Consultants
Takashi Shimura
Takashi Shimura is an Executive Consultant at Shingijutsu Global Consulting, with more than six decades of experience within the Toyota Group and the broader Japanese manufacturing industry. His professional background is deeply rooted in the practical application of the Toyota Production System, Kaizen, Just-In-Time, and Jidoka, supported by extensive hands-on experience in production engineering and Gemba-based improvement.
He began his career in 1962 at Isuzu Motors Limited, where he was initially assigned to the Technical Department. He worked on metal mold design and machine tool design before transferring to the Production Technology Office, where he designed forging production lines and installed manufacturing equipment. He also led the design and establishment of a metal mold production plant, including the selection and installation of machine tools.
Following his transfer to the Forging Department of an affiliated company, he began implementing Kaizen initiatives focused on productivity improvement, equipment trouble prevention, and maintenance enhancement. He later returned to Isuzu Motors, where he played a central role in the design and construction of the Tochigi Forging Plant, developing forging production lines and installing appropriate production equipment.
He was subsequently assigned to the Kaizen Promotion Office, where he promoted company-wide Kaizen activities and led Gemba-based improvements targeting productivity enhancement, quality improvement, and inventory reduction. During this period, he received Kaizen training and consulting from Shingijutsu Co., Ltd. for seven years, deepening his expertise in both Kaizen methodology and consulting practice.
After joining Shingijutsu Co., Ltd. as a consultant, he conducted Gemba Kaizen alongside the originators of Kaizen consulting, contributing to the global dissemination of Lean and Kaizen practices. Since 2003, as a Senior Consultant with Shingijutsu Global Consulting, he has supported organizations worldwide, focusing on Lean Production systems centered on Just-In-Time and Jidoka.
His areas of expertise include Gemba Kaizen for productivity management, forging and metal casting processes, machine design, Production Preparation Process (3P), TPM, lead time reduction, and improvements in quality, productivity, capacity, and inventory performance.