Client Testimonials

Just completed the Lean Japan Tour by Shinka Management — an exceptional deep dive into Toyota principles and their execution in practice.

The program is thoughtfully designed, with training and factory benchmarks that showcase TPS concepts at the highest standard. Seeing them applied with such precision is both inspiring and energizing.

Grateful to the Shinka Management team for delivering a world-class experience. Many thanks to Paul Smith, Eri Dennis, and Ichi Yamada for their care and hospitality.
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This was an extremely insightful tour. Very well run by Paul and the team from Shinka Management. Highly recommended.
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The tour was highly professional. The food and hotels were excellent, and the best part was the learning experience. We had hands-on exposure to kanban, and seeing Lean and Kaizen in action during the factory visits was extremely informative. The Q&A sessions provided us with deeper insights into the thinking of each management team we met. I can’t wait to gradually implement these learnings in our company.

Many thanks to the Shinka team – especially Paul, Eri, and Ichi – for taking such good care of us.

Highly recommended! Excellent value for money.
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First of all I would like to offer an absolute gesture of gratitude to the Shinka Management team – Paul, Ichi, Kaji Sensei, and especially Eri who often went out of her way to make sure everything ran smoothly and we had a great time. In my opinion the organization of the whole tour was superb.

As for the learning journey, I came in expecting to receive answers to my questions, but left with a sense of self growth. What I have lived through this week was a realization that I can’t expect to have epiphanies about continuous improvement and the implementation of lean practices. Instead my eyes were opened to see that everyone has the same struggles and it was inspirational.

I leave this experience motivated and with a mind full of challenges, and I thank you guys for that.
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Paul, Eri and Ichi provided a fantastically well curated tour to the birthplace of continuous improvement. Hearing the theory, experiencing practical hands-on learning at the dojo, and then seeing the theory put into practice at a number of world class manufacturing plants was thought provoking, motivating and inspiring. Now the fun starts – putting theory into practice!
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Participating in the Shinka Management lean tour was an absolutely transformative experience. The opportunity to witness lean principles in action across renowned factories and a cutting-edge hospital offered unparalleled insights into operational excellence.

The factory visits were a masterclass in efficiency and continuous improvement. Observing Toyota Production System methodologies firsthand—from Gemba walks to 5S practices – highlighted the power of eliminating waste and empowering frontline teams. The meticulous attention to detail and culture of kaizen were nothing short of inspiring.

Equally impactful was the hospital tour, where lean thinking transcended manufacturing to revolutionize healthcare. Seeing workflows optimized for patient care, error reduction, and staff collaboration demonstrated lean’s universal applicability. It reshaped my perspective on how process excellence can save lives while boosting efficiency.

Beyond the sites, the tour’s cultural immersion – from engaging with Japanese business etiquette to savoring local traditions – enriched the learning journey. Shinka Management’s exceptional organization, knowledgeable leaders, and thoughtful itineraries made every moment invaluable.

This tour isn’t just educational; it’s a catalyst for innovation. I wholeheartedly recommend it to any professional seeking to deepen their lean expertise and ignite transformative change.
This experience will resonate in my work for years to come!
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It’s truly inspiring to witness the active participation of our employees in the PIME 4.0 kaizen suggestion scheme. Their engagement reflects how deeply the culture of continuous improvement is taking root across the organization. The steady increase in submitted suggestions continually challenges us—not only in terms of managing them effectively, but also in ensuring we allocate the necessary resources for their implementation.

Designing a recognition system for implemented ideas has been a particularly rewarding aspect. This system, which tracks the maturity of the EPS, plays a vital role in sustaining motivation, allowing everyone to clearly see the tangible benefits of their contributions. We’ve seen how employees are now integrating the generation of improvement ideas into their daily routines, with the added satisfaction of seeing these ideas put into practice in their own work environments. This sense of ownership brings great pride—both in the value they add and in knowing their voices are heard and their input leads to real change.

Since the program’s inception, our Continuous Improvement Team has grown and evolved significantly, and Shinka Management’s guidance has been instrumental in this journey. We are confident that we’re on the right path and must continue progressing—strengthening our culture of continuous improvement through the development of every person who is part of Escorial.

Read more about the support provide by Shinka Management at Escorial Argentina:
Case Study: Lean Transformation at Escorial
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outh WalesBluedog Fences Australia views Shinka Management as a trusted partner and a critical component of our journey toward manufacturing excellence.

Shinka Management’s consultancy services, together with their training programs and Lean Japan Tours, have played a key role in embedding a strong culture of continuous improvement within our organisation. Amid recent market volatility, our focus on quality enhancement, cost reduction, and lead-time improvement – driven by their guidance – has enabled us to thrive. Notably, advancements in material flow and our adoption of 5S methodologies have made significant and measurable contributions to our profitability.

The Shinka Management team has actively engaged with personnel at every level of our business, from senior executives to frontline operators. Their consultants leverage extensive practical experience to connect with and inspire our workforce, making lean manufacturing principles accessible and actionable. Moreover, their support is enriched by a wealth of resources, including photos, videos, and case studies originating from Japan and around the globe. These authentic, real-world examples have empowered our team to rethink and improve our manufacturing processes independently, enhancing both morale and operational efficiency.

Such has been the transformation on our shop floor that it now serves as a sales showroom for customers and visitors, reinforcing confidence in our brand and manufacturing capabilities. Bluedog Fences Australia’s substantial progress in our continuous improvement journey would not have been achievable without our valued partnership with Shinka Management.
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I attended Shinka Management’s Lean Japan Tour and it was an incredible experience. The content was highly informative and practical, offering deep insights into lean culture and principles and their real-world applications. The organisation of the program was excellent, ensuring a seamless and engaging learning experience. I’d highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to improve the lean culture at their organisation.
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Shinka Management staff were professional from interpretation, to detailed trip arrangements, to leading the factory tour and catalyzing the thinking and discussion.
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I would like to thank the Shinka team. They have been doing very well since day one of the program notification. Their work is a demonstration of the lean principles of standard work and Plan, Do, Check and Action (PDCA). The Shinka team arranged factory visits to various tiers of the automotive industry and building industry. We could easily learn from both the class training in lean and also the hands-on practice sessions. We went to see different levels of factories which allowed us to easily understand the lean fundamentals and sense where they came from. We all had a lot of takeaways and learned a lot from the trip.
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My experience on the Lean Japan Tour:
– High level of attention and kindness with all participants;
– Quality of content in the classroom;
– Knowledge and experience of senseis;
– Experiments in the dojo;
– High-quality company visits;
– High-quality hotels, meals and transports.
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This was my first real experience with training tourism and it was a smashing success. Paul, Eri, and Ichi were professional and patient in their approach to dealing with the tour members and competent and knowledgeable on the subject of Lean/Kaizen. My time with them convinced me that this course of action is the right one for my business and I thank them profoundly for their efforts and care.

* Trip Logistics – fantastic communication before and during the tour. We had a clear schedule, meeting place, and expectations at every stop.
* Program education structure – well paced and purposeful. I learned fundamentals before being sent to a factory where I could appreciate them. We combined classroom with practical labs and then saw it all in practice.
* Culture exposure – we toured and ate things outside my experience and felt comfortable through Ichi and Eri’s assistance.
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The March 2025 Lean Japan Tour was an incredible opportunity to experience Japanese culture and kaizen practices firsthand. I would rate my overall satisfaction with this tour as outstanding. Honestly, it is very difficult to identify areas for improvement in the program, as it is executed with such professionalism and extensive experience. The dedication and effort that the Shinka Management team puts into planning and executing the tour is remarkable; it truly is a world-class tour. I particularly appreciated the selection of factory visits, as each one had a unique reason for inclusion that helped me understand Japan’s practices and culture. I would like to extend my gratitude to Paul, Kaji-Sensei, Ichi, and Eri for everything. I hope to meet you again in the future, and if you have the chance to visit Argentina, just let me know so we can share a great ASADO ;-).
Thank you!
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The Lean Japan Tour with Shinka Management was an inspiring and transformative experience. Seeing lean practices in action and learning from Japanese companies was truly eye-opening. This journey has motivated me to embrace lean principles in my own work. Big thanks to Shinka Management for such an enriching program — I highly recommend it!
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During 2024, we carried out a project with Shinka that lasted about 5 months, which aimed to improve and perfect our daily management instances, since these had become very time-intensive and with a sense of planning and not performance. After reviewing the current situation and defining our future state, Shinka supported us to refocus our efforts, starting with training and strengthening knowledge, through practical exercises and accompanying us in the creation and updating of our KPIs. Along with that, it helped us to redefine our standard, giving us tools that have allowed us to maintain it and avoid falling into the same previous error, which was mainly not carrying out a constant review of the routine, identifying gaps and correcting them quickly. This has allowed us to hold truly effective meetings, focused on performance and adding value to the organization. I would also like to highlight that Shinka adapted very well to our requirements, understanding our needs and being flexible when it came to modifying the project times, since right during its development, we had an important organizational change and they quickly managed to adapt to the changes and allowed us to adjust the Gantt without major issues.
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Thank you, Shinka Management, for providing me with the opportunity to learn more about Kaizen. As a Quality practitioner, witnessing the evolution of Toyota and its implementation of Kaizen has been amazing.

Learning how to adapt Kaizen principles from manufacturing for implementation within a hospital setting has been truly inspiring.

Again, thank you Shinka Management! Especially to Paul, Ben, Juan, Eri, and of course to Sensei.
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The Shinka Lean Management Tour was a great experience, with group members from across the globe. A combination of classroom, hands-on and site visit learning provided good insight into lean principles. The tour was very well organised, ran smoothly and was a pleasure to be a part of.
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Participating in the Shinka Management Lean Japan Tour was a transformative experience. The tour offered a rare opportunity to witness world-class lean practices in action at leading Japanese organisations. From visiting Toyota’s manufacturing facilities to learning directly from lean practitioners, every moment was an invaluable learning experience.

The insights gained into kaizen, waste reduction, and continuous improvement were not only practical but also deeply inspiring. The expert facilitation by Shinka consultants ensured that complex concepts were made relatable and actionable for any industry.

What truly stood out was the cultural immersion – learning how Japanese work culture complements lean principles. The tour seamlessly blended professional development with personal growth, leaving a lasting impact on my approach to problem-solving and process optimization.

For anyone serious about lean transformation, this is an unmissable experience.
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I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for organizing such a fantastic tour. From the seamless logistics to the thoughtfully curated, authentic Japanese experience, everything was meticulously planned, making for an unforgettable trip. Your team’s professionalism, and passion for what you do really shone through, and it truly enhanced the entire experience. I appreciate all your hard work in making sure everything ran smoothly, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a well-organized and enjoyable adventure.
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