Tilo Schwarz to Speak at Lean Conference 2026

Tilo Schwarz at Lean Conference. We are excited to announce that Tilo Schwarz, one of the most recognized experts in Toyota Kata worldwide, will join the lineup of speakers at Lean TWI Summit 2026, taking place in Wrocław, Poland, on June 9–10, 2026.

Tilo’s presence is not limited to a keynote. He will also lead two highly practical workshops, offering participants the opportunity to experience Kata in action.

This year, Day 2 of the conference will create a unique convergence between two powerful approaches to scientific thinking: Toyota Kata and Theory of Constraints (TOC). That’s why we’re bringing two international authorities together: Tilo Schwarz and Rami Goldratt.

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Who is Tilo Schwarz?

Tilo Schwarz is a Lean leadership practitioner, author, and coach who has been helping organizations around the world build a culture of continuous improvement based on scientific thinking and coaching.

As a Plant Manager at Festool – a well-known German power tool manufacturer – Tilo began implementing Toyota Kata in 2007, participating directly in Mike Rother’s pioneering research on the topic. His leadership helped embed daily improvement routines throughout all areas of the plant.

The outcome? Festool’s site, under Tilo’s leadership, earned prestigious accolades such as:

• Factory of the Year (A.T. Kearney),

• Industrial Excellence Award (WHU/INSEAD).

Today, Tilo is the founder of the Kata Coaching Dojo – a unique space where leaders develop coaching routines, train scientific thinking habits, and strengthen their teams’ ability to learn and adapt.

In 2023, he co-authored the book “Giving Wings to Her Team” with Prof. Jeffrey Liker, author of The Toyota Way. This business novel explores the story of a leader learning how to apply coaching Kata to build a resilient, learning-focused team.

Tilo speaks, trains, and coaches leaders around the world – from mid-sized businesses to global enterprises – guiding them to become better coaches and creators of learning environments.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tilo/

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What is Toyota Kata?

Scientific Thinking as a Daily Team Habit

Toyota Kata, developed by Mike Rother, is not a set of tools – it’s a way of thinking and acting, practiced daily by individuals and teams. It’s about making improvement a habit, supported by a structured routine.

The method consists of two core elements:

• Improvement Kata – a pattern of goal setting, grasping the current condition, defining the next target condition, and running experiments (PDCA).

• Coaching Kata – a structured way for leaders to help others practice the Improvement Kata, reinforcing learning and reflection.

Toyota Kata builds the mindset and capabilities necessary to adapt, experiment, and thrive in a constantly changing environment. It’s not about finding the “perfect solution” – it’s about developing the thinking process that leads there.

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Tilo Schwarz at Lean Conference – Sessions

Tilo Schwarz will be speaking and teaching on June 10, 2026 (Day 2 of the Summit). His agenda includes:

Keynote Tilo Schwarz at Conference: Giving Wings to Your Team – The Toyota Kata Way

Duration: 30 minutes

A powerful session about what it takes to lead learning teams in uncertain times. Tilo will share how coaching for scientific thinking can transform both people and performance – not by giving answers, but by asking better questions and building daily habits of reflection and experimentation.

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Workshop #1 Tilo Schwarz at Conference: Coaching Dojo – The Secret to Coaching Like a Champion

Duration: 2 hours
Max participants: 30

A practical, hands-on workshop where participants will train core coaching skills under real-world conditions. The Coaching Dojo is a “flight simulator” for leadership – helping you build instinctive coaching habits even under pressure.

Participants will experience:

• The Coaching Kata routine

• Dojo-based deliberate practice

• Coaching micro-skills for daily leadership interactions

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Workshop #2 Tilo Schwarz at Conference: A Coach in Your Pocket – How AI Can Elevate Your Leadership

Duration: 60 minutes
Audience: No limit (room capacity only); interactive, table-based session

This workshop explores how AI tools can support leaders in preparing for coaching conversations, practicing question-based thinking, and building strong reflective habits. It’s not about replacing human leadership – it’s about making growth and preparation more accessible, every day.

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Toyota Kata + TOC – Two Paths, One Way of Thinking

For the first time, Lean TWI Summit will bring together two highly respected frameworks for organizational improvement:

• Toyota Kata, focused on building scientific thinking as a team habit,

• Theory of Constraints (TOC), focused on leveraging constraints and systemic flow improvement.

That’s why we’re bringing in not only Tilo Schwarz, but also Rami Goldratt – the son of Dr. Eliyahu Goldratt, creator of TOC.

Both will deliver keynote speeches and run practical, workshop-style sessions. Their perspectives – though developed in different contexts – reinforce the same message:
Improvement is a mindset. Learning is a system. Growth starts with people.

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Register Now and Save 20%

🎟 Want to join Tilo, Rami, and 600+ other leaders at Lean TWI Summit 2026?

Complete our short pre-registration form (takes less than 20 seconds) to:

• Secure your early spot

• Receive 20% off for your entire organization

• Get priority access to limited workshop seats

🔗 Form link:
https://forms.gle/KajJtn4yjX5FnuL1A

Note: This discount is available for a limited time and will soon be replaced by regular paid registration.

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Meet Tilo Schwarz at Lean Conference

Lean TWI Summit 2026 will be held on June 9–10, 2026, in Wrocław – one of Poland’s most vibrant and innovative cities.

This will be the largest and most comprehensive Lean conference in Poland, uniting the worlds of Lean, TWI, TOC, Toyota Kata, and AI in leadership.

Join us for two days of insight, practice, and community – and get ready to give wings to your team.