Client Testimonials

The Lean Japan Tour was the best lean management experience I have had. I wish I had done this earlier, so I could have done some things differently. One learns that some aspects of lean that one thought one knew, really have a different dimension to them. It helps to see lean management where it originated. I can highly recommend this tour!
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Thanks to the support of Shinka Management we were able to move forward in the implementation of Lean Manufacturing. More importantly, we took another step towards the cultural change we want to generate in our company. In this way, our employees are increasingly committed and focused on achieving continuous improvement.
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The content and delivery of the session was ideal, and as a “first timer” to Japan I think it was pitched perfectly. We had great interaction throughout the training, and the background information on topics such as Japan’s school system etc was very useful to give context to the wider session. There were many useful transferable points for supporting social interactions in Japan which we have since been putting into practice.
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The Lean Japan Tour allowed me to understand in a practical and conceptual way the real essence of just-in-time and operational efficiency. The dedication of the team and their attention to detail have made this an unforgettable experience.
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For me, the Lean Japan Tour was a journey through different companies guided by experts who explained the tools and demonstrated how to live in a work culture based on continuous improvement. This allowed me to discover new concepts and approaches to facilitate the successful implementation of a kaizen culture in American companies.
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If I had to describe the Lean Japan Tour, I would describe it as a great “experience”. It was an experience in every sense – from being surrounded by a new culture, landscapes, food, people; and learning a successful and proven work philosophy with results that are maintained over time. We were able to learn this new philosophy by seeing it in action on the plant floor and through hands-on exercise of what we had learned. Undoubtedly, the Lean Japan Tour leaves me not just with this experience, but also with a great responsibility as a leader – that is the responsibility of transmitting knowledge and implementing it in my company.
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I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn the Toyota Production System from the source. I look forward to implementing the many findings in our plant. This experience has given me a different approach to improving our plant’s lean journey. Thank you again for everything.
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I was very impressed with the professionalism and preparedness of the Shinka team. The support both before and during the tour was fantastic. It was the right mix of culture and personal development. There were lots of learnings I will take with me.
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Paul very clearly explained the way the Japanese run things with helpful video examples and demonstrations as well as a very useful presentation.
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QTEC Fire Services partnered with Shinka Management to implement the 5S system within its operations at its head office in Brisbane. We are confident that the new knowledge and information we received during the three days in-house training will further help to make the company even more efficient and understand this is only the first step on our Lean journey. We were especially happy with not only the theory but also with the practical exercises that were focusing not only on our manufacturing but also other areas of the business.
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Everything was great. Excellent job delivered in a very relaxed atmosphere where you were able to learn about Japanese business culture.
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I recently attended a virtual workshop on Japanese business etiquette conducted by Shinka Management which ran for two 3-hour sessions over consecutive days. While I have conducted business in Japan in a very limited way in the past, I was essentially starting with zero knowledge of Japan and Japanese business etiquette. My first thought when registering for the workshop was that it was most probably going to be too long and tedious over Zoom. How wrong I was! The sessions were informative, extremely interesting and very beneficial for anyone not familiar with Japan or the Japanese market. The workshop covered a wide range of aspects of Japanese society and business practices including a basic rundown on Japan’s demographics and education system, insights into the Japanese way of life, cultural “dos and don’ts”, and very practical advice on a wide range of social and business interactions including how to greet Japanese people, business hierarchies, Japanese gift giving, exchanging of business cards, meeting protocols, dining and drinking, etc. In particular, Paul and his team gave an excellent insight into the processes and ways in which Japanese businesses make decisions and the importance of being able to read the subtleties and responses of Japanese counterparts in business situations. On an individual note, having completed his high school and university education in Japan and having dealt with Japanese businesses for many years, Paul was able to give clear insights into Japanese society and business practices which otherwise would take years to accumulate. He did this in an intelligent and informative way which was very engaging and interesting. Again, a fascinating and extremely valuable workshop which I would strongly recommend for anyone planning to enter or new to the Japanese market.
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Shinka Management organized an excellent tour. It was structured to capture professional development and cultural experience. The tour also provided me with experiences related not only to the local culture and food of Japan, but also to the culture and languages of fellow participants from all over the world. This tour has made a significant impact on my personal life and professional career. The kaizen concept and strategy of continuous improvement was presented in a genuine yet easily understood manner. I recommend contacting Shinka Management if you are serious about integrating kaizen into your company. Kaizen can be translated into your own business and partner organizations, but it also translates into your home and personal life. Thank you Shinka Management for such a valuable and unique program!
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It was an excellent tour – professionally run and well executed. The companies selected implemented lean at a high degree. The passion they exhibited in sharing their lean journey was very inspiring. I have learned new strategies to bring home to implement. A time well spent.
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Together with Shinka Management, Rieter China reached a new level of lean production capability. Through site workshops and on-site support we could develop our staff with the latest lean methodologies. The direct link between theory and practice was the main driver for the successful development of our lean program here in China. Our Production and Management teams learned a lot from Hyodo Sensei’s extensive production management experience. Thanks to this support we implemented continuous improvement practices in all production departments, including a successful lean office program!
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Had the pleasure to accompany Ben and clients on the 2007 Lean Japan Tour. I had worked with many Japanese, ASEAN, UK and US firms and as such have participated in benchmarking assignments and tours of their operations. Some involved attending and presenting at various strategy, productivity and quality management conferences. In that context, I was so taken away with Shinka Management’s tour. The productivity best practice survey lessons learned and lectures from our Japanese hosts followed by excellent Tokyo and Nagoya plant tours were breathtaking and one of the most enjoyable learning experiences. The re-enforcement of the little continual improvement activities, coordination and collaboration of all the companies and their suppliers was “in-your-face” so to speak. There was little need for explanation in some ways as the plants were “visual” and Ben’s clarifications were timely – every time. He filled the gaps in our understanding and what Ben’s clients had achieved by their productivity, quality and lean interventions. As for the personal time, the co-tour attendees and Ben’s hosting were memorable. During the in-bus post plant tour de-briefs it was interesting to hear what each of us got out of the visit and what we learned from what we saw – different eyes, experience and perspectives. Brilliant!
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The fact that you can go past all the books and see the Toyota Production System in action first hand is fantastic. It is not sold in a complicated form by those involved but rather the opposite. The training room was found to be hands on and simple allowing us to touch and feel examples of good practice. I am looking forward to sharing my time with colleagues through the feedback sessions planned.
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Amazing Tour. Great experience to see and share with Japanese managers. I learned a lot about their culture, their way to think, to work and to improve by themselves. Great moments during training and after work. Thanks a lot. We will return back home with a new eye and mindset.
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During the Lean Japan Tour I came to the realization that improving an organization is not through large capital investments alone. We were completely surrounded by examples of minor investments into small improvements that produced significant savings. The clever use of visual management techniques gave a clear understanding of the current situation and Ben who is fluent in Japanese was able to remove any language barriers. The open discussions with local senior management helped me identify the misconceptions I had regarding Lean Manufacturing. From the tour I came away with a much broader comprehension of the key elements and how each company had achieved them. We saw the application of lean in various industries – not just automotive. Having said that, what we did experience with the automotive visits were certain management concepts that I realized could be applied in many other situations. In our case we implemented “one piece flow” and “process value mapping” and achieved considerable savings. The tour was a seamless and very professional experience and the group was able to gain a better understanding of the Japanese culture. This is not just a tour for production people but for everybody with an open mind to improve processes, like for myself coming out of Finance.
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I highly recommend the Lean Study Tour of Japan as an experience not to be missed. Having attended the tour for the past three years, supporting our clients, I have come away with new learnings every time. Whether you are new to Lean Thinking or well into your Lean Journey you will undoubtedly have an amazing experience immersed in the heart of the Toyota Production System. For companies wishing to develop their world class manufacturing skills this tour is a must do. Shinka Management’s co-ordination and guidance throughout the tour is faultless.
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