Panasonic Eco Technology Center – Factory Tour
Panasonic Eco Technology Center (PETEC) was founded in 2000 with the aim to recover and recycle resources from end-of-life home appliances such as TVs, refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners. Being a part of the Panasonic Group, the center promotes recycling-oriented manufacturing under the slogan of “product-to-product”. PETEC is one of the few recycling centers in Japan that has an on-site R&D laboratory.
Corporate Information
- Company: Panasonic Eco Technology Center Co., Ltd.
- Foundation: 2000
- Location: Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture
- Main Business: Recycling of used home appliances, research and development of recycling technology
PETEC – Lean Characteristics
Standard Work, 5S, Visual Management
In 2001, the Home Appliance Recycling Law went into full effect in Japan which made recycling of end-of-life home electric appliances a legal requirement. Against this backdrop, Panasonic Eco Technology Center (PETEC) was established in 2000 and began its full operation in 2001 as an advanced base of operations for recycling-oriented manufacturing.
During our visit we are provided with the opportunity to see the shop floor operation, and a detailed explanation of each work process and technologies used to streamline the operation is provided by a PETEC staff member.
The shop floor is divided into several zones with different colors based on the type of appliances being recycled. A team of skilled operators work efficiently and safely in each zone on the line by following a standard work sequence.
Visitors to the PETEC can also appreciate a high level of 5S and good visual management practices in place.
Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States
The Lean Japan Tour was one of the best quality training programs that I’ve attended. The information is provided in a good learning environment and the hands on activities along with in-plant tours to see the lean concepts in action helped reinforce the concepts. There is so much I learned on this trip that I…
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Ripley, England, United Kingdom
The Shinka Lean Japan Tour provided an exceptional opportunity to experience Lean thinking and the Toyota Production System (TPS) at its source. Seeing manufacturing operations firsthand brought the principles of continuous improvement and waste elimination to life in a way that classroom learning alone cannot achieve. One of the most valuable aspects of the tour…
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Rancagua, O'Higgins, Chile
If I had to describe the Lean Japan Tour, I would describe it as a great “experience”. It was an experience in every sense – from being surrounded by a new culture, landscapes, food, people; and learning a successful and proven work philosophy with results that are maintained over time. We were able to learn…
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Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
It was an exciting experience learning about Japan’s culture and industrial mentality. I had the honor of seeing and experiencing the industrial culture in Japan and exploring the reasons for its prosperity based on the principle of “kaizen”, as well as witnessing the work environment in a distinctive way embodied in the principle of 5S. It was…
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Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
The whole tour was very professionally undertaken and led. Paul and the team have to be congratulated for putting together a very informative and very enjoyable experience. The itinerary was excellent and to see from the raw material all the way through the supply chain through to the finished product was superb. I loved the…
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Picton, WA, Australia
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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The Shinka Management Lean Japan Tour is a professional development program run several times annually. The program includes a mix of lean and kaizen seminars, 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.