Japan Benchmarking Study Mission

The only way to properly understand the power of Japan’s Business Management Science is to see it for yourself and in the company of those who not only understand it intimately, but have implemented it in such countries as China, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Iran, Northern Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, India, South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, UAE, Nepal, Nigeria, Kenya and altogether we have worked in over 40 countries around the world, have appeared live on the Radio and TV in two countries and in some cases fees paid by UNIDO and World Bank.

We are now accepting registrations for our next Japan Study Mission

February 15th to 21st 2026

Limited spaces remaining!

Our 17th Japan Study Mission

This JUSE/GET/DHIQC Business Strategic Study Mission is the latest in an ever-evolving series of such study missions to world beating Japanese companies, which we have collectively collaborated through JUSE (Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers), the organisers of the world beating Deming Prize.

1. Why Japan? India and China are coming up on the fast track, why not visit them?

Good question and one we have given considerable thought to. Both China and India have not simply copied Japan but have for local reasons adapted what they have learned to suit their own needs, so these are mutations. Copy a mutation and you will create yet another mutation. How far do you go to lose sight of the fundamental principles? We think best to work from the original. Chinese QC Circle members at the ICQCC’19 event in Tokyo

2. There are other study missions which only last a few days?

Yes, we are well aware of that but our USPs include: Organised in collaboration with JUSE who are responsible for the management of the coveted Deming Award categories and our study missions get red carpet treatment as a consequence. Ours are led by David Hutchins who is the only Westerner ever to have been awarded the Deming Distinguished Practice Award and Kola Olutimehin who, together with David will share their unique knowledge with the participants throughout the Study Mission and be available for mentoring afterwards. Quality Circles Convention in India.

3. Value for money?

Even if you bring your entire Executive team, and you follow what you will learn from us and from the lectures and company visits we are sure that within weeks you will have achieved a positive payback often many times the initial cost including all expenses. Check this out:

Because if you do not actually see it feel it and touch it, the probability is that you will never
understand it.
Seeing is believing. Remember Japan has been doing this for 65 years now. The business
culture they have created is no novelty to them now. For them, ‘It is the way we do things
around here.’ The work culture created is now fundamentally different from ours. This was
even true in the 1970s and it was an observation by Professor Ishikawa, the father figure of
TQM who advised us to attempt to take executives to Japan to see it for themselves or they
will not comprehend it.

TQM works everywhere where people work together regardless of industry, even in the organisation of social events!
That is true for good reasons, typically the global recession following the collapse of the Soviet Union followed by the Lehman Bros. Sub Prime Mortgages shock followed then by the Covid Pandemic but that did not stop the front runners either in Japan or in India and China and these are on the fast track now.
This picture was taken at the dinner hosted for us by Dr Noriaki Kano a day after we concluded a previous Study Mission – from right are David Hutchins, Yumiko Kawashima (JUSE), Dr Kano and Kola Olutimehin. The two others are participants of the Study Mission and they are Charlie Protzman and John Fraser (first and second left).

…On all of our Japan Study Missions, dating back to 1980, participants have agreed that the visits to the award-winning companies have been life changing. A CEO of UK leading company once said: “Over the years, we have spent many tens of thousands of pounds on sending our key managers on courses at the leading business schools. They got more out of this trip to Japan than all of those courses put together.”

Not only will you be able to see so many things for yourself, you will be accompanied both at the conference, company visits, social visits, and all the group related activities by David Hutchins and his co-Director Kola Olutimehin, to answer any queries, discuss any related topic with the intention that when the participants return home they will be able to work towards an implementation of what they have seen. We even offer to provide mentoring services in that respect based on our years of experience in implementation.

Who might Join our Japan Business strategic Study Mission and why?

Our Study Mission designed for CEOs and other executives, thought leaders and those who might be engaged in Government initiatives to stimulate real and substantial growth in their national economies. Participants in our previous Study Missions are registering to join this next event because we will be visiting some other companies in different industries than they saw in their last visit. Here are some comments:

‘Fantastic experience, well planned and so helpful. Something to improve my work and enrich my life. Thank you very much.’

It was a great trip and a good learning experience, thanks to the complete group. Taking back a lot of good memories. Let’s stay connected and use this group to share the practices that have started in our organisation for TQM. This will help everyone be motivated. I hope we cross path really soon.

Special thanks to @David Hutchins and @Kola Olutimehin for organising this trip along with JUSE. Hoping to see you both in India soon. David, thank you for making this a unique experience. Every discussion with you is a learning for us. You surely made an impact in all our lives and we will never forget that. I wish you a good health and safe journey back home. Take care.

Our Study Mission to Japan is for…

Boards of Directors

To steer their organisation in a distinct direction that ensures all stakeholders are carried along

Business Executives

Looking for a more effective way to get and stay ahead of their competition and create organisations to be proud of

Ministers and members of Government also County/Regional level Counsellors

Japan went from virtually being annihilated at the end of World War 2 to having 11 out of the worlds top Banks in 1988. What you will see on this Study Mission is how it was achieved and to learn how we can replicate that at Governmental and local Governmental levels if the will is there!

Business Transformation Specialists

Concerned with knowing and understanding world class business concepts and how to apply them successfully. These include Management Consultants and Coaches who specialise in methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma, Agile, Change Management, Business Process Reengineering etc

Mature Students of Management Science

Whose VISION is a career of helping others to achieve excellence

Partners (including adult family members) of Participants

Many partners want to share this experience even if they are not in industry themselves. The sightseeing is breathtaking and to be able to have meaningful discussions at home can be educational.

Many of our participants on previous Study Missions

Participants on our prior tours are asking if they can join this one for the different companies we are visiting. We would be delighted to see some of you again on this Study Mission.
You will not only have lectures from top Japanese international experts but also from David and Kola. And you will be a live witness of all you learn from them in the Companies who manage this

Seeing is believing!

On each of our Study missions we strive to make some enhanced changes. On this visit, for the first time, we will be visiting companies in southern Japan. Following the event, some participants might like to extend their experience by visiting Hiroshima and the surrounding area?

Food & Cultural Experiences

You can eat Japanese food in restaurants all over the world but you will never experience it as it is in Japan even when the owners are Japanese themselves. We have entertained many Japanese people and in every case they say Japanese food outside of Japan is different. You will experience the ambiance, the ancient culture, entertainment and exquisite food like nothing you have experienced before.

Lectures & Discussions with highly respected Japanese Business Scientists

You will be learning from leading thought leaders in Japan who are revered in all the industries who manage using the principles of Japanese TQM. They are also very familiar with the ways of the West and other parts of the North South and East and the stumbling blocks they face. They have worked with them so these are very practical sessions.

Travel & Accommodation

We will meet you at the first hotel and everything after that is in our care. You can relax, your luggage will be taken care of, all you have to do between stops is to pack. Some of the food is covered as stated in the itinerary but some is also left to participants who might have different ideas as to what to do in their free time. We will be there for you!

What makes our Benchmarking Study Mission to Japan special and exclusive

Our first was in 1979 conducted by David Hutchins and organised by the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE).

JUSE was formed in 1946 by subscription from all the leading Japanese Companies who wanted a central training organisation to support them. And JUSE has maintained this purpose ever since. Also, JUSE is responsible for the management and award of all the significant National Awards such as ‘The Deming Prize. All of the companies we visit on our Study Missions that sort for the Deming Prize have achieved this coveted award! As a consequence, we as collaborators with JUSE since the late 1970s, are treated with honour at the locations of our host organisations. David Hutchins is known throughout Japan as the following brochure shows. This was a lecture tour that David gave in the mid-1990s when he was described as being the European who understands Japanese business culture better than any European they knew!

Workshop, mentoring and discussions during the visit

The unique experience of David Hutchins and Kola Olutimehin is available to participants, not only during the working and social hours of the programme, but also at more or less any time afterwards. Zoom calls can be arranged and we offer one day face to face free in your own company following the visit, plus of course, travel and subsistence expenses. With the GET specialists and DHIQC alumni, the future association with these two organisations is open ended. We receive calls from such participants often from more than 20 years back. Not only does this give you an association with us, but also with each other. GET is in itself a networking organisation.

Join us and be part of a global multinational team of players with the common goal of achieving operational excellence

Participants can also take advantage of special rates on all MakeWay Global and DHIQC Courses which are state of the art, and unsurpassed in content at discounted rates. Furthermore, participants can gain the relevant qualifications with endorsements for relevant aspects of the syllabus.

Finally, a new feature – a 10,000 word publishable dissertation, on the content of the visit will secure an award in itself. There are two special qualifications on offer to those who present a successful dissertation following the Study Mission:

Masterclass Quality Consultant (following a subsequent successful implementation of TQM outside of Japan)

Masterclass Quality Specialist (for those who can implement what they have learned in their own organisations)

€4,650 Per Person
February 15th - 21st, 2026

What’s Included:

  • Course registration
  • Accommodation, including Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
  • Transportation during the Study Mission to all organised events
  • Relevant training materials
  • Participant giveaway packs
  • Certificate of Participation accredited by JUSE/GET/DHIQC/MakeWay

What’s Excluded:

  • Flight costs to and from Japan (as well as airport transfers on arrival and departure from Japan)
  • Travel insurance
  • Incidentals, such as telephone calls, additional drinks/snacks, laundry, medicals etc

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

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