Top 5 Gemba Walks Apps

Gemba Walks are management practice where leaders and managers go to the “gemba,” which is the place where work is done, to observe, understand, and engage with the processes and people involved.

Here are the typical steps of a Gemba Walks:

1. Preparation:
   • Define the purpose of the Gemba Walk, whether it’s to identify inefficiencies, gather insights for improvement, or observe safety practices.
   • Determine the area or process you’ll be observing.
   • Notify the team in advance about the Gemba Walk and its purpose.
2. Observation:
   • Go to the designated area or process.
   • Observe the work being done without interrupting or influencing the process.
   • Pay attention to details such as workflows, interactions, safety practices, and adherence to standards.
3. Engagement:
   • Engage with the workers and team members involved in the process.
   • Ask open-ended questions to understand their perspective, challenges, and suggestions for improvement.
   • Encourage dialogue and participation to foster a culture of continuous improvement.
4. Documentation:
   • Take notes, photos, or videos to document your observations.
   • Capture any deviations from standards, safety concerns, or areas for improvement.
5. Reflection:
   • Reflect on your observations and insights gathered during the Gemba Walk.
   • Identify patterns, root causes of issues, and opportunities for improvement.
   • Consider how the findings align with organizational goals and objectives.
6. Action Planning:
   • Develop action plans based on the insights from the Gemba Walk.
   • Prioritize improvements based on their impact and feasibility.
   • Assign responsibilities and set deadlines for implementing changes.
7. Follow-up:
   • Follow up with the team to ensure that action plans are implemented effectively.
   • Monitor progress and measure the impact of improvements.
   • Schedule regular Gemba Walks to sustain the culture of continuous improvement.

Benefits of Gemba Walk:

1. Better Understanding: Gemba Walks provide firsthand insight into how work is actually being done, allowing leaders to better understand processes, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
2. Employee Engagement: Engaging with employees during Gemba Walks shows that leaders value their input and perspectives, leading to increased engagement, morale, and teamwork.
3. Problem Identification: Gemba Walks help identify problems, inefficiencies, and bottlenecks in processes that may not be apparent from reports or meetings alone.
4. Continuous Improvement: By regularly observing and engaging with processes at the gemba, organizations can foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
5. Quality and Safety: Gemba Walks help ensure that work is being done safely and according to quality standards by identifying safety hazards, deviations from standards, and opportunities to enhance quality.
6. Leadership Visibility: Gemba Walks demonstrate leadership’s commitment to understanding the frontline operations and supporting employees in their work.

Overall, Gemba Walks are a powerful management tool for driving operational excellence, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and achieving organizational goals.

Gemba walks are crucial for understanding processes, identifying improvement opportunities, and fostering communication within organizations.

While there are various checklist apps available, here are five that are highly regarded:

1. eAuditor Audits & Inspections: eAuditor is a versatile inspection app that allows users to build custom gemba walk checklists tailored to their specific needs. It offers features such as photo capture, and real-time collaboration.
2. Process Street: Process Street is a powerful workflow management platform that enables users to create interactive gemba walk checklists with ease. It offers features such as conditional logic, task assignments, and integration with other tools like Slack and Zapier.
3. SafetyCulture: SafetyCulture is a comprehensive safety management system that includes gemba walk checklists as part of its offering. It provides users with the ability to conduct inspections offline, generate reports, and track trends over time.
4. GoCanvas: GoCanvas is a mobile forms platform that allows users to create and deploy gemba walk checklists quickly. It offers features such as GPS tagging, electronic signatures, and integration with third-party systems like Salesforce and Dropbox.
5. Checklist.com: Checklist.com is a simple yet effective checklist app that can be used for gemba walks. It offers a library of pre-made templates that users can customize to suit their needs, as well as features such as task assignments and progress tracking.

Each of these apps has its strengths, so it’s essential to evaluate them based on your organization’s specific requirements and preferences. Additionally, consider factors such as ease of use, integration capabilities, and pricing when making your decision.