Shigeo Shingo
- Born:
- January 8, 1909, Saga, Japan
- Died:
- November 14, 1990, Japan
- Nationality:
- Japanese
- Profession(s):
- Industrial Engineer, Management Consultant
Early Life and Education
- Graduated from Yamanashi Technical College in 1930.
- Initially employed by Taipei Railway Factory.
Career and Major Achievements
- Pioneered and formalized the Toyota Production System (TPS).
- Developed and implemented Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) methodology.
- Focused on reducing setup times and improving efficiency in manufacturing processes.
- Consulted with numerous companies worldwide on process improvement and lean manufacturing principles.
- Known for his practical, hands-on approach to problem-solving.
Notable Works
- A Study of Toyota Production System From Industrial Engineering Viewpoint
- Zero Quality Control: Source Inspection and the Poka-Yoke System
- Revolution in Manufacturing: The SMED System
- Non-Stock Production: The Shingo System for Continuous Improvement
- The Sayings of Shigeo Shingo: Key Strategies for Plant Improvement
Legacy and Impact
The contributions of Shigeo Shingo profoundly impacted modern manufacturing. His work on SMED and mistake-proofing (Poka-Yoke) revolutionized production processes and laid the groundwork for lean manufacturing principles. His methods are still widely used globally.