Testimonials from WCM February 2026 - 55th edition

“This mission gave me a profound perspective on Japanese organisational culture and how efficiency and discipline are lived out daily, not just displayed on walls. The factory visits were eye-opening: I witnessed firsthand how culture shapes every process, every interaction, every decision on the shop floor.
I'm returning home with a concrete plan: I will redesign the production floor layout and relocate operational management directly to the shop floor, where decisions matter most.
The most important lesson I took away is that everything starts with culture. If you manage to build the right culture, implementation follows naturally.
My advice for future participants is to be curious and keep your eyes wide open. Japan rewards attention to detail.
The next step for INNO Robotics is to concretely assess the prospects of entering the Japanese market”.
By Dumitru-Cosmin Ioanes, Manager at INNO Robotics SRL, Romania  
https://www.inno-robotics.com 

“This mission was an inspiring and eye-opening experience. Throughout the week, I was deeply impressed by Japanese work culture, especially its strong discipline, respect, responsibility, and genuine commitment to continuous improvement. Seeing the Toyota Production System in action, clear flow, visual management, standard work, and hands-on problem solving was extremely valuable. The creative workplace ideas and the remarkable consistency in following processes gave me many new perspectives and fresh energy.
Back home, I will focus on bringing this mindset into our daily operations, strengthening culture, establishing clearer processes, improving team discipline, and fostering a lasting Kaizen spirit. 
These elements are essential to make improvements sustainable. My key takeaway from the mission is that true excellence comes from mindset and culture, not from tools alone. My advice to future participants: stay curious, observe carefully, and learn from every detail.
A big thank you to the WCM team for this truly inspiring mission.”
By Ulrich Strommer, LEAN Expert at Rational AG, Germany  
https://www.rational-online.com/en_xx/home  

Published: June 2026