Breaking Limits: My Journey with TOC
Gill West
Hertz CEO
BREAKING LIMITS: GOING BEYOND THE CONSTRAINT
Goldratt Global
Annual Conference
Kyoto, Japan21–22 July
Plant
Tours- 20 July
pre-conference - 23 July
post-conference
Real improvement starts with the right leverage point.
In Kyoto, TOC practitioners from around the world come together to learn and share how leaders break performance ceilings: identifying the true constraint, aligning the system around it, and then going beyond, through real TOC applications across industry, R&D, large-scale programs, and national-level initiatives.
Breaking Limits:
Going Beyond the Constraint
Two days of actionable TOC thinking: how to identify the limiting factor, eliminate the vicious cycles that keep it in place, and build a repeatable approach to ongoing breakthrough.
High-impact keynotes
from global leaders and innovators
Breakout sessions
featuring real case studies and measurable TOC results
Plant tours
that show how breakthrough is applied, systematically, on the shop floor
A community of practitioners
executives, transformation leaders, and TOC champions
Featured Keynote Presentations
Can We Cure Cancer Like the Flu? Applying TOC to Cutting-Edge Bioscience Innovation
Dr. Shin Kaneko
Center for iPS Cell Research and Application,
Kyoto University
Tatsuo Ogawa
Panasonic Group;
Chief Technology Officer
Can we achieve 10X productivity in whole engineering chain?
Applying TOC to electric vehicle battery collaboration
Mr. Hiroaki Koda
Chairman of BASC (Battery Association for Supply Chain)
CEO of Prime Planet Energy and Solutions
(a Toyota-Panasonic Electric Vehicle Battery Company)
Maintaining Operational and Customer Service Excellence Amid Turbulence
Matt Sparks
Senior Vice President – Operations and Customer Center (OCC)
and Ops Analytics for Delta Air Lines.
Pushing Boundaries by Challenging Constraints - The Art of The Possible
General Charles R. Hamilton
U.S. Army, Ret.
Lieutenant General Carlton D. Everhart II
U.S. Air Force, Ret.
Executing Digital Portfolios at Scale
Speed, alignment, and predictability through the principles of the Theory of Constraints
Paulo Pires
CIO of Vale
(one of the world’s largest mining companies and the largest producer of iron ore and nickel)
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Breakout Sessions:
Real Implementations,
Real Results
Breakouts are designed to move from inspiration to execution: practical frameworks, implementation lessons, and what it took to get measurable outcomes (not just “nice ideas”). Practical case studies, presented by the leaders who designed and led the transformations, from organizations around the world and across industries including Manufacturing, MRO, IT, Services, Defense, Supply Chain, Retail, Engineering, and Construction.
Applying the TOC Framework to Break Inertia
An interactive workshop led by Rami Goldratt and Ajai Kapoor
Many chronic challenges persist not because they are unsolvable… but because the way organizations manage work creates vicious cycles that block flow. Projects slow down. Priorities conflict. Teams stay busy — yet progress stalls.
In this workshop, based on the principles from Mastering Flow, participants will learn how to identify the vicious cycle in their operations, challenge the assumptions that keep it in place, and define practical tactics to break it, restoring flow and accelerating execution.
Identify the vicious cycle that keeps the system where it is
Challenge the assumption that keep the system in inertia
Create the conditions to dramatically improve flow
How to cause the change and build momentum?
Plant Tours
(on 20th and 23rd)
As part of the conference experience, guests are invited to exclusive, behind-the-scenes visits to world-class, state-of-the-art plants before and after the conference. These curated tours offer rare access to exceptional operations, where craftsmanship, innovation, and operational excellence come together at the highest level.
Suruga Manufacturing Platform
(MISUMI Group)
At the MISUMI Group Suruga Manufacturing Platform, fully customized mechanical components, down to a single unit, are produced with short lead times in an environment where every order is different. By evolving TPS with AI and digital automation, Suruga achieves smooth, reliable flow at scale, manufacturing completely different products every day while freeing people to focus on high-value improvement.
Yamaha Motor
At Yamaha Motor, advanced automation and human craftsmanship come together to assemble vehicles with exceptional quality and precision. Step inside the assembly plant to see how tradition, innovation, and smart manufacturing flow together to create some of the world’s most admired machines.
CiRA
At CiRA, world-leading iPS cell science is transformed into repeatable, real-world medical application through a relentless focus on reliability, standardization, and scale. Step inside to see how complex, high-variability biological work is structured, automated, and redesigned to shorten the path from discovery to clinical impact.
Prime Planet Energy & Solutions, Inc. (PPES) JV of Toyota & Panasonic
Prime Planet Energy & Solutions (PPES), a joint venture of Toyota and Panasonic, operates one of the world’s most advanced lithium-ion battery manufacturing systems, scaling BEV production with speed, reliability, and precision. See how TPS, real-time visibility, and disciplined problem-solving are applied at massive scale to align cultures, manage complexity, and sustain rapid growth.
Lixil
LIXIL is the only manufacturer in Japan that produces all core home components in-house, operating fully integrated factories that transform ceramic powder into finished sanitary products at scale. Step inside to see how craftsmanship, automation, and process innovation combine to slash lead times, save water, and deliver sustainable, high-quality products worldwide.
Mazda
At Mazda’s birthplace in Hiroshima, craftsmanship, innovation, and the monozukuri spirit come together inside an active assembly plant and the Mazda Museum. Walk the line where vehicles are built by skilled hands, explore Mazda’s engineering heritage, and see how tradition and modern manufacturing flow together to create cars with character and precision.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Discover Kyoto
Combining world-class learning with the beauty and traditions of Kyoto makes the conference experience truly unforgettable.
Known for its historic temples, serene gardens, traditional neighborhoods, and exceptional cuisine, Kyoto offers visitors a unique glimpse into Japan’s heritage and craftsmanship.
Many conference participants choose to arrive a few days early or extend their stay to explore iconic sites such as the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), the bamboo groves of Arashiyama, and the thousands of torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine.
Visitors arriving before the conference will also have the opportunity to experience Gion Matsuri, Kyoto’s most famous festival. The Grand Parade on July 17 fills the streets with magnificent traditional floats, music, and vibrant celebrations, one of Japan’s most spectacular cultural events.
Event Location
Hotel Okura Kyoto |
Luxury Hotel in Kyoto
The conference will take place at the iconic Hotel Okura Kyoto, a refined luxury hotel set along the Kamogawa River in the heart of historic Kyoto. Blending timeless Japanese aesthetics with world-class hospitality, the Hotel Okura offers a serene and sophisticated setting, perfect for deep thinking, meaningful dialogue, and memorable connections. Kyoto, Japan
Frequently asked questions
The Goldratt Global Annual Conference is a premier international event where leaders, practitioners, and learners come together to explore and expand practical applications of the Theory of Constraints (TOC), share breakthroughs, and deepen their impact across industries.
The conference takes place 21–22 July at the Okura Luxary Hotel in Kyoto, Japan. Plant tours are scheduled for 20 July and on 23 July.
- TOC practitioners and implementers
- Business leaders and executives
- Operational excellence and continuous improvement professionals
- Educators and students interested in TOC
- Anyone looking to break limits and improve organizational throughput, flow and performance
Early registration is $400 per person.
- Access to all main sessions and panels
- Plant Tours
- Refreshments and Lunch
- Note: Travel, accommodation, and meals outside of conference breaks are not included.
Most sessions are conducted in English, with possible support or interpretation depending on the schedule and attendees.
Plant tours can be selected during the registration process. In the registration section, you will be asked whether you would like to join a tour and to select your preferred option (if available). Each participant may register for one tour per day only. Spaces are limited and allocated on a first-registered, first-served basis. After registration, you will receive detailed logistics information, including departure and return details.