THE TOYOTA WAY TO LEAN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
EXCLUSIVE TOYOTA NEW & ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION FACTORY TOUR
April 14-16, 2026
Exclusive NEW & Original Production Factory tour and workshop
hosted by Toyota Material Handling, Columbus, IN
SPACE IS LIMITED
What our previous attendees are saying about this tour and workshop
“Lean Leadership Academy president, Sam McPherson and Toyota Leaders: Tom Lego and Scott Redelman were awesome and it was a joy to be part of the workshop; It was so engaging. I just want to thank you again for the training. It was a very good and useful tour and workshop; all of the explanations were clear. I understand the Obeya room much more now!”
“What a great learning opportunity from of the best leaders on the planet!
“The implementation of the daily management Obeya results in an immediate “Big Bang!” productivity improvement across all operations. As a result, Timken has implemented the Daily Management Obeya globally in over forty of our locations!”
Here are some of the companies and organizations
that have attended past tours and workshops:
Intel Corporation | The Timken Company | ADM – Archer-Daniels-Midland Company | JTEKT | Strum, Ruger, & Company (aka Ruger firearms) | Industrial Andons | American Greetings | Bridgewater Interiors | Applied Materials | Bell Nordic | HEC Montreal | Hasbro | U.S. Army Special Forces | JFK Special Warfare Center and School | Fives North America | Gemba Academy | Discover Finance| Hartford Healthcare | MossAdams
What You Will Learn and Take Away
- How to connect with community leaders to create flow
- How to plan and control production to the build schedule
- How to apply 5S and First‑In, First‑Out to create a safe, flowing site
- How to use a virtual Andon system to quickly solve site problems
- Participants will apply these lessons through hands‑on Lean Construction exercises and team‑based problem solving.
- How to connect with community leaders to create flow
- How to plan and control production to the build schedule
- How to apply 5S and First‑In, First‑Out to create a safe, flowing site
- How to use a virtual Andon system to quickly solve site problems
- Participants will apply these lessons through hands‑on Lean Construction exercises and team‑based problem solving.
What You Will Experience
- A first‑hand look at Toyota operational leadership in action
- Conversations with Toyota leaders about roles, routines, and responsibilities
- Insight into what Toyota and The Lean Leadership Academy look for in leaders and how they develop them
- Live observation of TPS in action: Andon systems, mixed‑model production, AGVs, sub‑assembly lines, Kanban, and material handling
- Daily Management Obeya, shop‑floor management boards, and team quality circle activities
24 PROFESSIONAL CONTINUED
EDUCATION HOURS AVAILABLE
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
- Anyone serious about restarting or leading a Lean transformation in construction, office space, or home construction
- Anyone looking to apply the Toyota Production System to modular, frame, or window plant production
- CEOs, COOs, Presidents, VPs, Directors, Plant Managers, Senior Managers, and Operations Managers
- Site Managers and Crew Leaders
- Design and Manufacturing Engineers; Production and Supply‑Chain Managers
Your Host Instructors
Sam McPherson
President, The Lean Leadership Academy
Toyota‑trained Lean Management & TPS Transformation Coach
Sam began his career in manufacturing and construction at an early age and trained at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky as a Toyota Scholar. He later held leadership roles at Mercedes‑Benz and Crown Cork & Seal. Sam is a retired Green Beret Commander and founded The Lean Leadership Academy in 2005.
Tom Lego
Toyota Brand Ambassador, Toyota Material Handling
Tom Lego is a Toyota Brand Ambassador with decades of experience in sales, production, scheduling, and business development. He teaches Toyota Material Handling’s Core Values class as the company approaches the 100th anniversary of founder Sakichi Toyoda’s Five Precepts.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
*Agenda Subject to Change
DAY 1
Toyota Material Handling, Inc.
5559 Inwood Drive, Columbus, IN
Start: 8:00 a.m. End: TBD
Lunch: Provided
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Exclusive study tour of TMHNA and the new Toyota–Raymond production facility.
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This is an immersive experience placing participants directly inside Toyota Material Handling’s operating system.
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The day includes classroom instruction, factory walks, and live observation of Daily Management Obeya, Kanban, Andon systems, and real‑time floor management.
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Presentations by Toyota Construction Project Leads
DAY 2
Hilton Garden Inn,
Columbus/Edinburgh
Located directly behind the Hampton Inn
12210 N Executive Dr,
Edinburgh, IN 46124
Phone: (812) 526-8600
The Toyota Way to Lean Construction Management
- Participants deepen their understanding of: Planning and Control of Information Flow from site selection to blueprints.
- Construction Project
- Planning and Control
- Leading Site
Management, including site:
- Morning Site Standups
- Mid-Day Leader Reviews
- End –of-Day PDCA Review (Plan, Do, Check, Act)
- Registered Item Assignments
DAY 3
Hilton Garden Inn,
Columbus/Edinburgh
Located directly behind the Hampton Inn
12210 N Executive Dr,
Edinburgh, IN 46124
Phone: (812) 526-8600
Leading Construction Problem-Solving
- Translating Toyota’s Famous Andon System using virtual Andons, Radios, Site Bingo Board visual management.
- Expected daily site leadership behaviors
- Toyota’s Famous 5 Why Practical Problem– Solving
- Visual Site Management through 5S, material handling, tool handling, structured problem solving, and visual management.
- Hands‑on exercises reinforce accountability, stability, and continuous improvement.
About Toyota Material Handling North America
Toyota Material Handling
North America (TMHNA),
… located in Columbus, Indiana, broke ground on its first U.S. 280,000‑sq.-ft. forklift production facility in 1990. Since that time, TMHNA has expanded its Inwood Drive location 15 times over its 36‑year history.
In 2024, TMHNA broke ground on a new 295,000‑sq.-ft. production facility where Toyota and Raymond brand material handling equipment will be produced.
Over the last 36 years, TMHNA has learned how to apply the Toyota Lean Management System (TLMS) and the Toyota Production System (TPS) not only to manufacturing, but also to the construction of new corporate offices for sales, engineering, and operations. This approach is reinforced through a philosophy of sole‑source partnerships and long‑term relationships with architects, riggers, contractors, and city planners—ensuring the highest quality, lowest cost, and shortest lead time.
In this workshop, we will explore how Toyota, Toyota Material Handling, Toyota Homes, and Woven City apply the Toyota Lean Management System, Toyota Production System, Daily Management, and Lean Problem‑Solving to achieve:
Highest quality – Shortest lead-time – Lowest cost
On‑budget performance
On‑time delivery
Let’s Go Build Places, Together
About Your Host
Toyota Material Handling
This workshop includes factory tour is hosted by Toyota Material Handling (TMH), the #1 manufacturer of fork trucks in North America and winner of Assembly Magazine’s Plant of the Year Award. Here’s what Assembly Magazine had to say about Toyota Material Handling.
Toyota has long been regarded as the gold standard for Lean manufacturing. TMH, located in Columbus, Indiana, is an especially valuable example of Mixed Model Manufacturing since the number of base models and level of customization far exceeds what is seen in the automotive sector. The three-day workshop and factory tour included in this workshop will dramatically support what you will learn in the classroom, and confirm the power and flexibility of Leading the Toyota Lean Management and Production System.
Toyota experts will also spend time during the workshop to answer any Toyota-specific questions that may come up during the tours or in the classroom.
Your Host Instructors:
Sam McPherson, President, The Lean Leadership Academy
Toyota Trained Toyota Lean Management System & TPS Transformation Coach | Award Winning International Speaker-Writer-Researcher on Leading on the subjects of Leadership, Lean Transformations, Lean Transformation, Enterprise and Operational Excellence, and Cultures of Excellence. Sam is a Shingo Institute Faculty Fellow.
Sam has worked with his first Japanese production plant as a line worker and later production, warehouse, and shipping supervisor. Sam was trained at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky as a Toyota Scholar from 1993 – 1995 and continues to work with Toyota and transforming Toyota Tier Two Suppliers to Tier One and Alternate suppliers close to three decades across a verity of industries. Sam has held manufacturing leadership roles from Plant Manager to Chief Operating Officer and President.
Tom Lego, Toyota Brand Ambassador, Toyota Material Handling
Thomas Lego works as a Brand Ambassador at Toyota Forklift, which is an Industrial Machinery & Equipment company with an estimated 1,454 employees; and founded in 2006. They are part of the Product Marketing team within the Marketing Department and their management level is Non-Manager. Thomas graduated from Indiana University – Kelley School of Business in 1982 and is currently based in Columbus, United States.
Scott Redelman, Director of Toyota Lean Management System Services
Internal and Dealer Consultant, Scott is Toyota leader with close to three decades of operational leadership at Toyota Material Handling, including, Business Strategy, Business Development, Production Control, and now leader TMH’s Toyota Lean Management Systems Team specializing in TPS “original lean” support for business partners and customers – regardless of industry! Enhancing organizational cultures by leveraging talent management and team building through lean leadership, strategic planning, and TPS tools. Strategic leader of Toyota Material Handling’s TPS journey. Impactful management consulting with customers in many industries: manufacturing, non-profits, logistics, health care, distribution, military, etc.
Phone: (812) 526-8600
Call Hotel for Discount
Use Code: Toyota Workshop
Other lodging options:
Holiday Inn and Suites, Columbus/Edinburgh $139 Address: 12225 N Executive Dr, Edinburgh, IN 46124 Phone: (812) 526-4919
Courtyard by Marriott: Address: 3888 Mimosa Dr, Columbus, IN 47201 Phone: (812) 342-8888
Hampton Inn Columbus/Taylorsville
12161 North US 31
Edinburgh, IN, 46124
Airport:
Indianapolis International Airport (45 min drive)
7800 Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46241
Get on I-70 E from Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Dr
4 min (2.7 mi)
Follow I-70 E and I-65 S to US-31 N in German Township. Take exit 76B from I-65 S 41 min (45.2 mi)
Continue on US-31 N to your destination.
2 min (0.4 mi)
Edinburgh, IN 46124