The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation is currently inviting applications for its 2006 managerial training programmes in Japan.

WCM – Challenge towards World Class Manufacturing

These topical missions analyse key Japanese business practices & manufacturing methods: 'KAIZEN', 'JIT' (Just in Time), 'TQC' (Total Quality Control) and 'TQM' (Total Quality Management).
Includes visits to some of the world’s most advanced factories.

- Intermediary-level session (for Managers) course dates: June 12 - 19 June 2006.
Application deadline: extended to 6 April 2006.  Pre-departure briefing: 9 – 10 May 2006 in Dublin - Ireland.
http://www.eujapan.com/europe/wcm.html 

- Advanced-level session (for Executives) course dates: from 6 to 10 November 2006.
Application deadline: 13 September 2006 (date to be confirmed).
http://www.eujapan.com/europe/wcm_executive.html

HRTP - Japan Industry Insight - for EU managers

Four or five-week training programme, designed to give a detailed insight into all aspects of Japanese business and commercial practices. Includes negotiation simulation exercises, language classes and optional individual company visits. 

- HRTP-40: course dates: from 29 May to 23 (30) June 2006, optional fifth week.
Application deadline: 5 April 2006. Pre-departure briefing in Brussels: 28 April 2006.
http://www.eujapan.com/europe/hrtp_eu.html

DBP - Distribution & Business Practices in Japan
With this topical mission, participants will be able to learn what the Japanese are doing to achieve customer satisfaction, and how to enter the Japanese market. The main target sectors are foods & beverages, commodities export, consumer goods, textiles, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and transportation, distribution & logistics services.

- DBP 2007 course dates: March 2007 (with an optional visit to FoodEx Japan).
Application deadline: January 2007.
http://www.eujapan.com/europe/dbp.html

Cost of the Courses
There are NO TUITION FEES for any course.  For the HRTP course, the EU-Japan Centre COVERS training-related charges AND accommodation costs. Participants from SMEs may be awarded a European Commission grant to help cover living costs (JPY 10000 = +/- € 72,- per day) - i.e. only travel and sundry living expenses will be payable by participants.

For other courses, the EU-Japan Centre covers costs directly related to the training element, whilst participants have to cover travel, accommodation and living costs.

 
Eligibility of the Candidates
- must be nationals of an EU Member State
- must work for an organisation that is >50% EU or Japanese-owned, or a subsidiary thereof
- must be presented by their employer and be able to participate in the entire programme
- must have a reasonable command of English
- should be managers from industrial companies
- should have a minimum of 5 to 10 years’ experience in industry.

Online information – all courses: http://www.eujapan.com/europe/training.html

OTHER ACTIVITIES

In addition to these above-mentioned activities, we would be most grateful if you could advertise a WCM workshop, a joint event organised by Enterprise Ireland and the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation and targeted at engineers, experts, business leaders and academics.

Workshop on best Practice in Europe, Japan and the USA
Achieving Performance Excellence - The Route to Competitiveness - Dublin Castle – 9-10 May 2006

Leading companies coming from Europe, Japan and the USA will share their secrets and explain how they are facing up to global competition.

Built on the success of the 2004 "Workshop on World Class Manufacturing in Europe: Sharing experiences between European managers - Adapting Japanese production principles along European production lines", the 2006 "Workshop on Best Practice" will be structured under four themes: People, Operations, Marketing and Innovation and will cover the sectors of Engineering, Food & Consumer Goods and ICT/Electronics - Software.
The interaction between European, Japanese and North American implementation of best practice will provide both speakers and attendees with the opportunity to see and hear how leading organisations are achieving high levels of performance improvement and competitiveness in today’s demanding environment throughout the globe.

For more information on the workshop, please contact Simon Craig Gray at:

Tel: +32 2 282 0047 - E-mail: simon@eujapan.com
http://www.eujapan.com/europe/workshop.html