Hello! I am Sergio Shizuo Niyama, a senior advisor at Honsha.org. I was born in Lins-SP, Brazil and being a member of the Honsha consulting family with my extensive experience and knowledge in TPS (Toyota Production System) I have the privilege and opportunity to contribute to companies by developing and improving Lean methodologies. My ultimate goal is to solve complex problems and assist companies in reaching their maximum potential to become competitive and sustainable.

My educational background includes a degree in Metallurgical Engineering from FEI (Faculty of Industrial Engineering) and an extension course as a materials fellow at Akita University in Japan.

I initiated my professional career in 1986 at Toyota do Brasil at the São Bernardo do Campo plant, where the Jeep Bandeirante was produced, marking the beginning of Toyota’s operations outside Japan.

I dedicated almost 35 years to working at Toyota, with a significant part of my career taking me to Japan from 1990 to 1995. The purpose of this assignment was to receive training and develop people for greater challenges, particularly the expansion of factories in Brazil. This experience allowed me to learn TPS directly from the source.

One of the pivotal learning experiences in my career was a two-year program called the “revival of TPS” at the São Bernardo do Campo plant in 1996 and 1997. During this time, experts from TMC (Toyota of Japan), particularly the OMDD (Operatives Management Development Division), reinforced the TPS principles. These efforts aimed at developing leadership for the future challenges at the new Corolla plant in Indaiatuba-SP.

A notable mentor during this journey was Mr. Hayashi Nanpachi, who later became a director and advisor of TMC in the TPS area, and a mentor to Akio Toyoda. My relationship with him spanned over 20 years, providing invaluable insights and a lasting friendship.

In 1998, the Indaiatuba-SP plant was implemented to produce the Corolla, and in 2012, the Sorocaba-SP plant began production, initially of the Etios and later the Yaris and the Corolla Cross. In 2016, the Porto Feliz-SP engine factory was established.

In parallel, in 2013, I established the corporate TPS group with the purpose of providing support at Toyota do Brasil’s plants as they expanded. Over time, this group evolved into a corporate division responsible for Latin America, sharing the same name as OMDD in Japan. I served as the executive coordinator and advisor for this division.

In summary, my entire career and professional trajectory have been within Toyota. I witnessed the growth from a single plant to four plants, and my responsibilities changed according to the positions I held during each phase of the company’s expansion. My final position was as Vice-President of Production, overseeing all four plants.

I had the privilege of participating in global production meetings and welcoming visits from top Toyota executives, including Shoichiro Toyoda, Fujio Cho, Uchiyamada, Akio Toyoda, Kawai, and various other directors. These interactions were instrumental in my professional development.

Moreover, I had the opportunity to benchmark numerous Toyota facilities worldwide, including those in the USA, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, India, and Japan. This provided valuable insights and promoted the sharing of best practices.
While my achievements and education played a role in my career, they were significantly complemented by the opportunities Toyota provided. These opportunities came through mentoring from my superiors, training, cooperation from my subordinates, and teamwork at all levels.

My personal and professional values serve as the bedrock of my work, and now as a Lean consultant, I aim to transmit some of my knowledge and TPS experience acquired during these years at Toyota. I aspire to contribute to the growth of companies and, consequently, bring benefits to Brazilian society.

I firmly believe in tireless work ethics, unwavering integrity, and deep commitment to excellence. My approach is client-centric, focused on comprehensively understanding their needs and offering strategic, customized solutions. Transparency, trust, and open communication are fundamental principles in my work, and I prioritize the establishment of long-term relationships with clients and partners.
Certainly, my current clients and future ones can always count on my experience, knowledge, support, and dedication in Lean/TPS activities.

In addition to my professional career, I also place high value on my family. Taking this opportunity, I cannot fail to express my gratitude to God, my ancestors, and my parents (in memoriam) who spared no effort to provide us with an education and a better life.
As a dedicated father and husband, I believe in the importance of balancing personal and professional life. I consistently strive to create moments to connect with my family, travel extensively, visit the gym to maintain my well-being, and embrace a fulfilling quality of life.

I am eternally grateful to my wife Lucia for her support, understanding and patience.