How We Learn in Lean TPS

Funnel diagram showing Lean TPS learning stages from reading to participation, illustrating how action learning builds capability through structure and Jishuken.

Many organizations think training means PowerPoints, lectures, and policies. The way people actually learn is very different. Reading gives little retention. Hearing adds a small amount. Pictures and videos help, but not enough. Real learning happens when people act, simulate, teach, and take ownership at the workplace.

This is why Lean TPS Basic Training begins with action learning. Participation is part of the structure. People remember because they practice, simulate, teach, and connect directly with the work. Lean TPS builds capability through structure and disciplined practice, not awareness alone.

At the top of the learning funnel is Participate 100%. This is Jishuken, meaning self-motivated study and ownership of improvement. Leaders and teams take responsibility for structured learning, research, and development through direct action. Jishuken represents the highest form of learning in Lean TPS because it develops accountability and respect for people.

Next is Simulate 90%. This is Kaizen practice and application. Teams conduct structured experiments, test countermeasures, and confirm cause and effect. Simulation transforms abstract ideas into practical understanding and builds confidence in problem-solving.

Next is Teach 70%. In Lean TPS, teaching means demonstrating Standardized Work and coaching others in problem-solving. It is supported by A3 Thinking, 5 Whys, and confirmation checks. Teaching reinforces learning and turns understanding into shared capability.

The fourth stage is View Pictures 30%. Visual learning through Andon, charts, and control boards makes problems visible and guides action at the Gemba.

At the lower levels are Hear 20% and Read 10%. These methods create awareness but not sustained skill. Without structure and repetition, awareness fades and improvement efforts collapse.

On the right side of the funnel is the definition of Jishuken. It is self-motivated enhancement study. It is not a slogan but a structured system of leadership-driven learning that distinguishes Lean TPS from compliance or certification programs.

The funnel closes with the principle: Structure + Action = Capability.
Without structure, learning is scattered. Without action, learning is temporary. When both are present, organizations build capability that endures and strengthens over time.

This is why Lean TPS training begins with 5S, Kaizen, and Jishuken. These practices teach by participation, simulation, and instruction at the Gemba. Lean TPS is not about memorizing slides. It is about developing real capability through structured learning by doing.

Lean TPS House diagram showing Just In Time, Jidoka, Heijunka, Standardized Work, and Kaizen positioned within the Toyota Production System architecture
This Lean TPS Basic Training visual explains how Kaizen operates within the governed architecture of the Toyota Production System. Just In Time and Jidoka function as structural pillars, Heijunka and Standardized Work provide stability, and Kaizen strengthens the system only when standards and control are in place. The image reinforces
Lean TPS Swiss Cheese Model showing how governance failures propagate from organizational systems to gemba outcomes, and how TPS prevents conflicts that Theory of Constraints resolves downstream.
Theory of Constraints manages conflict after instability forms. Lean TPS prevents conflict through governance of demand, capacity, and Quality before execution begins.
Takahama Line 2 Andon board showing real time production status and Quality control in the Toyota Production System
Dashboards and scorecards increase visibility, but they do not govern work. In Lean TPS, Andon exists to control abnormality in real time by enforcing stop authority, response timing, and leadership obligation to protect Quality.
Lean TPS Disruptive SWOT transforms traditional SWOT from a static listing exercise into a governed leadership system. Through Survey, Prioritize, and Action, it aligns strategic direction with Quality, system stability, and explicit leadership obligation within a Lean TPS governance framework.
Balance scale showing Respect for People and Continuous Improvement grounded in Quality governance within Lean TPS.
In Lean TPS, Respect for People and Continuous Improvement are not independent goals. Both emerge from Quality governance, where leaders define normal work, make abnormality visible, and respond to protect system stability.
Lean TPS shop floor before and after 5S Thinking showing visual stability that enables problem detection and problem solving
5S Thinking is not about making the workplace look clean or impressive. In Lean TPS, it functions as a visual reset that restores the ability to see normal versus abnormal conditions. When the environment is stabilized, problems surface quickly, Quality risks are exposed earlier, and problem solving becomes possible at