TOTO Sanitechno – Factory Tour
TOTO is a very well-known corporate name in Japan and increasingly overseas. The company manufactures and markets ceramic bathroom ware including toilet basins, sinks, bathtubs, fittings and the famous Japanese toilet seats. TOTO Sanitechno is one of the TOTO Group companies with four production bases in Japan.
Corporate Information
- Company: TOTO Sanitechno
- Establishment: 1957
- Location: Headquartered in Oita Prefecture
- Main Business: Bathroom fixtures and sanitary ceramic ware manufacturing
TOTO Sanitechno – Lean Characteristics
QC Circle, Kaizen Suggestion Scheme, Visual Management
TOTO prides itself on offering high-quality innovative bathroom fixtures and sanitary ceramic ware which made it an iconic and much-desired brand in Japan.
The company has an active and well-structured QC circle program. QC circles are small groups made up of shop floor operators responsible for quality control. They voluntarily and continuously undertake activities that improve the quality of their products as well as the safety and efficiency of their operation. In addition, they have an effective kaizen suggestion scheme where employees are incentivized and awarded for their useful kaizen solution ideas.
The company also has a system and common format in place with which all important operation information relating to safety and quality is shared amongst all their plants promptly so that they can make corporate-wide efforts to improve their operations.
The presentation and factory tour at a TOTO Sanitechno plant will also provide a great insight into the visual management techniques used at TOTO to strive for high levels of quality and efficiency.
I want to congratulate the Shinka Management Team for the fantastic organisation of the Lean Japan Tour 2023. The tour has been a business and life-changing experience for sure. On Day 1 I was already enlightened, and all the bits and pieces of a huge TQM puzzle came together to form a clear picture. The tour…
read more
Kaiserslautern, Germany
The Lean Japan Tour was an educational and exciting experience. The Shinka Management team with its impeccable all-round service ensured that the head and heart were free and open the whole time to be able to collect the many impressions. The factory tours, in connection with getting to know the country and culture, have expanded…
read more
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…
read more
Had the pleasure to accompany Ben and clients on the 2007 Lean Japan Tour. I had worked with many Japanese, ASEAN, UK and US firms and as such have participated in benchmarking assignments and tours of their operations. Some involved attending and presenting at various strategy, productivity and quality management conferences. In that context, I…
read more
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Paul, Eri and the Shinka Management team added significant value to our recent business tour in Japan. Well organised custom tour arranged in a short timeframe provided a great learning and cultural experience for our team!
read more
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Participating in the Shinka Management Lean Japan Tour was a transformative experience. The tour offered a rare opportunity to witness world-class lean practices in action at leading Japanese organisations. From visiting Toyota’s manufacturing facilities to learning directly from lean practitioners, every moment was an invaluable learning experience. The insights gained into kaizen, waste reduction, and…
read more
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.
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 TOTO. For TOTO-related product and service inquiries, please contact TOTO directly.