International Training

Quality and Productivity Improvement for Enterprise Competitiveness (Basic KAIZEN) (A) new!
Diligent Study in a Cycle of Lectures (Mental Study)‚ Practical Work (Hands-on Study) and Evaluation

Oct.8 to Oct.16‚ 2024 (Remote Training)‚ Oct.21 to Nov.20‚ 2024 (Training in Japan)

Hisatoshi TORIKAI‚ Course Leader

Visit to MOBIO (Monodzukuri Business Information-Center Osaka)


Visit to Training Center of Mitsubishi Chemical Group‚ Kyushu Plant
Seven participants from five countries‚ mainly in Central & South America and Central Asia‚ took part in this course. Its aim is to "teach participants how to implement quality and productivity improvement methods (kaizen) to support small and medium-sized enterprises‚ and how to formulate problem-solving plans."

In the preliminary remote training‚ the trainees clarified their respective issues and brainstormed solutions for them with their colleagues‚ and then brought the results of that brainstorming to Japan. During the remote training‚ trainees who had participated in this course previously also gave presentations of their action plans‚ so the new batch of participants seemed to have acquired an image of what an action plan should be like. In addition‚ I was able to follow up on the fact that the previous batch of participants were upgrading their action plans to the implementation stage.


A Trainee being shown a Red Card due to Late Arrival
During the training in Japan‚ the lecturers were favorably impressed by the way in which the lectures began with the participants chorusing “onegaishimasu” to request their good offices. The trainees' enthusiastic faces‚ not only during lectures but also during practical training and other on-site experiences‚ inspired both good will and empathy.

As a “monozukuri team‚” the participants took “deadlines are important” as their motto‚ and resolved to be punctual. The penalty for unpunctuality was to perform a dance or song at the party held after the closing ceremony at the end of the course. However‚ seeing them volunteer for the penalty (?) and perform a samba or Central Asian dance produced a very real feeling that they had ultimately become “one team.”


Visit to Marelli Kyushu‚ Nakatsu Plant
WhatsApp was the tool used for communication amongst the group‚ and they are also uploading updates on the progress of their action plans.
Although the lectures were conducted in English‚ which is not their native language‚ the participants acquired knowledge of kaizen and drew up action plans. I hope that this training will enable them to disseminate a culture of continuous kaizen culture in their workplaces and contribute to improving the competitiveness of their respective companies as a whole.