Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) is proud to announce that the highly anticipated Kentucky Road Trip – Lean Culture Immersion | Go, See, and Learn at the Original Gemba, sold out to industry giants and smaller agile companies alike to explore the original Gemba from September 10-12, 2024. This immersive three-day event is an exclusive journey to Lexington, Kentucky, where they dive deep into Toyota’s renowned Lean culture and its legendary Toyota Production System (TPS).
Led by MRC and Mike Hoseus, co-author of Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way and Executive Director of the Center for Quality People & Organizations (CQPO), participants experience a firsthand, transformative opportunity designed exclusively for MRC’s manufacturing community. The tour offers a powerful blend of workshops and plant tours, including an exclusive visit to the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) Facility, where participants engage with Toyota Production System concepts, such as Stability, Just in Time, and Jidoka (automation with a human touch).
Event Highlights:
- Exclusive 4-hour Toyota Production System Learning Session with Toyota Production System Support Center (TSSC)
- Guided plant tour of the TMMK Facility, where Toyota has been refining Lean methods for over 30 years.
- Site visits to local Toyota suppliers and Lean manufacturers to benchmark best practices.
- Discussion sessions aimed at helping participants craft action plans to enhance Lean performance in their own organizations.
About Mike Hoseus
Mike Hoseus brings unparalleled expertise as the Executive Director of CQPO and an adjunct professor at the University of Kentucky’s Center for Manufacturing. A former corporate leader at Toyota’s Georgetown plant for 13 years, Mike is a globally recognized authority on Lean Culture and Human Resources and has helped numerous organizations successfully navigate Lean transformations.
Looking Ahead: September 2025 Registration Opens Early!
Due to overwhelming interest and a sold-out event this year, MRC is pleased to announce that registration for the September 2025 Kentucky Lean Tour is already open to allow interested organizations to secure their spots a full year in advance for next year’s Lean Culture Immersion for an unparalleled learning experience! www.mrcpa.org.events
Press Contact:
MRC invites press members to learn more about this transformative event and explore how Lean principles are meeting the needs of the emerging workforce and shaping the future of manufacturing in Pennsylvania and beyond. For inquiries or interviews following the trip, please contact Patricia Felise at (610) 628-4640 or by email at pat.felise@mrcpa.org.
About Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC)
MRC is a non-profit dedicated to serving manufacturers to enhance their productivity and technological advancements. MRC is partly funded by the NIST MEP Network of national Centers in all fifty states and Puerto Rico. NIST MEP Centers like MRC are a hub for manufacturers to connect with government agencies, trade associations, universities and research laboratories, state and federal initiatives, and other resources to help them grow and innovate. MRC is also funded in part by PA DCED and is a member of the Manufacturing PA Initiative which includes seven IRCs (Industrial Resource Centers) across the Commonwealth dedicated to serving the needs of small and medium-size manufacturers throughout Pennsylvania. For more information about MRC, please visit www.mrcpa.org.
Media Contact Information:
Patricia Felise
Media Relations
Manufacturers Resource Center
(610) 628-4640