Informe del Tour Kaizen de mayo de 2014

Our most recent Lean Japan Tour was held during the 18th through 24th of May in Tokyo and Nagoya, with the aim of showcasing the rich history that Japanese industry has in the fields of lean manufacturing, industrial engineering and continuous improvement (kaizen).

The kaizen tour has been an annual initiative of Shinka Management for the past eight years and is designed to provide companies with lean training and first-hand experience of the world-class application of kaizen within Japanese industry.

This year’s tour group comprised industry professionals from multiple countries representing a variety of industry sectors. During the week-long kaizen tour participants learned about the implementation of lean manufacturing and kaizen in some of Japan’s top companies. Participants experienced seminars on lean manufacturing and operations analysis, and several factory tours.

The factory tours and reception provided by the host companies throughout the week were excellent. Isuzu Corporation (Metal One Group), which specialises in the processing and sales of cold rolled steel was a standout in terms of the company’s dedication to employee welfare and motivation, and their efficient use of space within their service centres. The tour group was impressed by the level of excellence on display in terms of productivity and organisation within Isuzu’s immaculate Gifu Service Centre.

Inoac, líder mundial en innovación y producción de poliuretano, plástico, caucho y materiales compuestos, fue otra de las visitas destacadas. La empresa ofreció una cálida recepción y condujo al grupo a una Tour la planta de Anjo de la empresa antes de mantener un debate con varios miembros de su equipo directivo sobre sus sistemas de gestión de la producción y sus actividades kaizen.

Two days of the tour were dedicated to lean training at a Toyota Group lean training centre. The group developed their understanding of the Toyota Production System (TPS) during their stay, and in addition to classroom and hands-on training, experienced TPS in action on the floor of a vehicle assembly plant and through visits and management discussions with two Toyota Group suppliers. The application of Just-In-Time manufacturing, visual management, supplier development and kanban systems were all covered.

El Tour también incluyó visitas a dos empresas multinacionales que aplican los principios lean en la industria de la alimentación y las bebidas. Kikkoman, famosa por su excelencia en I+D e innovación en la producción y distribución de salsa de soja, fue la primera visita del grupo del Tour. Además de una Tour la planta, se celebró un debate de gestión con Staff Kikkoman, que presentó dos de sus recientes proyectos kaizen.

ITO EN, líder mundial en producción y distribución de productos de té verde, fue la última visita del grupo. La Tour incluyó los laboratorios de I+D y de control de calidad de ITO EN, el procesamiento y envasado de té y su nueva instalación de tostado de café para su marca Tully’s Coffee. El grupo se reunió con representantes de la división de producción de ITO EN, responsables de administrar los Esquema de Sugerencias kaizen y de Esquema de Sugerencias los empleados de la empresa.

In addition to learning about Japanese management philosophy and productivity practices, the tour group spent the week immersed in Japanese culture, received training on Japanese business culture and Japanese business etiquette, and experienced local food, drink, entertainment and customs.