BTP TALK: TWI &
Lean Culture
Date: February 2025
Written by: Cathrine Sofie Fredensborg
Mike Hoseus & John Vellema: A Dialogue on TWI and Toyota Culture
At Lean Summit Africa 2024, Mike Hoseus, co-author of Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way, and John Vellema, author of Building a Learning Organization, engaged in a meaningful dialogue about the intersection of Training Within Industry (TWI) and Toyota’s cultural foundation. Their conversation explored how TWI supports leadership development, standardized work, and continuous improvement—key elements of Toyota’s long-term success.
The Role of TWI in Toyota Culture
Mike Hoseus emphasized that TWI is a fundamental part of Toyota’s culture, enabling employees to learn and apply standardized work while developing problem-solving and leadership skills. He explained how TWI plays a crucial role in reinforcing Toyota’s core values of respect for people and continuous improvement.
John Vellema built on this by highlighting that lean transformation is not just about tools and processes—it’s about creating a learning culture. He stressed that organizations looking to implement lean must integrate structured learning, leadership coaching, and cultural reinforcement, just as Toyota has done.
Watch the BTP Talk with Mike and John – Filmed right after the workshop, they share key insights and reflections on the TWI J-programs and Lean.
Bridging TWI and Toyota’s Cultural Strength
A key theme in their discussion was how TWI supports and strengthens Toyota’s unique approach to leadership and learning.
- Mike: “TWI gives leaders the structure to coach their teams effectively, making Toyota’s culture of continuous improvement a daily reality.”
- John: “And when organizations adopt not just the tools but the leadership mindset behind Toyota’s culture, they create lasting impact.”
Both agreed that TWI is not just about training—it’s about sustaining Toyota’s culture by developing leaders who support learning, problem-solving, and employee engagement.
Key Takeaways for Organizations
- TWI is a foundation of Toyota’s culture – It ensures standardized work, leadership development, and continuous improvement.
- Leadership coaching is essential – Leaders must actively train, support, and develop employees to sustain lean practices.
- A learning culture drives long-term success – Organizations that integrate structured learning into daily work create a continuous improvement mindset.
Conclusion
The discussion between Mike Hoseus and John Vellema at Lean Summit Africa 2024 highlighted how TWI is deeply embedded in Toyota’s culture. By combining structured training, leadership coaching, and cultural reinforcement, organizations can build a sustainable lean culture that drives both employee engagement and operational excellence.
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