Vancouver Benchmarking Tour

Every year we are hosted by some of Vancouver's leading Lean companies both in the Service industry and in Operations. The Vancouver Benchmarking tour helps continues improvement employees gain a better understanding of Lean. Scroll through to see what they were up to. 

Upcoming Lean Programs/Tours 2017

New year has started and we are excited to announce are upcoming Programs and Lean Tours in 2017!!

Please see below for details for each programs and tours.

Greenbelt
Our first Service Greenbelt started January 23rd!! How exciting.

A three-module course that provides basic, intermediate and some advanced knowledge and experience in Lean....

Following are our additional upcoming Greenbelt dates!

Greenbelt-Operations Vancouver Winter 2017	Module 1: 5S	February 27th-March 3th
	Module 2: Cycle Time Reduction	March 27th - 31st
	Module 3: Lean Office Kaizen	April 24th - 28th

Greenbelt-Hybrid  Vancouver Spring 2017	Module 1: 5S	March 20th - 24th
	Module 2: Cycle Time Reduction	April 17th - April 21st
	Module 3: Value Innovation	May 15th - May 19th

Greenbelt-Hybrid  Vancouver Summer 2017	Module 1: 5S	May 8th - May 12th
	Module 2: Cycle Time Reduction	June 5th- June 9th
	Module 3: Value Innovation	July 10th - 14th

Fall dates - TBA

Blackbelt

Our popular Blackbelt for Spring is coming up shortly and have filled up right away!

The Blackbelt Takumi program offers outstanding experiences to advance one's knowledge and capability to the next level of Lean...

For those who are interested attending our Blackbelt Fall, please see below for the dates.

Blackbelt Vancouver Fall 2017	Module 1: Lean Strategy and Assessment	September 11th-15th
	Module 2: Lean Supply Chain	October 2nd -  6th
	Module 3: Japan Benchmarking Tour	October 30th - November 3rd
	Module 4: Extreme Makeover	December 4th - 8th

Europe Benchmarking Tour

Dates: May 29th - June 2nd

While Lean Sensei is most known for its much-talked-about Japan Lean Tour program, did you know that we also conduct benchmarking trips to Germany, and Italy?  In fact, the Europe Lean Tour - which will tour Stuttgart and Munich in Germany, and Florence in Italy - is happening in May of this year.  The tour will visit some of the best lean factories in Europe, including BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Lamborghini and even the million-dollar-plus, hand-crafted Pagani factory.

It's considered to be one of the most exclusive tours that we do, because we will have an access to some of the top lean talents in the world.

The Europe Lean Tour is also a "standard module" for our Master Blackbelt Program, and therefore our newest Master Blackbelts will be travelling with us to Europe as well.

Here are some of the photos from previous year's Europe program:

Florida Lean Tour

Dates:November 13th - February 15th

Not many people know that there is a Lean City right here on our continent. This unassuming city is none other than Jacksonville, Florida. Lean Sensei has specifically chosen to showcase six organizations for the Florida Benchmarking Tour. These companies demonstrate the possibilities when companies make the investment to pursue lean. Attendees of this tour have the opportunity to see first-hand how lean is applied in a wide array of industries.

Please contact Angelia Aizawa for more details of each programs!

Japan Lean Tour Flashmob

Japan Lean program members were challenged to perform a Flashmob dance in a busy tourist district in Tokyo! The purpose of doing the Flashmob is to let our program members step out of their comfort zone and be comfortable with themselves in different cultures and situations.

Here is the clip. Keep on watching as there is a special guest towards the end!



Everyday of the Japan tour will be posted on our blog, so come visit us again tomorrow.

Japan Lean Tour Day 4

It's hard to believe but today our 2014 Lean Tour is coming to a close!  Day 4 featured a visit to the always popular Mitsubishi Nagoya Works facility and the gold standard of Lean, Toyota city!

Our ever present and helpful Mitsubishi guide, Imai-San.

A group of lovely servers at our traditional "Kaiseki" meal pose with some of our Blackbelt candidates.

At the Toyota Kaikan.

The Farewell Party at the hotel in Nagoya.

Japan Lean Tour Fall 2014 Day 3 Blog Report

Day 3's Blog Report is brought to us by Mr. Roger Cooke.  Many thanks to him for this submission.

"In the first part of day 3 we visited Asahi Printech’s Funabashi Plant. The Funabashi Plant is ranked number 1 for printing quality and as a company they are the leaders in newspaper circulation for Japan. What impressed me the most about their operation is the high level of lean in their processes. From the daily delivery and consumption of news print, to the automatic AGV transport and loading of the 2 ton paper rolls to the presses, to the automatic counting, bundling and labeling for shipment of the finished newspapers, it was a model of lean flow.

After Asahi Printech we said good bye to Tokyo and boarded the bullet train for Nagoya. Traveling at speeds over 160  MPH was pretty impressive all by itself; Mount Fuji in the distance was an added bonus!

In Nagoya we visited the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. A lot is known of Toyota’s car manufacturing over the last 30+ years, what is less known is where the foundations for JIT and Lean originated. I was impressed by the extensive history of continuous improvement and innovation that were driven first by necessity and then by choice.  I was most impressed by the Toyoda/Toyota strategy that if a specialized tool or piece of equipment or process did not exist they would create it themselves.

All in all today was another great day in Japan!"

Japan Lean Tour Day 3

ANA Maintenance hangar group shot!

Day 3 - Asahi Printech 

On our way to Nagoya via bullet train!

Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

It all began with the loom...

...and into the future!  Already on to Day 4 !  How time flies!

Photos from day one Japan Lean Tour

Participants begin the first day of the tour with great anticipation. The lovely Fall weather in Tokyo helps a lot.

Jake and Miyuki-san are ready to guide the tour.

Checking out the magic of Japan's many wonderful consumer products.

The Nissan Oppama Production Plant Tour begins.

First of all, a comprehensive overview of the Oppama facilities.

Here is the Fall 2014 group after the Nissan tour.  Ready for more!

Group photo at historic Asakusa.

Time for some souvenir shopping after a prayer at the temple.

The breathtaking "Thunder Gate" at the entrance of Asakusa!

Iconic temple roofs.

The bustling city life of the world famous Ginza district, just steps away from our hotel.

Tokyo night lights as seen from our hotel.

LSI team getting ready

LSI team members who will facilitate the Japan Lean Program - are busy preparing for the arrival of the members from all over the world. They also visited the new Lexus Intersect concept showroom to gather latest information about Lexus and its branding strategy.  Despite the busy schedule, they managed to carve out some relaxing time while reviewing and strategizing the Japan program.

Heijunka Simulation

The afternoon of the Supply Chain Kaizen module was an opportunity for the Blackbelts to directly apply Lean supply chain methodologies.

Below are glimpses of the Heijunka Simulation.

No Lean Sensei Leanbelt module would be complete without some fun and spontaneity. 

The Blackbelts prepare for a Japan Lean Tour flash mob... Gangnam Style!

What a refreshing view to end the day. The Blackbelts are now armed and ready for a hands-on kaizen at a local manufacturing company!