JAPAN EVENT & TRAVEL INFO
kaizen from the Source
The JAPAN KAIZEN STUDY MISSION: MAY 18-24TH, 2025
KYOTO - NAGOYA - GERO - HAMAMATSU - SHIZUOKA - TOKYO
Japan Kaizen Learning Mission
May 18th - 24th, 2025
It’s one thing to read about Lean, it’s another to see it in action.
What better place to see it than at the source, in Japan?
- Monday, 16, September, Hilton Garden Inn Conference Center Edinburgh, Indiana
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
7:00am Registration Opens/Breakfast
- Setting Up Your Obeya Room - All-Day Workshop - Sam McPherson
Embracing the Situational Leadership Model in Lean Leadership - Jared Thatcher
Fostering Commitment: Reigniting Executive Enthusiasm for Lean Transformations - Dr. Mohamed Saleh Ph.D.
Sustainable Leadership: Engage & Empower Your Teams to Produce Lasting Results - Adam Lawrence
Lean Foundations for Leader Engagement & Strategic Deployment - Jeff Gray & Mason Gray
12:00pm Lunch (Provided)
- Setting Up Your Obeya Room - All-Day Workshop - Sam McPherson
Psycological Safety for the Basis of Lean Management - Mark Graban
A Demo in Lean Excellence: Using Style 4 Leadership Empowerment - John Dyer
Use Lean Thinking to Improve Communication - Sam Yankelevitch
Hoshin Kanri Kata: The Behavioral Side of Lean Leadership Culture - Tom Jackson
5:00pm Break
KEYNOTE: Immune to Failure: Leveraging Context for Sustainable Organizational Change - Dr. Mohamed Saleh Ph.D.
KEYNOTE: From Soil to Success: Cultivating Culture for a Bountiful Harvest - Tracy O’Rourke
7:00pm – 8:30pm Kickoff Party
TUESDAY - THURSDAY September 17th, 18th, & 19th
Building a Lean Organization
- Tuesday 17, September, Hilton Garden Inn Conference Center Edinburgh, Indiana
SUMMIT DAY 1*
The day starts by reviewing the elements necessary for establishing a successful Lean Management System and discussing those roadblocks and obstacles that will hinder it. Learn solutions, share ideas, and start developing your roadmap to creating a robust and sustainable Lean culture. The day will prepare you for what to look for when we visit Toyota on day 2.
DAY 1 SCHEDULE:
6:30am Registration Opens/ Breakfast
8:00am Summit Welcome/Kickoff
Keynote: Paul Akers
8:30am Break
- Hide Oba 大庭英嗣
- Adam Lawrence
10:00am Networking Break
- Karil Sampson
- Tom Jackson
11:45am Break
12:00pm Lunch (Provided)
1:00pm Break
- John Dyer
- TBD
2:30pm Networking Break
- Hide Oba 大庭英嗣
- Sam Yankelevitch
- Tracy O'Rourke
4:15pm Break
4:30pm – 5:00pm Keynote: Sam McPherson
- Walking Tour of Columbus – “Lean in Action – Building a Strong Community”
- Ice Cream Social at Zaharakos – Ice Cream Parlor & Museum (since 1900)
- Wednesday 18, September, Toyota Material Handling plant Columbus, Indiana
SUMMIT DAY 2*
A day you will always remember. See theory in practice as we explore the Toyota Material Handling plant for this behind the curtain exploration of Lean implementation. Get a chance to tour their production line, visit their Obeya room, talk with Toyota employees, and see for yourself all of the things you’ve always wanted to see.
DAY 2 SCHEDULE:
7:00am Buses Leave for Toyota
7:30am Arrival and Continental Breakfast
8:25am Welcome & Housekeeping
8:30am This is Toyota (Presentation)
9: 45am Divide into Tour Group & Immersive Session
10:00am Plant Tour Group 1 / Immersive Session Group 2
11:30am Lunch (Provided)/ Toyota Panel Discussion with Q&A
12:45pm Divide into Tour Group & Immersive Session
1:00pm Plant Tour Group 2 / Immersive Session Group 1
2:45pm Final Q&A / Wrap-Up
3:30pm Conclusion of the Day
4:00pm Buses Leave
4:30pm Arrive back at Hotel
- Upland Columbus Pumphouse Brewery Riverside Dinning (no host)
- Thursday 19, September, Hilton Garden Inn Conference Center Edinburgh, Indiana
SUMMIT DAY 3*
This will be an incredible day as you see other examples of successful Lean cultures and then design your own Lean management roadmap for actionable steps upon your return. Come prepared by completing your Pre-Summit Workbook to incorporate your answers into your customized Lean Management System Roadmap.
DAY 3 SCHEDULE:
6:30am Registration Opens/ Breakfast
8:00am Keynote: Mark Graban
8:30am Break
- Dirk Fischer
10: 00am Networking Break
How Technology Drives Behaviors and Processes - Jeff Roussel
- Jewelyn Harrington
11:45am Break
12:00pm Lunch (Provided)
1:00pm Break
1:15pm Session 3: Personalized Lean Management System Roadmap – Part 1
2:30pm Break
2:45pm Session 4 Personalized Lean Management System Roadmap – Part 2
4:00pm – 4:30pm Keynote: Sam Yankelevitch
- Friday 19, September, Hilton Garden Inn Conference Center Edinburgh, Indiana
SUMMIT DAY 3*
This will be an incredible day as you see other examples of successful Lean cultures and then design your own Lean management roadmap for actionable steps upon your return. Come prepared by completing your Pre-Summit Workbook to incorporate your answers into your customized Lean Management System Roadmap.
DAY 3 SCHEDULE:
6:30am Registration Opens/ Breakfast
8:00am Keynote: Mark Graban
8:30am Break
- Dirk Fischer
10: 00am Networking Break
How Technology Drives Behaviors and Processes - Jeff Roussel
- Jewelyn Harrington
11:45am Break
12:00pm Lunch (Provided)
1:00pm Break
1:15pm Session 3: Personalized Lean Management System Roadmap – Part 1
2:30pm Break
2:45pm Session 4 Personalized Lean Management System Roadmap – Part 2
4:00pm – 4:30pm Keynote: Sam Yankelevitch
*(Times, sessions and speakers subject to change.)
Act Now! Space is Limited
GROUP DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE: You and your team will gain the most out of this Summit if you come as a group. As an incentive to encourage you to bring your team we offer the following discounts: From 3 to 9 team members you receive a 10% discount (use code: GROUP10 at checkout); for 10+ team members you receive a 20% discount (use code: GROUP20 at checkout).
Ticket Information
JAPAN KAIZEN STUDY MISSION
$8,750 /Ticket
Global Lean Summit
MAY 18-24, 2025
- Pre-Planning Sessions
- Participation in the Japan Kaizen Study Mission
- Post-Sessions
- BONUS: Ticket to the Global Lean Summit September 23-25th (valued at $2,400) OR the April Workshop at Toyota Material Handling (valued at $2,800) both are outside Indianapolis, Indiana.
Cancellation, Postponement, Substitution, and Video and Photography Policies:
We understand that things can change and you can receive a full refund if requested before April 30th. After that date and before August 1st a 10% cancellation fee will apply, with no refunds available after that date. Substitutions are available at any time.
The Global Lean Summit (GLS) is not responsible for any loss or damage as a result of a substitution, alteration or cancellation/postponement of an event. GLS shall assume no liability whatsoever in the event this summit is cancelled, rescheduled or postponed due to a fortuitous event, Act of God, unforeseen occurrence or any other event that renders performance of this summit impracticable, illegal or impossible. For purposes of this clause, a fortuitous event shall include, but not be limited to: war, fire, labor strike, government authority, extreme weather or other emergency.
Please note that while speakers and topics were confirmed at the time of publishing, circumstances beyond the control of the organizers may necessitate substitutions, alterations or cancellations of the speakers and/or topics. As such, the Global Lean Summit reserves the right to alter or modify the advertised speakers and/or topics and workshops if necessary without any liability. Any substitutions or alterations will be updated on our web page as soon as possible.
By attending the event you grant permission that your image may be captured and used in print, video, and/or electronic medium for commercial, promotional and educational purposes without compensation. No photography inside the Toyota Material Handling plant will be allowed.
TRAVEL & HOTEL INFORMATION
AIRPORT
There are a lot of ways to get to Kyoto, Japan. You can fly into a Tokyo airport (Narita or Haneda) or the Osaka Airport. From there you can take a train to Kyoto. For specific details we will work with you to find the best option that works for you. Keep in mind that the 2025 World Expo will be in Osaka during the time that we are there. It might be worth it to visit this before the start of the Learning Mission.
This is not a tour but a deep dive into Lean management practices and the cultural impacts of Japan on Lean philosophy. It is designed to help individuals and organizations to ‘get to the next level’ in their Lean Journey. Not only will we be visiting a wide range of industries that practice Lean, but we will be meeting with Toyota Sensei’s and business leaders, and incorporating cultural activities into this immersive experience. You will learn more in one week, than you did in years of study. Kaizen is about continuous improvement, and the Japan Kaizen Learning Mission is designed to help you in your CI transformation journey. As such, our involvement doesn’t end at the end of the trip, but we will have both pre and post learning sessions with the participants. This learning mission is here to support you for the next year as you implement the ideas you gained in Japan. Follow up learning sessions, guest speakers, and more will help you on your Kaizen Journey.