JTEKT – Factory Tour
JTEKT Corporation is one of the Toyota Group companies that was created as a result of a merger between Koyo Seiko and Toyoda Machine Works. They are a major supplier of steering systems in the automotive sector, but also a manufacturer of bearings and machine tools for a variety of sectors including steel, railway, aerospace, construction, machinery, and others.

Corporate Information
- Company: JTEKT Corporation
- Establishment: 2006
- Location: Aichi Prefecture
- Main Business: manufacturing of steering systems, bearings, machine tools and mechatronics

JTEKT Corporation – Lean Characteristics
TPS, Kaizen, Smart Factory, IoE
JTEKT is a global manufacturing company that has 12 factories in Japan and over 40 production bases overseas. As a vital member of the Toyota Group, JTEKT thoroughly applies the Toyota Production System. However, the company is led by a set of guiding values called “JTEKT Way” and members of the JTEKT Group share a unified sense of the JTEKT values worldwide, which are made up of five key pillars summarized as: 1) customer first, 2) continuous kaizen, 3) aspiration for innovation, 4) teamwork and self-discipline and 5) ownership.
The company has been promoting a smart factory concept and recently been making a concerted effort to combine lean thinking with cutting-edge digital solutions through the introduction of IoE (Internet of Everything) into their operations. By connecting machinery and equipment to people and services, and processing the big data collected to be visible and actionable to people for analysis, weak points in the manufacturing processes can be better detected which were previously not always identifiable and quantifiable. As a result, more accurate decisions can be made to improve operations, and manufacturers are able to achieve next level efficiency, functionality, reliability and productivity.

Bikfaya, Lebanon
Life changing experience. The tour was extremely well prepared: 1. In terms of logistics and schedule, everything was organized to provide enough time for full day efficiency without putting too much physical or cognitive strain. 2. In terms of quality of information, the senseis’ knowledge is world-class level and they were more than willing to…
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Warrensburg, Missouri, United States
We learned from the masters (sensei), who were filled with wisdom, passion and experience. The Lean Japan Tour content was very practical and made a lot of sense. We received excellent hospitality from Paul and Craig of Shinka Management.
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Délégation Sfax Ville, Sfax, Tunisia
Enriched by an exceptional experience in Japan with Shinka Management, I delved into the nuances of Japanese culture and etiquette while immersing myself in the heart of the Toyota Production System. From theoretical and practical courses to visits to Toyota’s final assembly site and their suppliers, each step shaped my understanding. The impeccable organization, meticulous…
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Coomooroo, South Australia, Australia
From a remote rural engineering company – to the shining lights of Japan’s finest. I have returned overwhelmed from the experience to learn from some of the worlds best manufacturers and absorb decades of experience from my fellow peers. Highly recommended and treat it as a sound investment for your company’s future!
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Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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…
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Hamburg, Germany
To do a lean learning tour with Shinka is definitely highly recommended. As lean is a personal journey for everyone who is involved in this topic, it doesn’t matter at which point of your journey you are in. At each level of personal experience there is a lot that you can take home with you.…
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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.
Tour Inquiries
Interested in joining us in Japan? For additional information prior to registration please fill in the form provided or contact us.
