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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My expectations for the tour were exceptionally high, but the Shinka Management team exceeded them all.
The opportunity to engage with a sensei who possesses decades of experience in the Toyota Production System (TPS) was invaluable. The factory tours, coupled with discussions with managing directors and plant managers, offered profound insights into the organizational culture, corporate philosophy, and the practical application of kaizen principles.
The contributions of Eri, Ichi, and Paul were instrumental in making this tour a remarkable experience. All of them are highly professional, gave great insights into culture and cuisine, and always had a smile on their face.
I highly recommend this tour to anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of Lean Management practices in Japan.
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I had the privilege of joining the Japan study tour by Shinka Management, and it was an invaluable experience. The tour offered a deep dive into Japan’s manufacturing excellence, focusing on lean production and continuous improvement. The Shinka Management team’s expertise and seamless coordination made the experience both educational and inspiring.
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I attended the Japanese Business Etiquette training and found it to be valuable and informative. Paul was knowledgeable, experienced, articulate, and gave lots of real-life examples. The session was open and interactive – and we were able to ask questions and discuss many things in depth. The training materials were well-organized and informative, providing a great introduction to the key factors that influence and are important to Japanese people.
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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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I’d rate 100% for this trip. It fulfilled or even exceeded my expectations. Reasonable arrangement of class, practice and plant visits; and high quality service for everything during the trip.
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The team at Shinka have done a sensational job of providing an in-depth tour with lots to learn about the Toyota Production System and lean manufacturing. The tour was carefully planned, and we got the most out of our time in Japan.
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I am deeply grateful to Shinka Management, and to Paul, Eri and Ichi, for an outstanding Lean Japan Tour experience. Their expertise and hospitality made the journey both educational and enjoyable. The insights gained from visiting world-class lean organizations were invaluable, and the dedication of the Shinka team to ensuring we absorbed practical knowledge was evident throughout. This experience has greatly enriched my understanding of lean principles and how they can be applied to drive continuous improvement. Thank you for organising such an exceptional tour and for your unwavering support throughout the journey.
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Shinka Management’s service here was truly exceptional. The staff were attentive, friendly, and made sure that every detail of our experience was perfect. They went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and satisfaction, and it was truly appreciated. Their hospitality was warm and welcoming, making us feel like valued guests.
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I recently had the opportunity to participate in the Lean Japan Tour by Shinka Management, and it was an exceptional experience. The tour is meticulously designed for a concise 7-day itinerary, providing deep and practical insights into Lean Manufacturing. The blend of informative sessions and real-world observations made the learning process both engaging and highly valuable. The team at Shinka Management is incredibly knowledgeable and adept at translating complex concepts into actionable strategies. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to enhance their understanding of Lean principles and see them in action. A truly worthwhile investment for professional growth!
The program is a combination of theory and practical training. I would recommend this training to anyone who is practicing or related to Lean Manufacturing. No blah blah blah!!! in the entire tour. Thank you very much Mr. Paul, Ms. Eri and Mr. Ichi. I would love to attend this training once again.
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The Lean Japan Tour was one of the best quality training programs that I’ve attended. The information is provided in a good learning environment and the hands on activities along with in-plant tours to see the lean concepts in action helped reinforce the concepts. There is so much I learned on this trip that I can begin using once back in the office.
The trip accommodations were wonderful and the meals with team members helped build lasting relationships. Paul, Eri and Ichi were wonderful guides and understood all the concepts which they translated for us. This helped very much with asking questions later as they could continue the discussions surrounding lean manufacturing and the Japanese implementation of those concepts. Kaji-sensei was very knowledgeable and I enjoyed learning from him during the classroom and activities portion.
I am already planning to return to Japan with Shinka Management for the Alumni tour. Thank you so much for all I’ve learned and experienced!
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An outstanding experience. The opportunity to learn and build knowledge with experts in the principles of lean management was first class. The Japan context simply makes all the difference in putting that learning into context and allowed me to get “under the hood” of how it is really applied in practice through a variety of hosted site visits. The Shinka team are just amazing and I have met some great people from all over the world by joining this tour. What are you waiting for?
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It has been a very successful tour with a very friendly and supportive team. All the training materials, factory visits and accommodation have been very well organised. Transport was on time and food has been so amazing. The exposure to the lean tools and techniques and their applications are so practical and I learnt a lot. My heartfelt appreciation and a BIG THANK YOU to Paul and the team.
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I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Eri Dennis of Shinka Management for her support with our week-long engagement in regional Australia facilitating a visit to our Australian partner and providing Japanese-English interpreting support.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Eri handled the situation with great flexibility, and even went beyond her regular duties. We were impressed by Eri’s energy and work ethic, and it was thanks to her tremendous efforts that we were able to achieve our difficult objectives within the very limited time we had available. Further, the trust we built with our Australian partner is something that could not have been achieved without Eri’s facilitation.
We cannot express our gratitude enough in words. We look forward to continuing our relationship in the future.
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Shinka Management (Paul Smith in particular) is fantastic. My team participated in an informative Japanese Etiquette Training Session which was not only quite enriching, but very useful. Their material, assistance and professionalism were top notch and we greatly appreciate our time spent with them. Thank you Shinka/Paul!
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The tour shows how industries in Japan do continuous improvement in their respective companies. I think that such concepts could also be applied in other industries as well when applied correctly within its own framework. The tour also showcases some aspects of Japanese culture which I appreciate a lot as it provides insight into the continuous improvement mental models in Japan. The tour also includes guest lecturers with experience in transforming companies, and who actually changed my perspective on why we do KAIZEN. I would actually recommend the leaders of companies to attend such tours and bring such mindset and behavior into their respective industries.
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