Returning to Japan with Shinka Management has been an amazing experience. Going over the principles of TPS and seeing it in practice in the country it was invented in was amazing. Shinka made the entire week streamlined with zero stress. Thank you from myself and the Ellerslie team.
The tour was amazing – the staff were very well mannered, always trying their best to give us all the best experience. Being quite a young student on the tour, I learnt a lot. The TPS system was very well presented, and clear to understand and learn. All the hands-on tasks and workshop tours were a great addition to this program. Being able to see the TPS system working in real time was awesome – it gave a further opportunity to understand how everything works together. Overall, it was a wonderful experience.
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The September 2026 Lean Japan Tour gave me a great opportunity to experience the culture behind Lean practices and why it is so successful in the world and in its homeland, Japan. I would highly recommend it to every professional, especially those starting their journey with TPS and Lean Production. I set goals to focus on beforehand, and I’m going back with more than I imagined.
I would like to thank Paul, Ichi and Juan for all the support and guidance – it was quite refreshing to have professionals handle all the planning for you, so all you have to do is pay attention to what you experience. Great thanks also to Kaji Sensei for his wisdom and patience. I hope to meet all of you again in the future. Thanks.
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This has been the best tour I have ever been on.
The learnings were super valuable, and listening to Sensei and his wisdom was really refreshing – pointing out the most obvious things that make you think, “why didn’t I think of that!” All the factory tours were very accommodating and informative, and the staff were really nice at all venues.
The Shinka Management team of Paul, Ichi and Juan, with Eri in the background, made this trip so effortless and enjoyable – everything from initial booking to the classroom sessions, interpreting, activities, factory visits, transport, meals and general help with Japanese culture were second to none. I would recommend this Lean Japan Tour to anyone – 10/10, team!
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An excellent and highly valuable Lean experience in Japan.
Participating in the Shinka Management Lean Japan Tour was a truly valuable experience, both professionally and personally. What impressed me most was the opportunity to go beyond Lean theory and see how the Toyota Production System, Kaizen, standard work, visual management and continuous improvement are embedded into daily operations and, more importantly, into organizational culture.
The combination of factory visits, discussions with Japanese management teams, hands-on activities and Lean seminars created a very well-balanced and engaging learning experience. As someone responsible for production and integration operations, I particularly appreciated seeing how flow, standardization, employee engagement and continuous improvement come together to create sustainable operational excellence. I returned from Japan not simply with new Lean tools, but with a renewed perspective on how we should think about production, people and continuous improvement.
Although I didn’t manage to break the record in the Karakuri challenge, it was definitely one of the most enjoyable and memorable parts of the program! It was a great reminder that learning through experimentation, teamwork and a little friendly competition can be just as powerful as learning in the classroom.
I would like to sincerely thank the Shinka Management team for their excellent organization, professionalism, hospitality and support throughout the program. Their ability to connect Japanese manufacturing culture with real shop-floor practices made the experience especially meaningful. I highly recommend the Lean Japan Tour to manufacturing leaders and professionals who want not only to learn Lean, but to see it, experience it and understand how it becomes part of an organization’s culture.
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I attended the Lean Manufacturing training in September 2026. Although I had heard a lot about it, this was my first training on Lean Manufacturing. I really enjoyed the training – the best part was having both classroom training and observing the methods during the factory visits. Furthermore, I learned a lot about TPS. Thank you for everything.
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Can’t speak highly enough of my week with Shinka Management in Japan. The training and factory tours were fantastic, and it was great to see first-hand how easy it is to implement efficiencies in the workplace. Highly recommend. Thanks to Paul and the crew for a great week.
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It was a good week for learning from the pioneers of Lean and understanding their culture and perspectives. In my luggage I bring the wish to keep learning more and to apply some lessons. I’m really grateful for this week and the opportunity to learn here.
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I wholeheartedly recommend the Japan Lean Tour.
The program is exceptionally well-organized, combining rigorous classroom training with hands-on practice on real factory floors, and factory visits that progress smartly from service centers through Tier 3 to Tier 2 manufacturing — offering a full picture of lean excellence across the value chain.
Cultural experiences like the Karakuri Museum, Inuyama Castle, and Toyota Commemorative Museum add meaningful context, and the diverse Japanese cuisine throughout the trip is a delight.
Most of all, the group dynamic created by Paul, Eri, Ichi, and Kaji-Sensei made this tour special — their warmth and guidance turned every moment, whether in seminars or on the road, into an opportunity for sharing and reflection.
Don’t hesitate if you get the chance to join.
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Thank you to Shinka Management for the positivity, preparation, knowledge, senseis, food, accommodation, photos, and overall care throughout the tour. I learned a lot.
I had participated in a similar training program in Japan two years ago, but Shinka Management takes the experience one or two levels higher in several aspects.
Thank you.
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