Shingo Principles and High Reliability Organizations: A Natural Alignment

In industries where failure is not an option—think healthcare, nuclear power, or aerospace—organizations must operate with a level of discipline and resilience that goes beyond traditional management approaches.

These are what we call High Reliability Organizations (HROs): entities that consistently deliver safe, high-quality outcomes in complex, high-risk environments.

At the same time, many organizations looking to elevate their performance are turning to the Shingo Model, a framework for enterprise excellence that emphasizes cultural transformation through timeless principles like Respect Every Individual, Continuous Improvement, and Lead with Humility.

So, how do HRO principles and the Shingo Model align? Naturally and powerfully.

Shared Foundations: HRO Priorities Meet Shingo Principles

Both HROs and Shingo-based organizations aim to create systems that are not only efficient but deeply resilient—able to anticipate, prevent, and recover from disruptions. Let’s look at how they line up:

1

Preoccupation with Failure → Seek Perfection
High Reliability Organizations maintain constant vigilance, actively looking for early signs of failure or risk. This aligns with the Shingo principle of Seek Perfection, which fosters a continuous improvement mindset that helps prevent complacency.
Shingo Workshop Application: Discover Excellence Workshop teaches how to identify system weaknesses and build a culture of proactive improvement.

2

Deference to Expertise → Respect Every Individual
HROs rely on the knowledge of those closest to the work, rather than hierarchical authority. The Shingo principle Respect Every Individual supports this by empowering all employees to contribute insights and make informed decisions.
Shingo Workshop Application: Empower Workshop equips teams with tools to involve everyone in decision-making and problem-solving.

3

Resilience → Scientific Thinking
The ability to adapt and recover quickly from unexpected challenges is key in high-risk industries. Shingo’s Scientific Thinking promotes structured problem-solving and rapid learning cycles to strengthen organizational resilience.
Shingo Workshop Application: Cultural Enablers Workshop teaches PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Adjust) and A3 methodologies to enhance adaptability.

4

Reluctance to Simplify → Think Systemically
HROs avoid oversimplifying problems, recognizing the complexity of systems. The Shingo principle Think Systemically aligns perfectly, encouraging a holistic view of processes and cause-effect relationships.
Shingo Workshop Application: Systems Design Workshop helps leaders visualize processes and uncover systemic risks.

5

Commitment to Resilience → Create Value for the Customer
HROs ensure their teams are prepared for crisis and uncertainty. Shingo’s Create Value for the Customer principle emphasizes building sustainable, reliable systems that endure under pressure.
Shingo Workshop Application: Enterprise Alignment Workshop helps align strategy with resilience planning and execution.

Shingo Workshops: A Training Ground for High Reliability

What makes the Shingo approach unique is how deeply it connects principles to behavior. Through hands-on learning, coaching, and reflection, Shingo workshops help organizations live their values—not just talk about them.

Discover Excellence Workshop – Instills a mindset of constant vigilance and improvement, perfectly aligning with HROs' focus on anticipating failure before it occurs.
Cultural Enablers Workshop – Trains leaders to empower employees and defer to expertise, essential for agile decision-making in complex environments.
Systems Design Workshop – Promotes systems thinking and complexity management, both critical to ensuring reliable outcomes.
Enterprise Alignment Workshop – Ensures resilience is embedded in strategy, enabling organizations to navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Visit the HKPO services page for certifications, private workshops, coaching and more!

From Principles to Culture: Embedding Reliability and Excellence

At the heart of both HRO and Shingo thinking is this truth: long-term excellence isn’t just about following procedures. It’s about building a culture where people think critically, collaborate across boundaries, and continuously improve.

By aligning HRO priorities with Shingo principles—and putting them into action through structured workshops—organizations create a blueprint for sustainable reliability. The result? A workplace that’s not only safer and more efficient but also more adaptable, innovative, and aligned from top to bottom.

Whether you're in healthcare, energy, or manufacturing, this alignment offers a powerful path forward: one where cultural transformation supports operational excellence at every level.

Register now- for our HKPO Shingo Discover Excellence-Virtual Host Cleveland Clinic Akron General July 30-31, 2025: https://senseiondemand.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8d6J4LofR0GRpKihFGLGJg#/registration

For more information please visit: https://gohkpo.com/training/