Lean Leadership Learning Tour

Lead with Purpose—Experience Lean Leadership at the Highest Level

The Lean Enterprise Institute has joined forces with Toyota to offer an exclusive and private learning experience, taking you behind the scenes at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, GE Appliances, and Summit Polymers. The aim of this partnership is to provide valuable insights into the world of lean manufacturing and the principles that drive success. 

During this tour, gain insights into: 

• The Leadership Role: Understand the critical role of leadership in driving lean success. 
• Success and Failure Modes: Learn from both successes and failures to avoid common pitfalls. 
• Technical Tools and Management Requirements: Discover the essential tools and management practices for achieving success. 
• TPS as a Business Strategy: See how TPS is not just an operational component but an overarching business strategy. 

Embark on a Journey with Inspiring Companies

GE Appliances serves as a compelling example of what can be accomplished through such a journey. In a bold move, they invested over $1 billion dollars in new plants, equipment, and technology. Additionally, they took the innovative step of insourcing the manufacturing of many new products and prioritizing employee training. While they undoubtedly encountered numerous hurdles along the way, they successfully overcame them by integrating lean learning into their leadership and fostering a culture of problem solvers. 

At Summit Polymers, see how a Tier 1 supplier has successfully applied TPS outside of Toyota for over 30 years. Their refined heijunka system enables high-volume, low-frequency production that ensures real-time visibility and responsiveness. 

Who Should Attend

This Lean Learning Tour is designed for leaders at all levels, from senior executives (CEOs, Presidents, Vice-Presidents) to functional and operational leaders (Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, and Operations Managers).  

For the best learning experience, we strongly encourage attending with colleagues. Having one or more learning partners enables richer discussions around how insights gained from the tours and activities could be applied in your organization.  

Cancellation Policy 

You can cancel your registration for this learning tour four weeks before the tour start date for a full refund. A cancellation occurring within two to four weeks of the tour dates will be subject to 50% of your registration fee.  A cancellation occurring within two weeks of the tour will not be refunded. To cancel, please call LEI at (617) 871-2900 or email summits@lean.org.