Shift 0: the induction

James PurseBy James Purse, Director at Project7 · Last reviewed 13 November 2026 · 3 minute read

Short answer. Shift 0 is Lean Simulator’s induction: a practice floor with no clock and no score where every player learns their role. Each role has one short drill that the game checks, each player ticks a ready flag, and a ready board shows the host when the team is set. It removes the learning curve from the Shift 1 numbers.

Key facts

  • Clock and score: none.
  • Drills: one per role, checked by the game.
  • Ready board: shows who is set.
  • Story: everyone is a new starter at the Bike Co.

What changes on the line

  • A practice floor replaces the real line.
  • Evan gives each player a private role briefing.
  • Audio-guided tours spotlight each control as it is needed.
A workstation on the Lean Simulator line
Each player works one station; the simulation works the rest.

Why an induction matters

Without an induction, Shift 1 looks bad partly because people are learning the controls. That muddies the comparison with later shifts and lets people blame the game rather than the process.

With an induction, the Shift 1 numbers reflect the design of the line. When those numbers improve in later shifts, the team knows the process changed, not their familiarity with the buttons.

What to watch for

  • Players who finish their drill quickly and wait: let them help others.
  • Anyone stuck on a control: replay the tour from the menu.

Debrief questions

  1. Does everyone know what their role does?
  2. Who do you depend on, and who depends on you?

For the full debrief method, see How to debrief a Lean simulation.

Facilitator tips

  • Run the induction even with experienced Lean practitioners.
  • Start Shift 1 only when the ready board is full.
  • Use the time to check everyone can hear Evan or see the captions.

Frequently asked questions

Can I skip the induction?

You can, but the Shift 1 results will then partly measure unfamiliarity with the controls. A few minutes of induction makes every later comparison fairer.

How long does the induction take?

A few minutes for most groups. The host starts Shift 1 once the ready board shows everyone is set.

Try it before you run it

Work one shift on the line with Evan guiding you. It needs only your email address: no card and no contract.

Try a free shift
Talk to us about a partner licence

About the author

James Purse, Director at Project7 ConsultancyJames Purse is a Director at Project7, a UK operational transformation consultancy whose approach is grounded in Toyota thinking, and has nearly 20 years of practitioner experience in Lean, leadership and performance improvement. He works with manufacturing, engineering and infrastructure organisations to find what is really limiting performance and to fix it alongside their own teams. James Purse on LinkedIn