Client Testimonials

I would like to personally thank the Shinka team for a well-organised week that definitely opened my eyes on elements of Lean Management as well as some great ideas related to Japanese construction processes.
I’m looking forward to getting back to our business and putting these elements into play with the whole team. I think this is definitely a sign of a worthwhile and informative tour!
Thanks again to Paul, Eri, Ichi and Chris for your efforts to keep us engaged and on time for the week’s tour.
read more

Thank you to the Shinka team for a wonderful experience in Japan. The housing mission was professionally organised and executed by Paul, Eri, and the team. The lead-up information provided before heading to Japan was excellent and greatly helped with preparation.

Once in Japan, the tour was so efficient that we were able to see many aspects of Japanese housing and manufacturing. Even though there was so much travel, information, and factory visits packed into the mission, it was so seamlessly organised that the whole experience remained comfortable. This helped us stay prepared to learn each day of the mission.

The Japanese food and cultural experiences were magnificent throughout. The translation by Ichi-san was outstanding and added greatly to the experience.

Thank you to the Shinka team for a wonderful experience.

read more

I recently completed a study tour in Japan with Shinka Management and it was an excellent experience. The tour was extremely well organised, allowing us to focus on learning and gaining real value. The insights into Lean and Japanese home building were first class, with practical takeaways I can apply in our business.

Thanks to Paul, Eri, Ichi and Chris for their professionalism and support throughout. I’d highly recommend Shinka Management to any business leader wanting to better understand Lean and world-class practices.
read more

A great housing mission and supported by a passionate and knowledgable team. The mission had a good mix of Japanese building technology and manufacturing, overlayed with Kaizen and Toyota Production System principles. Participants were also able to take up opportunities to experience the best of Japanese culture. A fantastic all-round learning event.
read more

I recently had the opportunity to participate in the Japan Housing Mission with Shinka Management, and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish.

The program was exceptionally well organised, with a clear structure that combined informative seminars, practical site visits, and valuable industry insights. The factory and company tours were a real highlight, providing a firsthand look at world-class manufacturing practices and how lean principles are applied in real environments.

Shinka Management delivered a professional, seamless experience throughout, from logistics and accommodation to the quality of content and access to leading organisations. The exposure to Japanese lean methodologies and the opportunity to engage directly with industry experts made the experience both highly relevant and immediately applicable.

I would strongly recommend Shinka Management and the Japan Housing Mission to anyone looking to deepen their understanding of lean thinking, improve operational efficiency, and gain a global perspective on manufacturing and construction excellence.
read more

The Japan Housing Mission was a fantastic experience. It was insightful, highly informative, and very well run. The team at Shinka Management were great hosts and delivered a well-curated program with genuine depth and access. It was a great opportunity to connect with industry peers and build meaningful relationships, and I’ve come away with a lot to think about. I would recommend attendance to anyone interested in the future of housing, modular construction and integrated delivery.
read more

We had training with Paul on the topic of Japanese management practices. The training booklet provided was top notch as was the time he spent with us. He focused on information that was most relevant to our company. We learned about the culture, doing business in Japan and pitfalls to avoid from someone who does business in Japan himself. This made the session really useful for us. Paul is an expert on this subject matter, we learned a lot and are looking into doing other trainings offered by Shinka Management.
read more

I was very pleased to join the March 2026 Shinka Management Lean Tour in Japan. Having previously worked with the Toyota Way and Kaizen in the early 1990s, I was keen to revisit this manufacturing philosophy, and the opportunity to see Lean in action in Japan was not to be missed.

The tour was outstanding. The training provided was excellent, particularly the hands-on sessions that allowed us to practice and fully understand what Kaji-sensei had taught. These Lean and Kaizen concepts were further reinforced through five factory visits, where we saw the philosophy and culture in action and gained a clear understanding of how to do more with less.

The entire tour ran seamlessly from start to finish. As a first-time visitor to Japan, I also appreciated the excellent organisation by the Shinka Management team, including quality accommodation, meals, and cultural experiences. Everything was very well arranged.

I learned a great deal from this tour and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in Lean Management, whether new to the concept or already on the journey. It provides valuable insight into opportunities that may already exist within your organisation.

Thank you to Paul, Jan, Kaji-sensei, and Ichi for making this such an enjoyable and rewarding learning experience.

read more

I recently completed the Lean Manufacturing Tour of Japan and can highly recommend it to anyone in manufacturing or looking to further their understanding of Lean principles. The tour was highly educational and provided me with a clear understanding of the short-, medium-, and long-term improvements I can implement to strengthen the business.
read more

The Shinka Management Lean Japan Tour was a truly eye-opening experience, offering valuable insights into Lean strategies and broader team-building skills. As someone early in my leadership journey, I found the experience particularly impactful.

I would highly recommend this tour not only to experienced managers, but also to emerging leaders. I look forward to applying the skills and perspectives gained to shape the next chapter of my career.

read more

This tour with Shinka Management in Japan was an incredible experience and one of the most eye-opening opportunities in my professional career.

Seeing the Toyota Production System firsthand and learning directly from experts about Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, and 5S provided insights that simply can’t be gained from books or seminars alone. Visiting world-class factories and observing how continuous improvement is embedded into daily operations was both inspiring and highly informative.

It’s clear why Toyota remains one of the most efficient and successful manufacturers in the world.

The Shinka team delivered an extremely well-organised program, combining factory visits, expert seminars, and cultural insights that made the learning practical and immediately applicable.

I highly recommend the Shinka Management Lean Japan Tour to any leader, manager, or business owner looking to truly understand Lean thinking and operational excellence.

Overall, it is a well-organised tour focused on Lean Manufacturing that enables participants to hit the ground running, with strong support and encouragement to learn and develop.

read more

The Lean Japan Tour by Shinka Management was a truly impactful experience. The learning on Kanban, Standardized Work, Karakuri, and Japanese factory structure was practical, insightful, and directly relevant to strengthening lean culture in our operations.

What inspired me most was seeing leaders in the Japanese companies we visited personally demonstrate discipline, respect for standards, and strict adherence to rules—a powerful reminder that leadership behaviour sets the foundation for a lean organisation.

The Shinka Management team, including Eri, Paul, Ichi, and Jan, displayed outstanding professionalism and hospitality, ensuring every visit, discussion, and learning session was smooth, respectful, and deeply enriching.

This tour is a must for anyone serious about deepening their lean mindset and bringing back actionable ideas for continuous improvement.

read more

This tour was very well thought out—a busy, fast-paced week that provided a strong range of learning and practical application of the Toyota Production System. The program was thoughtfully structured to apply knowledge gained directly into the factory visits, while also offering valuable insight into Japanese business and culture. I absolutely loved the experience. Thank you.
read more

The lean study tour to Japan with Shinka Management is something I cannot recommend highly enough for anyone looking to improve their business using lean tools and the Toyota Production System.

I learned a great deal, particularly around the softer skills of working with people—insights that can only truly be gained by seeing them in practice. It was an excellent study tour, and the team made it a wonderful experience. Highly recommended.

read more

read more

I had a great experience with Shinka Management on the Lean Japan Tour. The program was very well planned in terms of timing, tour structure, and site visits. The team demonstrated a high level of professionalism in organising and delivering the tour. I would highly recommend Shinka for anyone considering a Lean Japan Tour.
read more

Shinka is offering an outstanding lean tour delivering learning methods in different ways such as site visits at factories, seminars and practical training. Also, as part of the tour, major landmarks are included in the schedule to provide a clear picture about the Japanese culture and history. The tour is well organized and makes the participant experience unforgettable. The Lean Tour is highly recommended.
read more

A Masterclass in Lean Management and Hospitality

I recently attended the lean management training tour conducted by Shinka Management, and it was, without a doubt, a cut above the rest. Having attended similar trainings in the past, I can confidently say that Paul and his team have set a new standard.

The organization was flawless. Despite the complexity of constantly moving between locations, the transitions were incredibly smooth, and the accommodations provided were top-notch. A special shout-out goes to Paul, Ichi, Juan, and Eri (who worked her magic from the backend) for their dedication.

What truly stood out was the personal touch and genuine care for the participants. Paul went above and beyond to ensure everyone’s individual needs were met, including arranging specific spaces for prayers. His commitment to our learning was equally impressive – he even took the time during lunch to seek me out and answer a question I had raised earlier during the tour, to ensure I fully grasped the concept.

It is hard to put a price tag on this training. The takeaways are invaluable not just for industrial operations but also for service teams. It was a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend Shinka Management to anyone looking to truly upscale their work.
read more

The Shinka Management Lean Japan Tour was a good learning and hands-on experience that provided insights into world-class lean practices. The combination of factory visits, expert-led workshops and cultural immersion offered practical knowledge that can be applied to improve operational excellence. I highly recommend this program to anyone serious about driving continuous improvement and learning from the best in the industry.
read more

Overall, the programme was a complement for me with regards to continuous improvement initiatives that I can implement for my company. It opens up a variety of actions that I would not have thought of. I will deliberate with my team on a few ideas that I have observed throughout the training programme. All of the factory visits were beneficial to me as I have never been to a Japanese factory previously. They were really fascinating and clean, systematically arranged for each role and work station. Karakuri was my favourite topic because it was fun. I came to appreciate Kaizen, and the feeling that comes with it – one of calming. A very big thank you to all facilitators from Shinka Management for making this training visit a memorable one. I wish to personally thank Ichi, Juan, Paul and also Eri for this wonderful experience. I would also wish to express my gratitude to Kaji Sensei for his invaluable support. Thank you once again and may our paths cross again in the near future.
read more