Announcement of the 2026 Exam Schedule for the 'Production Meister® Certification'

The Human Resources Development Support Division of Japan Management Association Management Center Inc. (President: Shiroku Cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter JMAM), which provides education and training menus for companies and individuals, has announced the 2026 exam schedule (39th, 40th, 41st, and 42nd) for the 'Production Meister® Certification', an educational program and qualification certification system aimed at developing core human resources in the manufacturing industry.

Also, starting today, Thursday, May 28, 2026, we have started accepting applications for the 39th exam [Exam date: Sunday, July 26, 2026, Target: Corporations, Individuals].

Click here for details on the 'Production Meister® Certification'

What is the 'Production Meister® Certification'?

JMAM offers the 'Production Meister®', an educational program and qualification certification system aimed at developing core human resources in the manufacturing industry. It systematizes learning items into four hierarchical levels from new employees to managers based on six important items in the manufacturing industry: 'R (Role), Q (Quality Control), C (Cost Control), D (Delivery/Production Control), S (Safety Management), and E (Environmental Management)'. Based on these, we provide various services such as 'Input (learning materials)', 'Level check/skill certification (certification exam)', and 'Practical support (training, seminars)'. So far, it has been introduced as a promotion requirement or training system by about 500 companies (*1).

The 'Production Meister® Certification' started in 2012 as an exam to objectively confirm knowledge and skills, and the number of successful candidates up to the 37th exam in fiscal 2025 has reached approximately 30,000 (*2).

To 'develop core human resources who support manufacturing sites', it is required to recognize one's own role, foster a high desire for improvement, and acquire a wide range of knowledge about production, along with improving skills and technical capabilities.

Through this certification and related services, please systematically learn the knowledge and skills required at manufacturing sites, and utilize them for visualizing the level of acquisition, individual capability development, and organizational development.

*1 Cumulative total up to 2025. (According to JMAM research)

*2 'Number of examinees and successful candidates for the Production Meister Certification' (According to JMAM research) https://meister.jmam.co.jp/data.html

'Production Meister® Certification' 2026 Exam Schedule

Exam Number

Exam Date

Implementation Format

Application Period

Result Dispatch Date (Planned)

39th

2026

July 26 (Sun)

[Corporate Application]

- Group Venue

- Public Venue

- Online (IBT)

[Individual Application]

- Public Venue

[Corporate Application]

2026

May 28 (Thu)

- June 18 (Thu)

[Individual Application]

2026

May 28 (Thu)

- June 12 (Fri)

2026

August 21 (Fri)

40th

2026

October 18 (Sun)

[Corporate Application]

- Group Venue

- Online (IBT)

[Corporate Application]

2026

August 20 (Thu)

- September 20 (Thu)

2026

November 17 (Tue)

41st

2027

January 17 (Sun)

[Corporate Application]

- Group Venue

- Public Venue

- Online (IBT)

[Individual Application]

- Public Venue

[Corporate Application]

2026

November 19 (Thu)

- December 10 (Thu)

[Individual Application]

2026

November 19 (Thu)

- December 4 (Fri)

2027

February 10 (Wed)

42nd

2027

March 21 (Sun)

[Corporate Application]

- Group Venue

- Online (IBT)

[Corporate Application]

- Group Venue

2027

February 4 (Thu)

- February 22 (Mon)

- Online

2027

February 4 (Thu)

- February 15 (Mon)

2027

April 19 (Tue)

* The 40th and 42nd exams are for corporate applications only.

* Three exam formats are available depending on the application method.

[Corporate Application]

Group Venue

A format where you prepare a venue such as a conference room within your company to take the exam.

Online (IBT)

A format where you take the exam via the Internet from a computer that meets the recommended environment.

Click here for the environment check site:

https://oltc.ijuken.com/oltc/client/environment/

[Corporate Application / Individual Application Common]

Public Venue

A format where you take the exam at a designated test venue. (Test locations: Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Kokura)

Application Requirements, Exam Fees

Exam Level

Application Requirements

Exam Fee (Tax Included)

Level 1

Taking or completing the officially certified correspondence education 'Production Meister® Level 1 Course'

12,100 yen / person

Level 2

Taking or completing the officially certified correspondence education 'Production Meister® Level 2 Course'

11,000 yen / person

Level 3

Taking or completing the officially certified correspondence education 'Production Meister® Level 3 Course'

9,900 yen / person

Basic Level

Taking or completing the officially certified correspondence education 'Production Meister® Basic Level Course'

6,600 yen / person

Students (including those who belong to a company and attend school)

5,500 yen / person

General (Anyone)

8,800 yen / person

Exam Overview

Scope of Questions

Click here for a list of certification items for each level:

https://meister.jmam.co.jp/dcms_media/other/meister_list.pdf

Question Format

Four-choice multiple-choice (fill-in-the-blank, appropriate/inappropriate selection, calculation problems, mini-cases)

Exam Method

Mark sheet method, Online (IBT) method

Number of Questions

Level 1, Level 2, Level 3: 50 questions

Basic Level: 60 questions

Passing Criteria

60 points or more out of 100 points

Certification Criteria

Level 1, Level 2, Level 3: Passing the certification exam + completing the officially certified correspondence education by the day before the exam

Basic Level: Passing the certification exam

* Please note that for Levels 1, 2, and 3, even if you obtain a passing score in the exam, you will not be certified if the officially certified correspondence education is not completed by the day before the exam.

Benefits of Acquiring the 'Production Meister® Certification'

For Corporations

Can systematically learn basic knowledge and abilities related to total production

Can be utilized as an objective goal for capability development by clarifying basic knowledge and capability standards in manufacturing companies

Since standards by role are clearly indicated, it can be used as a reference for human resource development and placement consideration

For Individuals

Can systematically and step-by-step learn the basics of production management, which is difficult to learn in daily work

Acquiring the certification serves as material for self-appeal both inside and outside the company

Click here for details on the 'Production Meister® Certification'

* For Levels 1, 2, and 3, in addition to passing the certification exam, completion of the officially certified correspondence education by the day before the exam is a certification requirement.

* 'Production Meister' is a registered trademark of Japan Management Association Management Center Inc.

JMAM Learning Content Linked with the 'Production Meister® Certification'

▶ Correspondence Education 'Production Meister Course (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Basic Level)'

'Production Meister® Certification' officially certified teaching materials

Can acquire the knowledge, skills, and mindset required for each level from new employees to managers

Supervised by consultants who have practiced improvements at production sites for many years

Click here for details:

https://meister.jmam.co.jp/study.html

* To take the 'Production Meister® Certification' Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3, taking and completing this correspondence education is required.

▶ Seminar 'Master Course (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Basic Level)'

An online seminar where you can learn effective exam preparation in one day, with over 80% of past attendees passing the certification

Can check the level of understanding through explanations of question trends and key points, and mock exams

Consultants who have practiced improvements at production sites for many years serve as instructors

Click here for details:

https://meister.jmam.co.jp/seminar/sm.html

▶ Book 'Revised 2nd Edition Production Meister® Basic Level Official Text'

Official text explaining basic attitudes, knowledge, and methods of production

Targeted at those up to 3 years of assignment to production sites and students aiming for employment at manufacturers

The 'Revised 2nd Edition' adds content such as SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and production automation (Smart Factory)

Click here for details:

https://pub.jmam.co.jp/book/b621879.html

'Manufacturing Human Resource Development' Support Services Based on the 'Production Meister®' Program

With JMAM's know-how in supporting human resource development for companies and organizations over many years, we comprehensively support human resource development in the manufacturing industry based on the 'Production Meister®' program.

Technical Staff / Manufacturing Human Resource Training Click here for details:

https://www.jmam.co.jp/hrm/service/training/course-map/manufacturing.html

e-Learning 'Technology / Skill Library' Click here for details:

https://www.jmam.co.jp/hrm/service/dir/el-tech-lib/

Japan Management Association Management Center <JMAM>

Established in 1991 by spinning off from the Japan Management Association (JMA).

Its pillars are the Learning Design Business (human resource development support, publishing) and the Time Design Business (notebooks such as NOLTY). With the purpose of 'Being close to growth.', JMAM acts as a partner who stays close to the growth of each individual and guides them to the state they want to be in.

JMAM Corporate Site