Lean Japan Tour

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

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