how do you do the gemba walk

How to do a Gemba Walk:

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What are the steps to an effective Gemba Walk?

11 Steps to an Effective Gemba Walk. 1 1. Prepare the Team. It is important that the team members who will be observed and engaged during the walk have a good understanding of what a Gemba ... 2 2. Have a Plan. 3 3. Follow the Value Stream. 4 4. Always Focus on Process, Not People. 5 5. Document Your Observations. More items

What is the meaning of “Gemba Walk”?

Gemba or gemba walk (use a hard “G” for “Gemba Walk” pronunciation) is a Japanese term that means ‘’the real place’’ or ‘’the place where value is created’’. It basically refers to where your team gets most of the work done (where the real work happens). For example, for manufacturers, the ‘’gemba’’ is the factory floor and so on.

What are the most difficult things to do on A gemba?

One of the most difficult things to do on a Gemba walk is to put aside assumptions about why work is done the way that it is. Don’t assume that everything is being done according to the standard. Instead, ask employees why they do things the way they do.

Do I need a formal Gemba plan?

A formal plan is most important at the beginning stage of developing the fundamental skills of walking the Gemba. Leader Standard Work is a necessary step in the beginning stage until leaders develop so it is “the way they think and act” Here is a quick summary allowing you to get the most out of your Gemba Walk:

How do you complete the Gemba walk?

How To Do a Gemba Walk in 7 StepsMake a Plan. ... Invite Others. ... Ask Questions. ... It's about Process Observation. ... Only Document and Listen. ... Schedule Gemba Walks Regularly and At Different Times. ... Return and Connect with Employees.

What are the 4 steps to a Gemba walk?

While processes are unique for each company, any organization that wishes to conduct a Gemba Walk can be guided by the following steps:Give the team or employee to be observed the courtesy of a heads-up. ... Prepare the questions to get the information you need. ... Observe only; don't interfere. ... Record observations.

What is a Gemba Walk checklist?

Gemba Walk checklist is a list of validation points that each team leader must validate with the work units of their department while they execute a Gemba Walk. The checklist consists of questions used to validate pre-established standards and identify discrepancies between them.

What are the golden rules of Gemba?

5 golden rules of gemba management Check the Gembutsu ("relevant objectives" such as scrap, broken machines, returned goods, etc.) Perform temporary actions. Find the root cause. Standardize to avoid recurrences.

What does Gemba stand for?

the real placeGoing to Gemba The literal translation for Gemba (現場) is 'the real place' and in business it refers to the real place where value is created, such as the factory floor.

How long should a Gemba walk take?

The gemba walk itself should take anywhere between 15 to 45 minutes.

What is the goal of a gemba walk?

The Gemba walk is an essential part of the Lean management philosophy. Its initial purpose is to allow managers and leaders to observe the actual work process, engage with employees, gain knowledge about the work process, and explore opportunities for continuous improvement.

What is gemba walk PDF?

A gemba walk checklist is a tool used by management leaders to capture first-hand observations of what is exactly going on at the actual place where work happens. It helps document insights from discussions with employees and serves as a reference tool on how to improve processes and reduce existing waste.

How do you pronounce gemba walk?

0:001:02Gemba Glossary - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow if your nurse your gumbo is the hospital floor face to face with patients. So you see the gumboMoreNow if your nurse your gumbo is the hospital floor face to face with patients. So you see the gumbo is any place you add value to your customer. And get your work done.

What are the 5 Whys in lean?

The 5 Whys concept is based on a simple premise: When a problem occurs, ask the question Why? up to five times, until a viable solution comes into view. The 5 Whys is a problem-solving technique designed to help companies uncover the root cause of a problem.

Is Gemba lean or Six Sigma?

The LEAN management philosophy includes the Gemba walk. This walk was created to enable managers and leaders to observe and engage with employees and gain insight into the work processThere are many ways to organize your lean six sigma processe... Learn More... and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

What are the 10 golden rules?

10 Golden Rules of Life :Do whatever you want to do. ... Treasure your physical and mental health both. ... Be honest with yourself and take good care of yourself. ... Adapt two Personalities: Creativity and Persistence. ... Be kind to others and yourself. ... Learn good habits from everyone you meet. ... Move fearlessly with positivity.More items...•

What are the 5 Whys in lean?

The 5 Whys concept is based on a simple premise: When a problem occurs, ask the question Why? up to five times, until a viable solution comes into view. The 5 Whys is a problem-solving technique designed to help companies uncover the root cause of a problem.

Is Gemba lean or Six Sigma?

The LEAN management philosophy includes the Gemba walk. This walk was created to enable managers and leaders to observe and engage with employees and gain insight into the work processThere are many ways to organize your lean six sigma processe... Learn More... and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

What is 5S in safety?

The term refers to five steps – sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain – that are also sometimes known as the five pillars of a visual workplace.

What is kaizen What are the five Gemba principle in Gemba management?

Combining the two words in the business context means that gemba is where the real, value-adding activities of improvement take place. Gemba kaizen consists of three approaches: management-oriented kaizen, group-oriented kaizen and individual kaizen.

What to do when conducting Gemba walks?

Managers and leaders must manifest the proper attitude when conducting Gemba Walks. Remember that this is about the process and not about the worker. Avoid giving suggestions or sharing your personal views but rather be attentive and learn new things from the insights of the worker.

How Long Should a Gemba Walk Take?

While there has yet to be a consensus among business management experts, a reasonable range for how long a Gemba Walk normally takes could be around 15 to 45 minutes per unit or department. A Gemba Walk of this duration can be adequate for asking questions with follow ups, documenting employee insights, and detecting potential improvements.

How Often Should You Do a Gemba Walk?

For example, if one of your goals as a business is to consistently meet quality objectives, then you might consider performing Gemba Walks more often than industry standards such as quarterly, monthly, or weekly.

What is the purpose of Gemba Walk?

Asking the most relevant and significant questions during the Gemba Walk leads to an interactive session with employees and helps build a positive relationship between managers and employees. You get to know where the gaps are by asking the right questions. Check the status of priorities and action plans and if they’re efficient to pass certain KPIs and improvement plans.

Why are Gemba walks important?

Whether on-site or remote and with or without a safety scope, Gemba Walks are important because they enable managers and leaders to see what processes are like on an operational level. Gemba Walks help eliminate incorrect assumptions about the workforce and drive changes with a lasting positive impact.

Why do large organizations do Gemba walks?

In the same way, large organizations might find themselves carrying out Gemba Walks more frequently than small to medium enterprises because there is a greater number of areas to improve. It is also based on who is performing a Gemba Walk like a branch manager can go to Gemba more often than a director of operations.

How does a virtual gemba walk work?

Virtual Gemba Walks are usually conducted via one-on-one video calls, online focus group discussions, and shadowing exercises, where a worker shares his/her screen while working and his/her manager quietly observes then asks questions when deemed fit. This makes Gemba Walks possible in this scenario without the need for the observer and employee to be physically present and at close proximity in one place.

What is Gemba walk?

It focuses on the field, which is where the real work takes place and where the added value is created. It is an essential aspect of the proper functioning of a business, which helps find improvement opportunities.

What does it mean to walk into a Gemba walk?

A leader must walk into a Gemba walk with an open mind; this means putting aside any assumptions about how work is done and not assuming that everything is done according to a standard.

Why are Gemba walks important?

Gemba Walks promote teamwork and the efficient exchange of information. They also provide an additional communication channel, allowing for better communication. Gemba walk s allow leaders to: Get employees to better understand the realities of the organization. Mobilize and motivate front-line employees .

Why is it important to use the Gemba app?

The Gemba walk app digitizes your walk so that you can optimize data collection time, analyze data in real-time and identify issues and opportunities proactively.

What does "gemba" mean in Japanese?

Gemba, also known as Genba (現場) is a Japanese word that means “field” or “place of work”. The term is often used in Lean Management to refer to the Gemba Walk, ...

What is the purpose of a Gemba walk?

The objective of the Gemba Walk is to “force” managers to leave their desks in order to see, observe, listen and question the work carried out by the front-line employees, directly in their workplace. To guarantee the success of a Gemba walk and achieve your business goals, you should focus on planning, execution and follow-up.

Why do people walk around in Gemba?

In fact, Gemba walks involve moving around the area in order to obtain information and data directly from the source without intermediaries. The person in charge has to analyze the situation by asking relevant open-ended questions that can highlight problems or areas of improvement in the field, such as:

Why do we do a Gemba walk?

Gemba walks help company leaders gain a real perspective on their business processes and procedures while connecting with their workers.

Why is a Gemba walk important?

The purpose of a Gemba Walk is to gain a real understanding of the process, obstacles, and areas that can be improved.

What software do you use to do a Gemba walk?

Use VKS software to structure your Gemba Walk.

What does "gemba" mean in Japanese?

The term “Gemba” is a Japanese word meaning “real place”. Instead of only evaluating company processes and data from an office, it is highly valuable to go to the Gemba, the real place, where value-creating work occurs.

Is a Gemba walk an employee evaluation?

Everyone should understand that this is not an employee evaluation or an audit, it is a process observation. An audit searches for compliance with existing standards while a Gemba Walk is searching for ways to improve process efficiency and mitigate waste. For this reason, a Gemba Walk should not surprise employees.

Is Gemba Walk an audit?

Everyone should understand that this is not an employee evaluation or an audit, it is a process observation. An audit searches for compliance with existing standards while a Gemba Walk is searching for ways to improve process efficiency and mitigate waste.

Do you have to do a Gemba walk in teams?

Invite Others. Though Gemba Walks do not always need to be done in teams, it is a good practice. Inviting other leaders from your company to participate provides varied perspectives and ultimately adds value to the walk. Those who are unfamiliar with a certain process are likely to ask different questions.

What to ask on a Gemba walk?

Instead, ask employees why they do things the way they do. Ask about how the work is documented, how they manage exceptions, and why operations are performed in a particular order.

Why is it important to walk a Gemba?

They should know that the purpose is ultimately to remove obstacles that make it more difficult for them to add the maximum amount of value.

What to do if changes are implemented following a Gemba walk?

If changes are implemented following a Gemba walk, be sure to return to the Gemba to observe those changes and verify that the desired result has been achieved. KPIs can give you some idea of how well the improvement is working, but nothing is as useful as first-hand observations.

Why do organizations use Gemba walks?

Organizations that effectively use Gemba Walks will create structure. For example, ThedaCare has created "STAT sheets" that provide consistent questions to be used by leaders at each level. Leaders also spend time at the Gemba to make sure they better understand the work... but at the same time, they don't worry about become experts in the work, because they can rely on the insights and expertise of front-line staff.

What questions does the manager ask during a Gemba walk?

During a Gemba Walk, the manager asks very in-depth questions about the process being observed. Who is involved? What materials are used? What do you do? How do you know what to do? When does the task take place? What depends on the outcome? MBWA does not involve that degree of depth, nor does it usually have the same focus on asking open ended questions.

How to encourage employees to do a Gemba walk?

It is a good idea to invite employees to suggest processes, shifts, or work areas that might benefit from a Gemba Walk. Not only will this potentially point you to opportunities to improve that you may have missed, but it will also make the process feel like more of a two-way street. Because they're the ones on the front line doing the work, they are more likely to have insight into the processes and areas that could use another set of eyes. Remember, the value you're bringing to the table is a fresh perspective on old processes. By asking people where this would be the most helpful, you're engaging them in the process and making it apparent that you're there to help, not criticize.

How to prepare employees for Gemba?

It is helpful to prepare employees at the Gemba by letting them know that you’ll be asking many questions about how, when, and why things are done. You should be clear that you aren’t looking for “right” answers, what you need far more are answers that are honest and complete.

Why are gemba walks important?

In recent years, gemba walks have become a popular management technique because they allow companies to gain valuable insights on their operations and supply chain. In fact, regular gemba walks help organizations identify opportunities for improvement.

What should managers ask during a gemba walk?

During gemba walks, managers should have a proactive attitude and ask in-depth questions about the different activities and processes (Who is in charge? What are the steps involved in this process? How often does this task have to be performed? How long does the process take? What is the margin of error? etc.). The questions will depend on your sector of activity and industry. The 5 Ws (Who, What, When, Where and Why) provide a great basis for the questions you should ask.

How to implement Gemba in your workplace?

If you want to implement regular gemba walks within your workplace, Gemba-Walk.com is your best ally. Our web application helps hundreds of companies strategically plan their gemba walks, gather detailed information, structure data and create reports to analyze KPIs. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or if you want to learn more about our technological solution.

Why should managers do Gemba walks?

Gemba Walks should foster greater communication, transparency and trust between the layers of the team and the stakeholders.

Should gemba walks be performed in teams?

While not all gemba walks should be performed in teams, it doesn’t hurt to bring along managers or employees from different departments in order to get fresh ideas and different points of view. People that are not familiar with certain processes are likely to ask different questions, which could help identify issues and areas of improvement.

Make A Plan

• Before setting out on a Gemba Walk, it is important to have a plan and pinpoint exactly what you set out to observe and achieve. You should have a defined purpose that targets a specific area of your operation and a general plan of how to view it. By limiting the scope or theme of each walk, you can remain focused and weed out distractions. When se...

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Invite Others

Ask Questions

It’S About Process Observation

only Document and Listen

Schedule Gemba Walks Regularly and at Different Times

Return and Connect with Employees