Rinnai – Factory Tour
Rinnai Corporation is a Japanese multinational heat and energy appliance manufacturer headquartered in Nagoya, Japan. The company has 14 subsidiaries and production bases in Japan as well as over 30 manufacturing subsidiaries overseas.


Corporate Information
- Company: Rinnai Corporation
- Foundation: 1920
- Location: Headquartered in Aichi Prefecture
- Main Business: Manufacturing of heating products
Rinnai Corporation – Lean Characteristics
TQS, TPM
Rinnai’s catchphrase “quality is our destiny” epitomizes a corporate obsession with quality. They keep production of key components in-house at three of their own factories and 14 manufacturing affiliates under the Rinnai Group umbrella in Japan. By realizing this high in-house production ratio, they have control over quality and strive for zero-defect status.
The basis for manufacturing and all aspects of the process at Rinnai is to think and act from a scientific perspective. They have built a market-orientated production system that combines policy management, the quality control cycle, and continuous improvement proposal activities, based on a bottom-up approach heavily influenced by the Toyota Production System, and utilizing Total Productive Maintenance and Total Quality Management.
All employees participate in improvement and TPM efforts. They maintain a multi-product, mixed-flow production system based on actual demand. Through their own logistics network, they can realize timely delivery.





One of the best weeks of my life. It has changed the way I see my production facility forever!
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I would like to give my deepest thanks for helping us end the executive program on a high note. This week has summarized TPS / VPS in a very practical and eye-opening manner. The lean journey has become real and exemplified through the many visits we have done. The coaching by Hattori Sensei, and by…
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The whole tour was very professionally undertaken and led. Paul and Ben 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 thought…
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Dear Paul, Thank you for the nice experience you and your team were able to provide me! It has been a very professional tour and even more a very nice human connection with you, David and Eri. You have built a nice team that makes people’s lives change! Ciao, Maurizio
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I personally believe that understanding of Lean as the holistic concept and Lean instruments is necessary for all the managers in any business. Shinka Management introduced for us 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 of…
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I was a part of the November 2013 Lean Japan Tour and would highly recommend it for anyone who is serious about Lean Manufacturing. Ben and Paul are well organised and have put together a great tour. The tour is very enjoyable and a great insight into Lean manufacturing. I have come back with a…
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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.