Lean in Japan

When startups visit Toyota

FeaturesDec 12, 2019

Sandrine Olivencia, Lucie Notaro & Régis Medina

FEATURE – Digital organizations are starting to recognize that Toyota’s unique approach can show them the way forward, just like it does “traditional” organizations. Here, we hear from a few startup CEOs following their trip to Japan.

A sense of heritage in an uncertain world

FeaturesJul 30, 2019

Catherine Chabiron

FEATURE – In a market where products become obsolete very fast, this Toyota supplier has learned the importance of staying true to its heritage and developing know-how and people’s capabilities.

Jishuken at Toyota Motor Kyushu

InterviewsMar 2, 2019

Hideshi Yokoi

INTERVIEW – A team from LGN just spent a week on the gemba with Toyota veteran Hideshi Yokoi for a jishuken exercise. We asked him to explain to us how he used this practice while at Toyota Motor Kyushu.

Using lean problem solving at the Rio Olympics

FeaturesNov 13, 2018

Christoph Roser

FEATURE – At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, the Japanese Men’s 4x100m relay team went from being the underdogs to winning a silver medal by apply lean problem solving.

Learning a different way of thinking in Japan

FeaturesAug 10, 2018

Monica Rossi

FEATURE – Study tours in Japan are an increasingly popular learning tool for lean practitioners. The author reflects on the first ever tour she ran and on what it left people with.

Lean Thinking: ingredients, incubation and diffusion

FeaturesJul 24, 2018

John Shook

FEATURE – The author offers an overview of the ingredients that made lean thinking what it is, of the 30 years of incubation it underwent at Toyota, and of its diffusion from 1980 onwards.

John Shook discusses Toyota and Japan at Nagoya station

InterviewsOct 10, 2017

John Shook

INTERVIEW – For its 10th anniversary, the Lean Global Network went to Japan for a study mission. Our editor spoke with John Shook on a Shinkansen platform after four days in Toyota City and Nagoya.

Reflections on a week in Toyota City

ToyotaSep 26, 2017

Jim Womack

WOMACK’S YOKOTEN – Last week, during a study mission in Japan, the Lean Global Network visited Toyota. Here, Jim shares his thoughts on what we saw and learned.

Japanese culture and lean culture: not always the same

FeaturesNov 11, 2016

Katie Anderson

FEATURE – How many times do we hear people say lean is not for them because “it’s a Japanese thing”? After spending 18 months in Japan, the author explains why the country’s culture is not necessarily "lean by nature".

Takao Sakai on product and process development at Toyota

InterviewsAug 5, 2016

Takao Sakai

INTERVIEW – At the recent LPPDE event in England, Planet Lean editor Roberto Priolo sat with Takao Sakai to understand how Toyota approaches product and process development and how the Chief Engineer system works.

Understand Japan to understand lean thinking

Opinion piecesJun 17, 2014

Yalcin Ipbuken

OPINION - Yalçin Ipbuken, President of Lean Institute Turkey, looks back at a recent study mission to Japan and encourages every lean thinker to visit the country.

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