Imagine being in Japan. Imagine learning more about Lean in a week, than you've learned up to this point. Now imagine having the support when you return to help you when you return. That's what you get when you join us.
We provide more than a Japan Lean Tour, this is a Learning Mission, an opportunity for you to Learn, Apply, and Do. We set you up for success to translate the best practices you'll see in Japan and make it part of your culture upon your return.
Through our partnership with the Lean Construction Institute, members have been given access to an exclusive rate, with follow ups and executive mentorship for the next year. Plus this is the only program to offer the Japan Kaizen Certification, the opportunity for you to demonstrate a 5X-ROI on your program investment.
Just prior to graduation we facilitate a Lean Roadmap workshop that will help you identify areas of focus for you to improve by implementing the things you will have seen and experienced in Japan. This personalized and customized Lean Roadmap takes you to the next level on your Lean Journey.
The Lean Construction Institute wanted this to be even more of a meaningful experience and so we are offering a full year of follow up executive mentorship for all attendees.
This is more than just the 30-60-90 Day follow ups, this consists of lectures, and group sessions to help you achieve your goals.
Every participant will get their Learning Mission Certificate, but for those that complete their Lean Roadmap goals, participate in the Executive Mentorship program, and they show a minimum of $50K in cost-savings, cost-avoidance, or revenue increase, you can earn the prestigious Japan Kaizen Certification
(that's a Minimum 5X ROI)
As part of our partnership with the Lean Construction Institute, we are offering a customized Japan Kaizen Learning Mission that brings together the best of both manufacturing and construction. This is a unique opportunity to see not only best-in-class in Japanese manufacturing, but have a focus on best-in-class in Japanese construction. Japan holds the record for both the oldest wooden building in the world (built without nails and surviving over 1,300 years of earthquakes), and the oldest continuously operating business in the world, Kongō Gumi, a construction company founded in 578 AD. If you want to understand how Lean can operate in the construction industry, then you need to join us in November.
Imagine yourself not only in Japan touring Lean factories, but spending two days at a Toyota training facility. No better way to learn than with hands on activities, experiencing the culture, and some of the world's best-in-class Lean factories and organizations. This is a unique opportunity to gain knowledge and practical experience.
Dates will be announced soon. Due to demand we will be hosting Japan Kaizen Learning Missions in the Spring and Fall of next year.
Lean is a powerful management system for any industry. But translating the theory into execution is not always easy. Balestra Consulting was founded on the belief that we can help our clients to gain the knowledge so they can successfully build a culture that embraces Lean Thinking. One of the ways we help our clients achieve these results is to see for themselves what is possible with Lean. And what better place to see this than in Japan?
We also don't leave you on your own after the Learning Mission is over. We help you build your own personalized Lean Roadmap, and then support you in our proprietary Executive Mentorship Program, where over the next year we help you accomplish the goals in your Lean Roadmap.
These are some of the most common FAQs that we are asked:
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.
There are a lot of good tours out there, but we feel that investing in coming to Japan should be more than a tour, we want you to get the most out of every second of our Learning Mission. We bring in real Sensei's to share their knowledge and experience. We are looking to introduce you to companies in multiple different industries that truly have a Kaizen culture. One of our interpreters worked with Taiichi Ohno and Shigei Shingo. We also want to introduce you to both the historical and cultural aspects of Japan that play an impact on how Lean is implemented in companies.
...But how do I show an ROI for the time and investment this program? For those that want to earn their Japan Kaizen Certification, then they will be required to show a minimum of $50K in cost savings, cost avoidance, and or revenue generation related to their Kaizen activities. That's a 5x ROI.
We offer an early-bird discount, valid until July 31, 2026, and a special rate with partners like the Lean Construction Institute (LCI) for our attendees at $8,250. The full-program investment is competitively priced at $9,750. Reach out for more information on what we can do to help you to be part of this amazing experience. It will change how you see Lean, and how you need to apply it in your work.
This is a Lean program so we aim to provide an amazing value and exactly what you are looking for. We will have a couple of pre-mission sessions to help you prepare for going to Japan, where we will answer questions, and prepare you for an amazing experience. All transportation, meals, accommodations, cost of visiting locations, sensei lecture fees, interpreters, and workbook are covered. We cover everything from the start of the Japan Kaizen Learning Mission until the end.
Transportation to Japan, cost to get to the starting location, travel insurance, accommodation and meals outside of the program dates are excluded and your responsibility.
Post-sessions will be held monthly over the next year to create accountability and answer questions, and the cost of guest speakers during these sessions, is included in the program price.
Additionally, we have secured additional benefits for those attending through our partner's offers, like LCI (reach out to find out more). We also have a partnership that allows everyone to take advantage of a mind-blowing 80% discount off of an admission to attend the best Lean conference at the next three-day Global Lean Summit (certain restrictions apply)..
Our preferred method is a check, although if a credit card would be easier, we can arrange that option. If it would be easier we can arrange payment options to secure your seat, however, payment must be received in full prior to participation. There are a limited number of seats available (18), so, don't delay.
Absolutely. Just send us an email to let us know about the change.
Absolutely! You're welcome to bring an adult non-program guest with you. While the core program is designed specifically for registered participants, guests (spouses, partners, adult children, friends, etc.) are more than welcome to join you in Japan and share in the overall travel experience. Let us know as soon as possible so that we can arrange the hotel accommodations and travel where possible. You will be responsible for any additional charges, and it may not be possible to have your guest travel with us on all transition moves, in which case, they will be responsible to find their own way to the hotel. We can provide recommendations on what they can do during the day while we are on the learning mission.
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