The 54th World Class Manufacturing (WCM) programme took place from 17 to 21 February 2025 in the Chubu region, specifically in the Aichi and Mie Prefectures, and it was a resounding success. A total of 25 managers and executives from 15 EU Member States participated in this five-day experience. Attendees engaged in 2 lectures, a one-day workshop called Dojos, and 4 factory visits, all complemented by on-site and on-bus coaching from Prof. Yacob Khojasteh. Participants focused on identifying the root causes of current challenges and learning how to improve these situations independently while also gaining in-depth knowledge of TPS, TPM, and Kaizen on a global scale. The training programme concluded with final presentations by participants, who received positive feedback for their efforts. Interested companies should keep an eye out for the next exciting WCM programme in Japan set for February 2026.

Testimonial

"The World Class Manufacturing Programme from the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation was a phenomenal and inspirational experience that exceeded all my expectations. The essence of the programme was its holistic approach to learning, seamlessly blending theoretical foundations with hands-on experience through dojo and gemba walks. Through this intense exploration, I gained not only technical knowledge but also a deeper understanding of manufacturing excellence and innovative problem-solving approaches that have fundamentally reshaped my outlook on manufacturing. The programme wasn't merely about acquiring new information; it was about experiencing a profound shift in perspective. As I immersed myself in the Japanese mindset and philosophies, I learned how Japanese leadership thinks long-term and makes zero compromise on quality. The opportunity to experience and observe this firsthand from the very people who built remarkable organizations added an invaluable dimension to my learning journey. The meticulous curation of the WCM Programme was also a masterclass in knowledge transfer. What particularly impressed me was the thoughtful composition of the programme—from world-class Japanese industry partners and carefully handpicked participants from various European countries to the methodically sequenced learning modules. The relationships I've built during the programme have resulted in a truly global network of manufacturing professionals. The World Class Manufacturing Programme indeed does justice to what it stands for and was nothing short of world class. It was a carefully engineered journey that exemplified the very excellence it sought to teach. For leaders looking to build world-class manufacturing systems, this comes with my highest recommendation."

By Joseph Thomas Thekkekara, Mechanical/Production Engineer at Baubot GmbH