Where's Shingo?

The 3rd time I met Ritsuo Shingo was this past April, during the 28th International Shingo Conference in Washington, D.C. Download my Workshop Powerpoint.  Now here is a man who has a great story! Ritsuo Shingo is a great Lean Leader exemplifies the words Humble, and Patient, two key attributes we use to describe Lean Leadership.

He handed Jeff Liker and I (above) a Shingo Research Award for our latest Publication, Developing Lean Leaders at All Levels: A Practical Guide. What an honour it was. This was Jeff's 12th Shingo Prize, but he said it was very special to him. This made me feel very privileged to be present and share the spotlight.

We have to keep track of Ritsuo because he will be doing a Leadership Summit in Santorini, Greece at the end of July. I heard that he left immediately after the Shingo Conference to go to Puerto Rico, and then arriving back in the USA, and travel the country. He is teaching world-class companies what it means to be a Lean Leader! And is he ever qualified to do so,  look for his profile here.

His father Shigeo Shingo was a consulting genius. He created SMED, but if it were not for Ritsuo Shingo who translated the book, and Norman Bodek who brought Shigeo's work to North America, we would be missing one of the key components that make Toyota, well...  Toyota.

 Shigeo Shingo was a consultant to Toyota for 35 years, and a coach to Taiichi Ohno, the creator of TPS. But like most coaches, they learn as much from the student. I speculate that their greatness was due in part to the other, questioning each other using the teachings of Socrates, the Greek philosopher who taught us to think.

I argue in most of my teachings that Socrates is the first Lean Thinker, but there will be another time for that.  See my website, GeorgeTrachilis.com

Now imagine that you know NOTHING about the Toyota Production System, and someone asks you to EXPLAIN TPS. What would you say?   How would you answer them?

Take a moment and think about this.

Here is what Ritsuo Shingo responded with last year during our Japan Study Mission with Norman Bodek.

The more I hang out with Great Leaders like Jeff Liker, Norman Bodek, Paul Akers, and now more recently with Ritsuo Shingo, I learn more about how the past has many lessons for the future.

One year later, the 2nd time I met Mr. Shingo, I had the privilege of once again travelling with him through Japan. As usual, I was the "overqualified" camera man.  I cornered Ritsuo in a taxi cab and asked him if he would change his answer to the question, "What is TPS?" 

George interview Ritsuo Shingo in a Taxi

Three times a charm. During the Shingo Conference in Washington, Ritsuo Shingo, Dr. Tom Lawless, and I worked out the details for a GLOBAL LEAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT in Santorini Greece. I invited Ritsuo to the apartment that we rented for the week, and cooked for him. It went extremely well, and without fail, I learned a lot from his stories and his actions.  What an amazing man!

One such learning.

I would never have guessed but Ritsuo-san loves dogs. He shared a couple of heart breaking stories about his dogs when he lived in China. Anyway, Annie (our furry family member) had travelled with from Florida, to Washington, in a car. She is so good! But, she warms up slowly to new people in her world.

Annie may still feel the angst from the days she was running around on the streets of Santorini, Greece, abandoned at 6 months old.  Joanne, my wonderful spouse, decided it was her life's mission to save this little dog from the cats and other hazards (like the car that hit her). This island has so much to offer, even an Italian greyhound/border collie who warmed it's way into our home in Canada.

The story continues...

Ritsuo called Annie over to sit down on the couch with him. And Annie was a little hesitant, but she went. I was happy she did, and explained my happiness to Annie by saying, "Annie, you are lucky you went to see Ritsuo-san, otherwise you would be in big trouble."

Well, Mr. Shingo would have none of that. Although I was joking, he shared how I can do better. I should not threaten Annie with such words.

Interesting, isn't it.  This little statement, as innocent as it may sound, made me think. Do I do this all the time?   Do I use threats, and then say, "I'm just joking".  How does my organization perceive me? If I do it with a family member, what makes me think I keep it from my workplace.  Interesting...

Email: [email protected] and join us in Greece!

 Well, as small as this sounds, Mr. Shingo is right. And for that matter, the Shingo Institute has it right too. Only through Ideal Behavior do we get Ideal Results.  So I have been working on this little change ever since. The question for you is, "Is this a little change, or a big change?"  I look forward to hearing from you.  Email me at   [email protected]