Summary: After trained examiners and accomplished business professionals performed a thorough assessment of their work, Collin McLoughlin and Toshihiko Miura have been selected as recipients of an internationally-recognized award from the Shingo Institute, a program in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. The authors will receive the award at the 32nd Annual Shingo Conference occurring April 16–April 17, 2020 in Orlando, Florida.

LOGAN, Utah — The Shingo Institute, a program in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, has awarded Collin McLoughlin and Toshihiko Miura with the Shingo Publication Award for their case study, True Kaizen: Management’s Role in Improving Work Climate and Culture.

“Receipt of the Shingo Publication Award signifies an author’s significant contribution and practical application to the body of knowledge regarding enterprise excellence,” said Ken Snyder, executive director of the Shingo Institute.

By “challenging” or applying for a Shingo Publication award, authors invite a group of accomplished professionals and trained examiners from the Shingo Institute to thoroughly review their publication(s). Shingo examiners select recipients based on a rigorous set of standards.

Since the introduction of the Toyota Production System (TPS), many lean tools and methods have become industry standards around the world, yet many companies working to implement these techniques have struggled to sustain improvement. True Kaizen is the first of a new series of books that dives deeper into the missing cultural development aspect of kaizen and the role of leadership in cultivating and guiding their organizations more successfully.

The publication provides an in-depth discussion of reliable tools management can utilize to establish and maintain kaizen culture in any organization. These tools include addressing and improving the perspective of management, exploring and improving work climate, and understanding the context and meaning of kaizen. These management tools, combined with the firsthand experiences of Mr. McLoughlin and Mr. Miura in mentoring world-class companies in various industries and cultures, bring to life cultural elements that are vital for true, sustainable, and growing kaizen and organizational self-management.

Mark Graban, author of Lean Hospitals and co-author of Healthcare Kaizen, stated, “In this book, you’ll learn that kaizen success does not depend on the format of a card or the exact labels on the huddle board; it’s about leadership. True Kaizen will help you understand the mindsets, the philosophy, and the leadership behaviors that will create and sustain a culture of improvement.” Luis Socconini, president of the Lean Six Sigma Institute, adds that True Kaizen is “a must-read primer for anyone considering a lean turnaround and is a complete guide to implement the best productivity tools available for any industry.”

Copies of the case study may be ordered online at https://enna.com/products/true-kaizen-managements-role-improving-work-climate-culture/.

Mr.McLoughlin and Mr. Miura will receive their award at the awards ceremony during the 32nd Annual Shingo Conference in Orlando, Florida, USA on April 16–April 17, 2020. The conference is a week-long event featuring a selection of workshops, plant tours, keynote speakers, and breakout sessions designed to provide ongoing knowledge, insights, and experience for organizations in pursuit of operational excellence.

 About the Shingo Institute

The Shingo Institute is home of the Shingo Prize, an award that recognizes organizations that demonstrate an exceptional culture that fosters continuous improvement. A program in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, the Shingo Institute is named after Japanese industrial engineer and Toyota adviser, Shigeo Shingo. Dr. Shingo distinguished himself as one of the world’s thought leaders in concepts, management systems, and improvement techniques that have become known as the Toyota Production System.

Drawing from Dr. Shingo’s teachings and years of experience working with organizations worldwide, the Shingo Institute developed the Shingo Model™ which is the basis for its several educational offerings, including workshops, study tours, and conferences. Workshops are available in multiple languages through the Institute’s Licensed Affiliates. For more information on workshops, affiliates, or to register to attend the next Shingo Conference, please visit www.shingo.org/v1.1.