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.
Shanghai, China
Shinka Management’s service here was truly exceptional. The staff were attentive, friendly, and made sure that every detail of our experience was perfect. They went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and satisfaction, and it was truly appreciated. Their hospitality was warm and welcoming, making us feel like valued guests.
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Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The tour was a terrific experience shared with exceptional individuals. I was able to further my knowledge in lean manufacturing and hone my skills. I learned new ways to reduce waste and improve the working environment within industrial projects.
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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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Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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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Christchurch, New Zealand
I highly recommend the Lean Study Tour of Japan as an experience not to be missed. Having attended the tour for the past three years, supporting our clients, I have come away with new learnings every time. Whether you are new to Lean Thinking or well into your Lean Journey you will undoubtedly have an…
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Sydney, NSW, Australia
This tour with Shinka Management in Japan was an incredible experience and one of the most eye-opening opportunities in my professional career. Seeing the Toyota Production System firsthand and learning directly from experts about Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, and 5S provided insights that simply can’t be gained from books or seminars alone. Visiting world-class factories and…
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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.