Mitsubishi Motors Corporation – Factory Tour
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Tokyo. The company is part of the Mitsubishi Group, a major Japanese conglomerate including multinational companies in various industries. The company was originally established from the automotive division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 1970. Since 2016, Mitsubishi Motors has been one-third owned by the Nissan Motor Company.
Corporate Information
- Company: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
- Foundation: 1970
- Location: Headquartered in Tokyo
- Main Business: Automotive manufacturing
Mitsubishi Motors – Lean Characteristics
Mixed Flow Production, Visual Management
The Mitsubishi Motors Okazaki Plant was established in 1977. The plant is regarded as the company’s main factory and it also functions as the “mother factory” that develops new technologies and transfers them to their overseas factories. The land area of the plant covers around one million square meters and includes its own test track and R&D center.
The plant visit provides a unique experience to see the four key processes for manufacturing cars. On the tour you will see the stamping, welding, paint and final assembly shops. The opportunity to see the paint shop in an automotive factory is a rare privilege.
The main models manufactured in the Okazaki Plant are the RVR, the Outlander and the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) and more than 90 percent of the cars produced in the plant are exported to overseas markets.
In the final assembly shop, the different vehicle models are produced in a mixed flow production manner. The final assembly shop features a kitting area (similar to that associated with the Set Parts System in Toyota) designed to free up space around the assembly line, increase labor efficiency and improve manufacturing quality. The shop floor visit also highlights effective use of automated guided vehicles (AGV) as well as visual management system and tools.
Santiago, Chile
I must say thank you to the whole Shinka team – very grateful to meet you. The senseis and the Shinka team always cared about integrating us, teaching us and making us feel comfortable. The planning for the tour was brilliant. All my expectations were met. I saw TPS totally implemented, and it was amazing…
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Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Thank you for the well-organized and informative tour. It can be distracting to read and attend lectures about lean, but when combined with practical training and actual visits to the home of lean, it helps to clarify and connect all the dots. The tour was an eye-opening experience where we witnessed lean manufacturing principles in…
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Astana, Kazakhstan
I personally believe that an understanding of lean as a holistic concept combined with lean tools is necessary for all managers in any business. Shinka Management introduced us to the origins of lean production and provided a great opportunity to observe real companies where TPS principles are both implemented and being polished daily. Important parts…
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Madrid, Spain
The tour has given me the opportunity to understand in a practical way what I learned theoretically. I have checked that the theory is possible to put in practice. This has been the first time that I have felt the lean manufacturing philosophy first hand. Congratulations to the Shinka Team. The organisation has been perfect…
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Buenos Aires, Argentina
My experience on the Lean Japan Tour was much more than expected. I’ve come to realise that there’s much more for me to learn regarding TPS. The program is excellent in terms of the content, but also, and no less important, the personalized attention made me feel like I am a member of the Shinka…
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Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
It has been a very successful tour with a very friendly and supportive team. All the training materials, factory visits and accommodation have been very well organised. Transport was on time and food has been so amazing. The exposure to the lean tools and techniques and their applications are so practical and I learnt a…
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The Shinka Management Lean Japan Tour is a professional development program run several times annually. The program includes training on the topics of lean management, kaizen and Japanese Business Culture, hands-on lean training and visits to several benchmark lean companies. For further information and program dates, see the lean tour overview page.
Tour Inquiries
Interested in joining us in Japan? For additional information prior to registration please fill in the form provided or contact us.
The above form is for inquiries related to the Lean Japan Tour program, Shinka Management consulting and training services, and lean manufacturing software products. Shinka Management does not represent Mitsubishi. For Mitsubishi-related product, service and general public tour inquiries, please contact Mitsubishi directly.
