Gemba Walk is a Japanese word borrowed from their business culture. A Gemba walk is a visit to a particular location of a lean manufacturing facility to provide managers with a personal look at how things work. The work process is a far superior approach to brainstorming at a desk for problem-solving.
The impact of these trips is increased with the use of a Gemba walk checklist. It allows the team to stay focused and assures that management makes the proper inquiries, preventing items from being missed. This article will walk you through the most relevant free checklists for Gemba walks.
- Identify a Central Idea
The success of a Gemba Walk depends on careful preparation for continuous improvement. Your walk’s success on the shop floor greatly depends on the topic you decide on. How do I choose? Think about what matters most and how quickly you want them addressed. You may wish to enhance productivity by decreasing costs, boosting safety, eliminating paperwork, or boosting employee morale.
If you are having trouble deciding on a topic for your investigation, you can always consult the company’s performance records or have a group strategy meeting with other managers. Even something as simple as an email poll of the company’s management and employees can help.
- Instruct Your Staff to Prepare in Advance
Share the news that a Gemba walk is in the works for staff. Explain to them why and how it will work. It would be best if you educated them about the value stream of a Gemba Walk to gain the respect of your staff. Everyone participating in process improvement should be assured that their jobs are safe. The goal is to find ways to improve the business, not to dismiss anybody.
Being honest with your employees may ease stress among your staff. It is a corrective action that during a Gemba Walk, tasks are carried out in the same manner as on any other workday.
- Put Your Attention on the Process, not Individuals
It is not the focus of an effective Gemba walk to single out problems or star employees. No one is receiving a personal profile. The improvement opportunities of your business processes are being scrutinized. Finding out the root cause of where you excel and where you could use some work is part of improving your knowledge of the whole. Keep in mind that this is a reflection of the organization and not of any employee’s efforts.
- Stay With the Flow of Money
Keep tabs on the places where real value creation happens. With this strategy, you will be able to identify inefficient processes more quickly. Which division in your company stands out as the most productive and positive? Take a close look at their method and figure out how you can use it elsewhere in your business.
If you find a practice that consistently delivers results, it should be implemented in all relevant areas. Similarly, if you encounter a problem or setback, you should use it as a sign to go in a specific direction.
- Record What You Notice
Make sure you keep a copy of your findings. Use a smartphone to capture your surroundings in any way you see fit (pictures or voice memos). Similarly, you can use a tried-and-true method of writing things down for safety hazards. Noting down your thoughts and findings from your Gemba Walk is crucial.
After doing your Gemba Walk, use your notes to compose a report. You will have documented information obtained directly from the source of the value. As a result, you can be sure that your report will be informative and accurate.
- Interrogate Your Employees Openly
Ask your staff questions openly. Imagine yourself as a reporter in search of information. All the details you need may be gained by asking three simple questions.
Gemba Walk Checklist
Gemba visits are crucial to lean management because they provide the groundwork for Kaizen-style continuous improvement. It is only useful to conduct Gemba walks when they are well-organized and aimed at improving standard work by keeping the situation on track and preventing significant problems from arising.