Chuo Malleable Iron – Factory Tour
Chuo Malleable Iron is a manufacturer of cast iron and aluminum components. The company mainly supplies to the automobile and electric industries and their major trading partners include Toyota Group companies such as Toyota Motor Corporation, Denso and Aisin Seiki. The company also produces steel furniture such as metal framed chairs which represents around four percent of their revenue.

Corporate Information
- Company: Chuo Malleable Iron Co., Ltd.
- Foundation: 1944
- Location: Headquartered in Aichi Prefecture
- Main Business: Manufacturing of cast iron and aluminum components

Chuo Malleable Iron – Lean Characteristics
Kanban System, JIT, Visual Management
Chuo Malleable Iron is a supplier of cast iron and aluminum components to the automobile and electric sectors. The company was founded in 1944 in Aichi Prefecture and started to supply for Toyota Motor Corporation in 1948.
The company has four production bases in Japan, three in the Tokai Region and one in Kumamoto Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu as well as two production bases in China.
Their Nisshin Plant is the biggest plant that produces approximately 2,400 tons of cast iron products and 100 tons of aluminum products per month. The company uses electric furnaces in their efforts to achieve improved environmental outcomes and Just-In-Time fabrication of components based on a kanban system. The factory also features effective visual management examples.
The visit to the Nisshin Plant includes a presentation, a site tour and a Q&A session with senior managers.



Melville, Hamilton, New Zealand
What a journey into lean! A week jam-packed with learning the true essence of lean from a Sensei, then being critiqued on your practical application of the skills. Followed up by site tours of what world class lean manufacturing looks like. Highly Recommended.
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Sindelfingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
The Lean Japan Tour was brilliant. It was full of activities, insights and learning. In addition, the organization and the schedule were perfect.
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Žilina, Slovakia
Thank you to Shinka Management for the positivity, preparation, knowledge, senseis, food, accommodation, photos, and overall care throughout the tour. I learned a lot. I had participated in a similar training program in Japan two years ago, but Shinka Management takes the experience one or two levels higher in several aspects. Thank you.
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Karachi, Pakistan
I wanted to express my appreciation for the incredible Lean Japan Tour experience. I am grateful for the hospitality and support Shinka Management provided. Your guidance on Japanese Business Etiquette was invaluable. I am not aware of any training consultants who pay such meticulous attention to details. Your warm and welcoming approach created an excellent…
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Panaga, Brunei
It has been a great and eye-opening tour. It made me believe more that lean is possible and achievable. The way the tour was organised impressed me – your team has put time and effort into making the program well-organised and enjoyable. Thank you for keeping up the standard and keeping lean awareness going for…
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Göteborg, Sweden
I would like to give my deepest thanks for helping us end the executive program on a high note. This week has summarized TPS / VPS in a very practical and eye-opening manner. The lean journey has become real and exemplified through the many visits we have done. The coaching by Hattori Sensei, and by…
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The Shinka Management Lean Japan Tour is a professional development program run several times annually. The program includes a mix of lean and kaizen seminars, hands-on lean training and visits to several benchmark lean companies. For further information and program dates, see the lean tour overview page.
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