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We will build the best Lean Tour to Japan for you.

While everyone else is offering the same old Lean tour, we are hard at work creating amazing new experiences that make our Study Missions more powerful, more enjoyable, and more indispensable to your Lean tour.

Immerse Yourself

From the moment you touch down you will be enveloped in the rich, vibrant, and unique culture that is Japan. Visit World-Class Lean companies who will welcome you both onto their shop floor and into their boardrooms. Experience the most personal and professional time with the experts that you most want to learn from. These people are happy to have frank and open discussions on the topics of interest to you. No other tour makes this experience possible.
tour guide instruction

See What You Want to See

Tours are individualized so you may follow your own interests beyond the walking path. Stop at places of interest to you for in-depth observation. You then have the ability to stop the line and interact with shop floor experts. To ensure the smoothest communication you are exclusively partnered with official Toyota Interpreters.
expert instructor and man taking notes

Traction Experts

Our host company experts provide you with the most important information straight from the source. They have lead Kaizen for years, refining and improving their organizational approaches to a leaner, more sustainable business. Spend hours with these Traction Experts in intimate settings, leveraging their expertise to solve your problems.
happy participants giving applause

Stop & Interact

The best way to learn is to be able to question the people, process, or tool used at the point needing clarification. On your tour you are able to stop, question, and interact with shop floor workers and senior managers to enhance your understanding of the area in question. Because tours are available at multiple areas within a company you will experience a wide variety of Lean subjects to learn from.

Beyond a 20th Century Business

Where is your company going to be in the next ten years? Do you have the creativity, the drive, and the passion, to be the best? Now is the time to break out of the mold, to work together for success, to inspire others. It is time to lead your business through the 21st century, with pride, ingenuity, and commercial daring. The time to learn how is now.
expert leadership

Leadership, No Matter How You Look at It

Over the past decades organizations have been remarkably adept at adopting 20th century World-Class Japanese production methods. True leadership, however, requires constant innovation that is what your customers expect. If you want originality in your company, if you want to revolutionize your industry, come with us to Japan.

Evolve Your Kaizen Toolkit

Lean tools have become mainstream. Gone are the days of simple standardization and replication of best practices. Current Lean Thoughts are being learned based on books published 25 years ago; break free and discover NEW 21st Century Kaizen Tools. Enna's tour exposes you to undisclosed Lean techniques that you can leverage to create brilliant solutions to exceed customer expectations.
tour group at lexus

GLocalize Kaizen - Global Teamwork

Do you effectively share Kaizen solutions with your global team members? Our host companies have answers leveraging localized Kaizen solutions on a global scale. You will have access to their platforms, databases, and network designs so you may fully understand the value to your organization. The successful and effective sharing of Kaizen ideas across regions, divisions, and departments is key to company success.
“I saw all of the Lean practices in action, but I saw more than that. I also discovered better insight into the philosophies behind world-class Lean organizations.”
Dieter Lange, Director / Competitive Dynamics International

Maximize Your Time

  • Participants touring a production floor on a Lean Study Mission to Japan
Not just any study mission will do. You are investing a substantial amount of time and money to go to Japan. Be sure you see and experience what you want. From the tour preparation package, host companies, and management interactions everything is customized to your needs. We develop your entire tour content exclusively for you. Your time is a valuable asset that, once lost, cannot be regained. Spend your time wisely in the environments that benefit you the most. With Enna, you will visit more locations than any other tour, without feeling rushed; spending as much time as needed per location. Superior logistics and exclusive relationships make it possible for you to receive the greatest opportunity to learn from industry experts and discuss the issues you would like to have addressed.
Virtual tour of Japan Trip. Participants on a bus discussing the tour.

Don't Compromise Downtime (Opportunity)

To maximize your experience we utilize travel time by facilitating an exchange of ideas including having dialog prior to each tour and group discussions afterward. Pre-tour sessions before each visit ensure you are up to speed on the topics that will be covered and gives you the opportunity to voice the subjects you most want to learn about. After the tour, we debrief and share insights gained with fellow participants.
instructor teaching group

Exposure to Multiple Industries

Although Toyota is responsible for popularizing Lean, you will learn from more than just the automotive industry. Come to Japan to master World Class Lean operations applied in varying industries with differing business climates. Visiting locations in multiple industries demonstrates a wide breadth of application, ensuring you take home real applicable knowledge to shift your Lean Transformation paradigm.

The X Factor: Management Thinking

How do you best manage staffing structures? Which Lean tools should you use at what stage of your transformation? How do you tailor a training program that best meets your organizational needs? These challenges in implementing Lean are not only unique to each industry but to each individual company. Meet face-to-face with a multitude of Lean managers giving you the opportunity to uncover gems of wisdom.
“I was impressed with the amazing, rich discussions we had, with everyone offering differing perspectives and all of it relevant and useful. I am going to be able to have lifelong relationships with these people and be able to reach out to them when I have a problem I cannot solve on my own.”
Alice Lee, Asst. to President / Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
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Lean Tool Specific Tours

  • Lean Study Mission to Japan - Company Tour - Example of Andon
While the tools of Lean may be simple in theory, there are many obstacles that may need to be overcome in order to put them into practice within your unique organization. Gain insight into the various uses of Lean tools (such as JIT, 5S, Kanban, TPM, Value Stream Mapping, TPS, Engagement and more) and how these tools can be adapted to fit your organizational needs.

Open Factory Tours

Step onto the factory floor and experience the sights, sounds, and atmosphere that make up the core recipe of each of our host companies. From the Lean tools they choose to use, to their training in various Lean subjects, each organization has its own unique perspective you can learn from.

The Tools of Lean

While the tools of Lean may be simple in theory, there are many obstacles that may need to be overcome in order to put them into practice within your unique organization. Gain insight into the various uses of Lean tools (such as 5S, Kanban, TPM, Value Stream Mapping, and more) and how these tools can be adapted to fit your organizational needs.

5S and Visual Management Systems

Fundamental to the implementation of Lean Manufacturing and Kaizen is a strong 5S program and use of visual controls. Expand your own 5S knowledge by concentrating your study mission strictly on the principles of 5S or 6S. Customized to fit your needs, we can provide you with access to the industry leaders that have created and evolved 5S.

TPM: Total Productive Maintenance

Strong equipment utilization is dependent on proper maintenance to ensure the optimal amount of machine uptime. How does TPM influence a company's greater improvement program? Visit and learn from world class organizations who have integrated TPM into their standard work so that you may take away the secrets of Total Productive Maintenance.

SMED - Single-Minute Exchange of Die

Quick Changeover is imperative to establishing a demand responsive organization. Utilized to reduce your work in process and final goods inventory, SMED can be leveraged for huge benefits. We can design Lean tours so that you can see real-life examples of how you can take a lengthy changeover to single minutes.

Kanban - Pull System and One-Piece Flow

Often misinterpreted and poorly implemented, Kanban is a very valuable tool. The Japanese not only developed Kanban but have mastered its use. Tour companies, in various industries, to see the varying examples of Kanbans in place. Through our unique relationships we will give you a peek behind the curtain to see how these companies developed their Kanban System and how that knowledge can help you develop yours.
“It’s really the seeing. Seeing how all of the tools and components of Lean come together on the floor and work. The opportunity to see Lean where it was invented and to talk with executives of these companies is nothing but sensational.”
David Oglivie, Principal / Supply Chain Solution
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Customized Tour All the Time

Not just any study mission will do. You are investing a substantial amount of time and money to go to Japan. Be sure you see and experience what you want. From the tour preparation package, host companies, and management interactions everything is customized to your needs. We develop your entire tour content exclusively for you.

First Stepping Stone

Perhaps you are just beginning your Lean Journey and would like to discover new tools and concepts. Maybe you are looking to find that missing link between individuals and teamwork. If you have been pursuing Lean for many years maybe you need insight on the role of technology in operations outside of manufacturing. Or, instilling culture in the office, engineering, design, training, or sales environments. There are many first steps to take and we can provide you with ideas to find the solutions.

Real Relevance: Designed For What You Want to See

When Enna creates your tour we build upon years of experience and exclusive contacts to exceed your highest expectations. The final design best matches your needs and opens your eyes to a new paradigm of what is possible. It is all contained in a complete tour program that is specifically relevant for you and your business.

Customize by Tool, Mindset, and Technology

Are you very interested or do you have little interest seeing automobile industry examples? Yes it is fun and very informative but you need real relevance to stretch your thinking and acquaint yourself with leading businesses that are facing similar challenges. Maybe you want to know how Lean companies set targets. Or, maybe you are interested to know how these successful companies carry long term agreements with strategic suppliers.
“I will bring a group of scientists and help them learn that we can achieve a breakthrough in our industry by applying Lean. I could not have imagined convincing scientists had I not come on this trip.”
Veera Padmanabhan, Process Optimization Lead / Monsanto

Kaizen Hands-on Workshops

See and experience the dynamics of Kaizen in action on the gemba. Observe and question workshop training; what has been the most effective to our host companies and why. Utilize your senses to see and hear training in action on the shop floor. The host companies you visit are eager to hear your input and questions as they show you their practices. Nowhere else will you be afforded the opportunity to witness such dynamic workshops.

Fully Linked Learning - Study Guide

Before your study mission begins through post tour follow-up, your tour content is dynamically linked. Our custom tour preparation materials allow you to be completely orientated with the journey you are embarking upon. The material is customized to link the experience of different tours to form a complete learning experience for you and your team. The material is quick and easy to read and provides insight and preparation of concepts to discover at each host tour location.

Be a True Participant

Put on your safety glasses, roll up your sleeves, and choose to be actively engaged on the shop floor, participating in live Kaizen workshops. Be a part of the action as you discuss, plan, and execute Kaizen improvements with our host companies. An unrivaled experience puts you face to face with Kaizen experts from whom you will discover new approaches to management, idea and solution generation, and a true understanding of teamwork in continuous improvement.

Unscripted

Watching how a workshop plays out can give you great insights. How do you overcome a barrier to change? How do you encourage and control/guide the creative process? What better way than watching a workshop in action to learn expert facilitation skills. Rather than a canned presentation by an executive who has never been on the shop floor, watch real traction experts engaged in improvement and be given access to the raw, energizing spirit of true Kaizen.
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Benchmarking

The hallmark of Lean manufacturing is innovation, built up through the sharing of ideas. To truly be Lean is to open your organization to outside eyes, to exhibit your accomplishments, and to accept input into future improvements. Our Host Companies are world-class organizations for a reason, and Enna's Lean Benchmarking Tour allows you to observe these organizations, watch improvement methodology being implemented in real time, and to benchmark your own company's Lean Journey

Importance of Workshops

Workshops are an important aspect of learning because of their hands-on nature. Whether participating in or observing, the workshops that you attend arenÂÂÂÂÃÃÂÃÃÂÂƒÃƒÂ‚‚‚ƒÃƒÂ‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚‚‚’t passive. Spark your innovative spirit by engaging multiple senses as you learn. Do more than just observe processes; understand process improvement by seeing, questioning, and physically immersing yourself in a World-Class Kaizen atmosphere.
“I was totally satisfied because we toured a lot of factories where we saw different approaches that focused on the same goals in implementing Lean and making the company more profitable.”
Chris Klein, Plant Manager Optics / SCOTT AG

Post-Tour Networking

What am I missing?

Uncover areas of underperformance within your organization and work together as a team to form a plan and set in motion improvement strategies to raise your companyÂÂÂÂÃÃÂÃÂÂƒÃƒÂ‚‚ƒÃƒÂ‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚‚‚’s performance levels. Utilize benchmarking to compare your processes with best practices, both within and outside of your organization. Join us in Japan to learn how to maximize your Lean transformation through the discovery of best practices and strategies, incorporated at each of our host companies.
“The networking that goes on is amazing; learning from those practicing, going through same issues. I gained even more knowledge and practical advice from those on the tour that have been trying for longer than myself.”
Julie Williams, CEO / AgSolutions
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Comfort, Your Experience

The hallmark of Lean manufacturing is innovation, built up through the sharing of ideas. To truly be Lean is to open your organization to outside eyes, to exhibit your accomplishments, and to accept input into future improvements. Our Host Companies are world class organizations for a reason, and EnnaÂÂÂÂÃÃÃÃƒÂ‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚‚‚’s Lean Benchmarking Tour allows you to observe these organizations, watch improvement methodology being implemented in real time, and to benchmark your own companyÃÂÃÂÂÃÃÃÂÂs Lean journey.

Create a Network

The people you meet at the companies we tour in Japan are eager to share their knowledge with you, and are also eager to learn how that knowledge is shaping your future. Many of our tour participants stay in contact with our host company experts, creating a unique and dynamic opportunity for continuous improvement and learning.

Cuisine - High Quality Dining Experiences

The cuisine of Japan is truly one of the most delightful aspects of our tour. Japan is host to an exceptional variety of foods and specialty dishes that cater to every palette. Joining our tour, you will be sure to find the perfect meal, despite any dietary needs or preferences. Be as cautious or adventurous as you desire.
“You cannot lose when you participate in a program like this.”
George Kobrossy, General Director / Zamil Steel

24 Hour Care - At Your Service

The hallmark of Lean manufacturing is innovation, built up through the sharing of ideas. To truly be Lean is to open your organization to outside eyes, to exhibit your accomplishments, and to accept input into future improvements. Our Host Companies are world-class organizations for a reason, and Enna's Lean Benchmarking Tour allows you to observe these organizations, watch improvement methodology being implemented in real time, and to benchmark your own company's Lean journey.

Join us on our next Lean Journey to Japan

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