Having completed several graduate courses in lean production and management during my MSc in Industrial Engineering, I was no stranger to the principles and theories that underpin this field. However, the opportunity to embark on the Lean Japan Tour with Shinka Management was nothing short of transformative. It strengthened my understanding of lean practices to a level that surpassed the boundaries of traditional education, even at the graduate level.
The tour not only enriched my knowledge with theoretical insights but also provided an opportunity to observe the Toyota Production System (TPS) in action. Witnessing the TPS principles being implemented in real-world scenarios was an eye-opening experience that textbooks and lectures could never replicate.
What truly set this experience apart was the hands-on practical work we engaged in. It wasn’t just about learning theories; it was about rolling up our sleeves and applying those theories in real-world situations. The practical exercises allowed me to gain a profound appreciation for the nuances of lean production that can only be grasped through firsthand involvement.
The Lean Japan Tour was more than just a professional journey; it was a cultural immersion that exceeded my wildest expectations. As someone who has passion about Japanese culture, this tour served as a gateway to a world I had long admired from afar. Interacting with the local community, witnessing their work ethic, and embracing their customs were invaluable experiences that broadened my horizons in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
It’s abundantly clear that Shinka Management’s expertise in organizing such tours comes from years of refined experience. The seamless coordination, insightful guidance, and access to exclusive industry insights are testament to their mastery in this field. As a group, we were simply left in awe, and no words can adequately express how this experience surpassed our loftiest expectations.
The Lean Japan Tour with Shinka Management transcended the realms of education and tourism. It was a transformative journey that elevated my understanding of lean production, enriched my cultural appreciation, and left an indelible mark on my professional and personal growth.
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The thing about the Lean Japan Tour by Shinka Management is that it’s not focused only on production efficiency, but also involves the lean way of managing people & reducing waste as a path to improving an organization’s quality & efficiency.
We had the chance to visit different plants, and the privilege of meeting sensei from different backgrounds.
I express my appreciation to the Shinka Management team who organized this joyful & knowledgeable trip. Especially Paul for keeping the knowledge flowing even during the bus rides, Eri for the fluent interpreting & the coordination of our stay in Japan, and Juan for sharing his long experience within Japanese automotive manufacturers that applied kaizen. The team’s passion for lean management and expertise elevated the entire experience.
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The Lean Japan Tour was well organized and full of passion, knowledge and hands-on practice. I was glad to join the program. Thanks a lot to the Shinka Management team.
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This service has added huge value to the Saudi Arabian Government-sponsored Tomoh Industrial SMEs. Thank you Shinka for the effort made to deliver this service in a very professional way.
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It was great experiencing factories that have implemented simple and effective processes in the right manner. I enjoyed the stories from each sensei on their journey of kaizen and how they implemented it within their factories. Ben, Eri and Juan were incredible hosts, the whole tour was seamless and the content was really valuable. This tour has really changed my understanding of what great looks like. Thank you.
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This was my third visit to Japan with Shinka Management and it is difficult for me to find the right words to express my gratitude for such a well-organized tour and my appreciation for the high quality and on-target content. In my previous visits I received very valuable information related to continuous improvement principles and lean theory. While I received further lean training, my main focus was to gain more skills, tools and strategies on how lean practices can be adapted and introduced into the development of people. As a founder and owner of a newly established company, it is crucial for me to set up a lean culture at the onset of the company’s journey to foster the mindset of continuous improvement. Thank so much to all the wonderful people at Shinka Management that make this amazing experience possible. I highly recommend Shinka Management to any organization interested in lean training and improving their business.
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I joined the tour with little understanding of lean. This tour opened my eyes to the possibilities of what can be achieved through continued focus on improvement and team work at all levels. The plant tours showcase the Kaizen and 5S principles perfectly. The surprising thing for me is that safety and quality were paramount in all aspects of work and are a strong focus when implementing improvements. I enjoyed learning from our hosts and others on the tour and would happily recommend the lean tour to anyone considering lean for their business.
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The program was well organised and structured. The whole Shinka team were amazing and very accommodating. To be honest I was not certain that lean was the right fit for our business. But the refresher in Japan has opened up my eyes as to how it can be practically applied. The lean tour has prompted me to reignite my business.
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I have thoroughly enjoyed the lean tour to Japan. Not only have I learned lots of new concepts that I’m keen to implement in our business, but I also loved the cultural experiences and insight into the people of Japan. The tour organizers bent over backward to make us feel welcome and anticipate our every need. I highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to gain a better understanding of how lean can be practically applied in their business.
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Thank you for the well-organized and informative tour. It can be distracting to read and attend lectures about lean, but when combined with practical training and actual visits to the home of lean, it helps to clarify and connect all the dots. The tour was an eye-opening experience where we witnessed lean manufacturing principles in action. The attention to detail and commitment to continuous improvement were truly inspiring.
Overall, the tour was a transformative experience. It highlighted the power of lean thinking and demonstrated how it can significantly improve productivity, quality and customer satisfaction.
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A very valuable and well-organized experience. Getting good access to factories where TPS and lean manufacturing are used as well as the instruction from experienced instructors made this a very worthwhile experience. Participants should leave well equipped to train others as well as conduct kaizen practices themselves.
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It was an exciting experience learning about Japan’s culture and industrial mentality. I had the honor of seeing and experiencing the industrial culture in Japan and exploring the reasons for its prosperity based on the principle of “kaizen”, as well as witnessing the work environment in a distinctive way embodied in the principle of 5S. It was a unique experience and I advise all those interested in increasing productivity and sustainability in business in general and the industry in particular to go through this experience. The vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is well known by those from industry. It aims to increase the number of factories from 11,000 to 36,000 by the year 2035. Thanks again to the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for supporting my participation, and to the Shinka Management Team for their efforts.
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