Gemba Walk

Gemba Walk is a management practice originating from the Japanese term “gemba,” which translates to “the real place” or “the actual place.” In business, it refers to the practice of leaders or managers going to the actual location where work is done to observe processes, gather information, and engage with employees. This approach is commonly used in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and service sectors to understand operational realities, identify areas for improvement, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

What is a Gemba Walk?

• It involves managers and leaders physically going to where value-creating work happens (e.g. factory floor, service desk, etc.) to observe processes firsthand.
• The term “gemba” means “the real place” in Japanese, emphasizing the importance of observing actual work rather than relying on reports or data.
• It is a fundamental part of the lean management philosophy, originating from the Toyota Production System.

Purpose of a Gemba Walk

• To gain a deeper understanding of work processes by directly observing them in action.
• To identify waste, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement in processes.
• To engage with employees, ask questions, and gather insights from those doing the work.
• To foster a culture of continuous improvement by involving leaders in process observation.

How to Conduct a Gemba Walk

1. Make a plan and set objectives for the walk (e.g. productivity, safety, quality).
2. Observe processes without interrupting, taking notes or recording observations.
3. Ask questions of employees to understand the rationale behind processes (“ask why”).
4. Analyze findings, identify improvement opportunities, and share them with the team.
5. Implement changes and conduct follow-up Gemba Walks to assess their impact.

The Gemba Walk is a powerful lean tool that enables leaders to gain firsthand knowledge, identify waste, and drive continuous improvement by going to see where the real work happens.

Gemba Walk is a lean management practice that involves going to the actual place where work is done (the “gemba”) to observe processes, identify problems, and explore opportunities for continuous improvement. Here are the key points about Gemba Walks:

During a Gemba Walk, managers or leaders typically:

1. Observe: They watch the actual work being performed, paying attention to details, workflows, and interactions between employees and processes.
2. Ask Questions: Engage with frontline employees to understand their perspective, challenges they face, and gather insights into how things are done.
3. Problem-Solve: Address issues or inefficiencies discovered during the walk, either by providing immediate solutions or planning for future improvements.
4. Support and Encourage: Show support for employees, recognize good practices, and encourage a culture of innovation and problem-solving.

Gemba Walks are not just about management inspecting operations; they’re about fostering a collaborative environment where everyone is empowered to contribute to improvement initiatives. It’s a powerful tool for driving organizational excellence and continuous improvement.

Organize Gemba Walk

Organizing a Gemba Walk effectively involves careful planning and communication to ensure that the objectives are clear and that everyone involved understands their roles. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to organize a Gemba Walk:

1. Define Objectives: Determine the purpose of the Gemba Walk. Is it to improve a specific process, address a problem, or simply to understand daily operations better? Clear objectives will guide the focus of the walk.
2. Select Participants: Identify who needs to be involved in the Gemba Walk based on the objectives. This typically includes managers, supervisors, relevant team members, and sometimes external consultants or specialists.
3. Choose the Location: Select the specific area or process within your organization where the Gemba Walk will take place. It could be a factory floor, a hospital ward, a customer service center, or any other relevant work environment.
4. Schedule the Walk: Set a date and time for the Gemba Walk that works for all participants. Ensure that it doesn’t disrupt critical operations and that key personnel are available to participate.
5. Communicate Expectations: Clearly communicate the objectives, agenda, and expectations for the Gemba Walk to all participants. Emphasize the importance of active observation, engagement with frontline employees, and a collaborative mindset.
6. Prepare Participants: Provide any necessary background information, data, or context related to the area or process being observed. Encourage participants to come prepared with questions, hypotheses, or improvement ideas.
7. Conduct the Walk: On the scheduled day, gather all participants at the designated location. Begin the Gemba Walk by explaining the objectives and ensuring everyone understands their roles. Encourage active observation, note-taking, and interaction with frontline employees.
8. Document Findings: Capture observations, insights, and any issues identified during the Gemba Walk. Use photos, videos, or written notes to document important details.
9. Debrief and Discuss: After the walk, reconvene with participants to debrief and discuss what was observed. Encourage open dialogue, sharing of perspectives, and brainstorming of potential solutions or improvements.
10. Develop Action Plan: Based on the findings from the Gemba Walk, develop an action plan outlining specific steps to address issues, implement improvements, or further investigate areas of concern. Assign responsibilities and set timelines for implementation.
11. Follow-Up: Monitor progress on the action plan, provide support as needed, and schedule follow-up Gemba Walks to assess the impact of implemented changes and continue the cycle of continuous improvement.

By following these steps, you can effectively organize and conduct a Gemba Walk that leads to meaningful insights, improvements, and engagement within your organization.

Using eAuditor Audits & Inspections app to facilitate Gemba Walks can streamline the process, enhance data collection, and improve collaboration among participants. Here’s how you can organize a Gemba Walk using eAuditor Audits & Inspections:

1. Define Checklist and Parameters: Customize the checklist within eAuditor Audits & Inspections app to align with the objectives of your Gemba Walk. Include items such as safety observations, process efficiency indicators, quality checkpoints, and areas for improvement.
2. Schedule the Walk in the eAuditor Audits & Inspections: Use the eAuditor Audits & Inspections‘ scheduling feature to set the date, time, and location for the Gemba Walk. Invite participants and provide them with access to the app to view the details and prepare accordingly.
3. Preparation and Training: Ensure all participants are familiar with the eAuditor Audits & Inspections app and its features before the Gemba Walk. Provide any necessary training or guidance on how to use the app effectively for data collection, note-taking, and collaboration.
4. Conduct the Gemba Walk: On the scheduled day, gather participants at the designated location and initiate the Gemba Walk. Use the eAuditor Audits & Inspections app to guide the process, follow the checklist, and record observations in real-time.
5. Capture Data and Insights: Use the eAuditor Audits & Inspections app to capture data, photos, videos, and notes during the Gemba Walk. Encourage participants to input their observations directly into the app, facilitating real-time collaboration and information sharing.
6. Instant Reporting and Analysis: Take advantage of the eAuditor Audits & Inspections app’s reporting and analysis features to generate instant reports and dashboards based on the data collected during the Gemba Walk. This allows for quick analysis of trends, identification of issues, and prioritization of improvement opportunities.
7. Collaborative Action Planning: Use the eAuditor Audits & Inspections app to facilitate collaborative action planning at the end of the Gemba Walk. Discuss findings, prioritize improvement initiatives, assign responsibilities, and set timelines directly.
8. Follow-Up and Tracking: Utilize the eAuditor Audits & Inspections app to track the progress of action plans, monitor key performance indicators, and schedule follow-up Gemba Walks as needed. The eAuditor Audits & Inspections can serve as a centralized platform for ongoing communication and accountability.
9. Continuous Improvement: Leverage the insights gained from Gemba Walks conducted using eAuditor Audits & Inspections app to drive continuous improvement initiatives within your organization. Regularly review and refine the checklist, parameters, and processes to ensure effectiveness.

By leveraging eAuditor Audits & Inspections for Gemba Walks, you can enhance efficiency, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making, ultimately leading to more impactful improvements within your organization.