Toyota Motor Corporation – Factory Tour
Toyota Motor Corporation is a leading Japanese car manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. The company was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda as a division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works. It is the home of the Toyota Production System (TPS), a lean management philosophy founded on the two key pillars of Jidoka and Just-In-Time.
Corporate Information
- Company: Toyota Motor Corporation
- Establishment: 1937
- Location: Headquartered in Aichi Prefecture
- Main Business: Automotive manufacturing
Toyota Factory Tour – Lean Characteristics
TPS, Jidoka, Just-In-Time Production
Toyota is the home of the Toyota Production System (TPS). The lean manufacturing movement is based around the management principles, tools and culture that Toyota has been developing for over 60 years.
Supported by the two key pillars of Jidoka (a Japanese word that can be translated as “automation with a human touch”) and Just-In-Time, TPS aims to offer high quality, short delivery times, and reasonable cost through employee creativity and intense efforts to eliminate waste. It is designed so that machines and people alike stop production when there is equipment failure or any other irregularity in order for it to be immediately corrected. Also, it improves productivity without waste by manufacturing and delivering the necessary parts at the necessary time in the necessary quantity.
Shinka Management has shop floor-level access to the final assembly plant that produce the Toyota HiAce and the Toyota Coaster for Toyota Motor Corporation – facilities that are not open to the general public.
A factory visit includes access to welding (body shop), assembly and inspection lines. Unlike free public factory tours offered by Toyota (currently suspended indefinitely following the pandemic) which focus on general themes, Shinka Management tours focus on the application of the Toyota Production System and are led by one of our Sensei formerly from the Toyota Group.
The factory visit incorporates content on the two pillars of the Toyota Production System; Jidoka and Just-In-Time. The tour provides a close-up view of 5S, standard work, visual management, karakuri, poka-yoke, AGV (automated guided vehicle) and kanban application, with questions taken both on the shop floor and in a Q&A session following the visit.
It was an inspiring week with great learnings around lean and how it is applied across various levels of the supply chain. The tour also provides a nice glimpse into the Japanese culture with its amazing food and friendly people.
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The whole experience of the lean tour was excellent. I learned so much over the past week and all of my previous knowledge of lean was reinforced. Not only did I learn about lean management but I was also impressed with the Japanese culture. The whole team at Shinka Management were very helpful and made…
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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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The Shinka lean study mission of Japan offers participants an opportunity to see what is possible in undertaking world class manufacturing. The insights that are possible on tours like this can really challenge what you think are the real key success factors for implementation and enhance the chance of success in your own journey.
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I enjoyed every aspect of this extremely well organised kaizen tour including: factory visits, translations by Paul and Ben, TPS training, sightseeing, accommodation, transportation, and meals. This tour is a must for anyone trying to understand / implement LEAN into their business or organisation. I hope the tour continues for many years to come as…
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The Lean Japan Tour allowed me to understand in a practical and conceptual way the real essence of just-in-time and operational efficiency. The dedication of the team and their attention to detail have made this an unforgettable experience.
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The Shinka Management Lean Japan Tour is a professional development program run by Shinka Management’s team of lean consultants 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 Toyota. For Toyota-related product and service inquiries, please contact Toyota directly.
Planning a Visit to Japan?
Prepare for your visit by reading Shinka Management’s guide to Japanese Business Culture and Etiquette.