Client Testimonials

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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I achieved my objective of learning about Japanese work culture and useful practices to increase work efficiency. The program had a good balance of classroom learning and plant visits. The Shinka Management team, Paul, Juan & Ichi were very helpful ensuring each and every one of us were well taken care of. Also not forgeting Kaji Sensei who was very passionate in educating us about TPS. The team at all the plants we visited were very welcoming and eager to share with us on their corporate information and plant operations. Thank You Shinka Management for such an educational experience.
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This past week has been truly eye-opening, seeing how the theories we learned in class come to life through practical application during our visits.

The hosts were outstanding, with even the highest level of management taking time to showcase their work. Their humility, resilience, and commitment to continuous improvement at the highest level were inspiring. The karakuri implementations were absolutely mind-blowing.

I look forward to implementing some of these practices within my company and even in my daily life. A heartfelt thank you to Shinka Management for providing such a remarkable experience.
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The tour was a terrific experience shared with exceptional individuals. I was able to further my knowledge in lean manufacturing and hone my skills. I learned new ways to reduce waste and improve the working environment within industrial projects.
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What a journey into lean! A week jam-packed with learning the true essence of lean from a Sensei, then being critiqued on your practical application of the skills. Followed up by site tours of what world class lean manufacturing looks like. Highly Recommended.
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These tours provide direct, hands-on experience with the Toyota Production System (TPS) and other lean principles in action, going beyond theoretical knowledge. Shinka Management are professional, knowledgeable, and passionate about lean, providing excellent organization. If you are wanting to learn more about lean manufacturing or TPS then this is the best place to start, you won’t be disappointed.
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Outstanding lean tour hosted by Shinka Management. When researching lean tours in Japan, I wanted to choose the provider offering the most credible program – rich in technical depth and practical, hands-on learning. I’m happy to say this turned out to be a world-class experience that I highly recommend.

The program combined expert training and factory visits that showcased Toyota Production System principles at the highest level. Training was led by seasoned Toyota practitioners who brought true technical expertise to life. Every detail of the tour was professionally planned and managed, which quickly lifted the burden of logistics and allowed me to focus fully on learning.

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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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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