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.
Auckland, New Zealand
Paul, Eri and Ichi provided a fantastically well curated tour to the birthplace of continuous improvement. Hearing the theory, experiencing practical hands-on learning at the dojo, and then seeing the theory put into practice at a number of world class manufacturing plants was thought provoking, motivating and inspiring. Now the fun starts – putting theory…
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Sao Paulo, Brazil
The Lean Japan Tour has been an exceptional learning experience, combining practical training, company visits and direct exposure to the real Japanese approach to Lean. The program helped me better understand standardized work, Kaizen, 5S, visual management, leadership at the gemba, and respect for people. What impressed me most was how discipline, culture and continuous…
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Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
The tour exceeded my expectations. I joined the tour wanting to see first-hand the unfiltered application of Lean principles in Japanese factories and hear from people with direct experience of Lean concepts in Japan. All of that was covered in addition to immersive cultural experiences such as the venues selected for dinner, tours of museums…
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
I had the privilege of joining the Japan study tour by Shinka Management, and it was an invaluable experience. The tour offered a deep dive into Japan’s manufacturing excellence, focusing on lean production and continuous improvement. The Shinka Management team’s expertise and seamless coordination made the experience both educational and inspiring.
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Irvine, California, United States
I attended Shinka Management’s Lean Japan Tour and it was an incredible experience. The content was highly informative and practical, offering deep insights into lean culture and principles and their real-world applications. The organisation of the program was excellent, ensuring a seamless and engaging learning experience. I’d highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to…
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Adelaide, SA, Australia
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.
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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.
