Courses and Resources

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The Toyota Kata approach develops critical thinkers and a scientific mindset which is helpful for challenges where the way to the goal is unknown. By practicing a daily improvement cycle and using an established coaching pattern, the learners discover the current operational situation (the current condition) and through a series of intermediate targets, work their way toward the challenge. You can read more about the Toyota Kata here. 

In this program, we will work with you to set specific business-driven challenges within the learner's area of responsibility. Then with daily 15-20-minute coaching sessions (4 or 5 days per week) the learner will practice the improvement routine. Normally, the initial coaching period will be a minimum of two months. In that time, we would normally expect the learner to be close to completing their first challenge. Typically, as an organization starts using the Toyota Kata, we will run two parallel groups of learners, with 2-4 people per group. Once they have completed a challenge and are comfortable with the process, more learners can be added, and the initial learner group shifts to take on the coaching role. 

Learners are expected to participate in the coaching cycle every day and to do 15-20 minutes of improvement work as well, every day.

PRICING:  Contact us for pricing

Do you want an introduction to give you a sense of what is possible? Start with Becoming The Supervisor: Achieving Your Company's Mission and Build Your Team. 

Hugh Alley's first book tells the story of Julie, the new general manager in a small manufacturing company, who needs to improve the skills of her young supervisor, Trevor.

Using a series of business challenges that every front line leader will recognize, she teaches her supervisors the skills they need. Her approach is infused with the scientific thinking of the Toyota Kata. In the course of the book she teaches her team Job Instruction, Job Relations, and Job Methods.

Very enjoyable read, with ideas that can be implemented quickly in any company.

Paul D. Hill, Manager of Continuous Improvement, Cosma Canada US. A Division of Magna International

A great read, a great story, great lessons, and powerful learning for new and experienced supervisors. I couldn’t wait to see how it ended.

Anne C. Graham, #1 Best-Selling Author of Profit in Plain Sight

BUY: You can buy the book at your local bookseller or at Amazon here (Canada) or here (USA).

As an Amazon Associate, I receive a small commission if you buy from them. It doesn't change what you pay.

The TWI Memory Jogger is a "how-to" guide to using the Training Within Industry methods. This guide provides a quick reference for people who have already been through in a TWI program, and will someone new to the skills get started.

Designed as a quick reference for front-line leaders and anyone who manages them, it has five parts. Part 1 - Getting Started introduces the thinking behind the TWI programs, and provides guidance about where to start. Parts 2, 3 and 4 describe how to use the three TWI programs: Job Relations, Job Instruction and Job Methods. The appendices provide supplementary material.

In a convenient 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" (9 cm x 14 cm) format, and coil bound so it lays flat, it is filled with tips built upon years of using the TWI methods and teaching over 1,000 front line leaders. This guide will help you master the skills. It is well organized so you can easily find what you need to know.

BUY: You can buy the book through your local bookseller, at Amazon.com here, or direct from the publisher here. 

As an Amazon Associate, I receive a small commission if you buy from them. It doesn't change what you pay.

If you buy it from the publisher, discounts are available for quantities over 10 copies.

A new concept in content delivery, these courses are delivered in a series of daily texts. Each text covers one major concept, and sets out a short practical exercise to use that concept that day. Completion and satisfaction rates for text-based courses are extremely high. We use the Arist platform to deliver the courses. Micro-skills are the small practical elements of larger skill sets. They can be learned and practiced individually, like learning to dribble a soccer ball or basketball. 

Here are the micro-skill courses available now. More are being added all the time.

• Getting the Facts - Get the whole story when there is a performance issue
• Choosing Your Actions - Select the action(s) to address a performance issue
• Making a Training Plan
• Writing a Job Instruction Breakdown
• Listening for Emotions - Listen for what doesn't get said
• Probing for Clarification - How to 
• Assigning Work - Assign tasks to get commitment from your crew member
• Rounds - Check on the progress of work, to set priorities.

PRICING: Contact us for pricing