SMAS Toyota Lean Management Centre Learning Journey

Please Note: This is a 1.5 day trip commencing 21 January 2026 and finishing 22 January 2026.

If you’re a manufacturer in the life sciences sector, this trip provides a unique opportunity for you to witness first-hand an exemplar company achieving high operational performance.

Targeted focus for life sciences manufacturers

This learning journey is especially designed for manufacturers in the life sciences sector and recognises the unique challenges and regulatory demands faced by this industry.

By learning about the Toyota Production System (TPS) and the Toyota Way management behaviours, you’ll gain practical insights into world-class lean methodologies that are directly applicable to highly regulated environments.

About Toyota learning journey

The Toyota Production System (TPS) approach is Toyota’s methodology for achieving high operational performance and is widely admired throughout the world. This trip will explore in detail the concepts of both TPS and the Toyota Way Management Behaviours.

Whether you’re embarking on a cultural transformation or starting/building on your Lean journey, the 1.5 days on site provides a unique immersion into the TPS at Toyota.

The learning journey will take place at Toyota’s engine plant, located at Deeside in North Wales. The plant employs over 500 members on a site covering 115 acres and produces over 220,000 engines per year for the Auris and Auris Hybrid vehicles.

The engines are produced through a process of aluminium casting, machining and assembly before final inspection and despatch to vehicle plants across the world.

What will you get out of attending?

The programme offers a rare opportunity to observe how operational excellence, continuous improvement, and a culture of stability can be embedded within manufacturing processes. You’ll discover the key priorities for life sciences businesses striving for compliance, quality, and efficiency.

During the programme, you’ll engage with peers from the same sector. You’ll benefit from valuable networking, knowledge sharing, and benchmarking, ensuring that you’ll return to your business with actionable strategies tailored to the specific needs and ambitions of life sciences manufacturing.

This trip will also explore the core elements that make Toyota exceptional including:

• The philosophy and foundational thinking behind TPS
• Customer-driven focus and continuous improvement
• The importance of stability and standardized work
• Production planning, the Pull System, and human resources for a lean environment

Who should take part?

Life sciences manufacturing companies who are looking at continuous improvement within their business and are embarking on a cultural transformation or starting/building on their Lean journey. For example:

• Plant managers/site directors/ executive management
• Operations and production leaders
• Lean leaders and improvement specialists

Learning journey itinerary January 2026:

• 20 January: travel to designated hotel (Chester, TBC). Networking dinner in the evening – participants will make their own way to Deeside.
• 21 January: transport to and from site full day training with lunch, evening meal with Toyota.
• 22 January: transport to and from site, half day training. Participants are free to leave in the afternoon.

We're expecting strong demand for places, so if you want to attend, please complete this Eventbrite link.

If successful, we’ll have an initial meeting with you to confirm your suitability. Your place will be confirmed at this initial meeting. There’s a maximum of two places available per business.

If you’d like to discuss any of this further or confirm whether this trip is for you in advance of payment, please contact either ashley.gibson@scotent.co.uk or bruce.marshall@scotent.co.uk.

Cost

The investment is your time, and £900 + VAT per person, paid via Eventbrite. This cost includes your accommodation for two nights at a hotel close to Toyota, two networking dinners and lunch.

Please Note:

The networking dinner on one of the evenings will include members from the Toyota management team.

You’ll need to arrange your own travel to the hotel. You should arrive the evening before the visit/training starts. You’ll return the day after the second night stay. Full details will be provided.

Join likeminded businesses on a SMAS learning journey, centred on creating a lean culture and developing lean processes in a best practice environment.

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