services teams
✔ Healthcare & government agencies
✔ Nonprofits
✔ HR, IT, and back-office functions
✔ Organizations tired of “training that doesn’t stick”