Lean Leadership Master Class – Lean Training in Adelaide | August 2026
Develop the leadership capability needed to make continuous improvement part of everyday work.
This two-day Lean Leadership Master Class brings practical Toyota Production System (TPS) thinking to Adelaide. It is designed for leaders who want to improve operational performance, build stronger problem-solving capability and create a workplace where kaizen becomes part of the daily routine.
Led by former Toyota factory manager and kaizen leader Akinori Hyodo, together with Shinka Management Director Paul Smith, this program provides practical insight for South Australian organisations seeking to strengthen quality, productivity, delivery performance and employee engagement.
Date: 17 Aug 2026 - 18 Aug 2026
Time: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm | Timezone: Australia/Adelaide
Training Location: Shinka Management Head Office, 45 Greenhill Rd, Wayville, Adelaide, Australia
Site Visit: TBC
Pricing: AUD 1,295 (excluding GST)
For further details of Shinka Management’s training programs, see our lean training page or contact us.
Lean improvement is not achieved through isolated projects or a collection of tools. Sustainable results require leaders who can develop their people, identify problems at the source and establish effective daily management practices.
This lean training course in Adelaide combines Toyota-based experience with practical discussion, exercises and application to the realities of Australian operations. Participants will explore how to create the management systems and leadership behaviours that support lasting improvement.
The course is relevant to organisations across Adelaide and South Australia that want to improve manufacturing, processing, logistics, maintenance, service delivery or other operational activities.
Hyodo Sensei
Akinori Hyodo, known as Hyodo Sensei, brings more than four decades of hands-on Toyota Production System experience to the master class.
During his Toyota career, Hyodo Sensei held factory management roles, contributed to the All-Toyota Kaizen Promotion Team and helped develop the people and systems that underpin high-performing operations. He now leads Toyota Dojo training activities and continues to support companies in Japan and internationally in applying lean thinking beyond the automotive industry.
His approach is practical, people-focused and grounded in the realities of leading improvement on the shop floor.
Career highlights include:
- Factory Manager Toyota Parts Factory
- Factory Manager at Toyota Assembly Plant
- 13 year member of All-Toyota Kaizen Promotion Team
- 27 years leading TPS at No.1 quality ranked Toyota factory
- Consulting globally serving a wide range of industries
Who should attend?
This master class is intended for executives, managers and team leaders responsible for operational performance and improvement, including:
- Managing Directors and General Managers
- Operations, Production and Manufacturing Managers, Supervisors and Team Leaders
- Continuous Improvement and Lean Leaders
- Quality, Engineering and Maintenance Managers
- Supply Chain, Logistics and Warehouse Leaders
The program will be particularly valuable for organisations that want to move beyond individual improvement projects and build a stronger culture of daily problem-solving and continuous improvement.
Topics Covered
Over two days, participants will examine the principles and leadership practices that support the Toyota Production System and successful lean transformation.
- Understanding the purpose and management logic of TPS
- Developing people as the foundation of improvement
- The role of senior leaders in setting direction and supporting kaizen
- Observing operations at the gemba and identifying improvement opportunities
- Practical discussion of common barriers to lean implementation
- Reviewing observations from the site visit or operational case study
- Applying 5S and visual management to improve workplace control
- Establishing and improving standard work
- Strengthening daily management and problem-solving routines
- Planning practical kaizen activity that can be sustained after the course
The program will include a local operational visit or practical case-study component, subject to final confirmation of the host facility.
This session is designed to help participants connect the classroom discussion with real operating conditions. Participants will consider how to observe work, identify waste and variation, and discuss practical opportunities to improve flow, quality and productivity.
What our lean training participants have said…
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
I thought the training was fantastic. It was well presented and organised, and the material was very relevant and can be applied to our organisation. Shinka Management created a comfortable environment where we could ask questions and participate in group discussions.
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Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
Bluedog Fences Australia views Shinka Management as a trusted partner and a critical component of our journey toward manufacturing excellence. Shinka Management’s consultancy services, together with their training programs and Lean Japan Tours, have played a key role in embedding a strong culture of continuous improvement within our organisation. Amid recent market volatility, our focus…
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Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
A great training experience with a very wise lean practitioner, simplifying understanding of approaches to lean.
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Liepaja, Latvia
The training was intense but had great value because the subjects have been explained in such a clear manner opposite to some European experts who know how to turn lean into some NASA scientific miracle from another planet.
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Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Engaging Shinka Management was the best thing ever. The training was a great way of getting people on different levels involved on the pathway of improvement. The course was conducted very professionally and in a way that you had to get involved, and it was fun! It was good to see how to prepare and…
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Register today
Join fellow leaders from Adelaide and South Australia for two days of practical lean leadership development.
Register your interest today and a member of the Shinka Management team will confirm availability and provide an invoice.