Gemba walks are workplace walkthroughs used to observe employees and their tasks and identify productivity gains. It’s a crucial way of gathering information, and it usually happens when a big project is underway.
That’s how you know areas that need improvement. Having a Gemba walk checklist makes the process easier. Questions are the most essential part of the checklist. But you can’t write the questions before understanding the process. Use these steps as your Gemba walk blueprint.
If you’re new to Gemba walks, or are looking for the Gemba walk meaning, then read on.
- Define Your Theme
You will only have a productive Gemba walk when you plan it properly, including picking a theme. Look at your priorities to help you narrow the focus of your effective Gemba walk. Your theme can be anything from proper management to cost efficiency. Once you have a theme, you can come up with questions to ask during the exercise.
- Prepare Your Team
The first thing you have to do is inform the employees about the upcoming Gemba walk. Each team member should know what the theme will be and when the exercise will be taking place. If your team leader and members don’t understand the benefits of the exercise, they won’t give it their all. Explain that the Gemba walk is meant to improve the company and not fire anyone. That removes the staff’s stress and helps them focus on the task at hand.
- Focus On the Process Rather Than the People
Your aim for doing a Gemba walk is to locate improvement opportunities. So you should write questions that help you assess the process, not the person. This is a clever way of avoiding common Gemba walk mistakes. It shouldn’t look like you are passing the blame on anyone.
- Follow The Value Stream
You will discover during the process that one or two departments stand out with their attitude and productivity. That’s where you need to focus and see how you can implement their strategies across other departments. Your checklist must trace the whole value stream. But when you also notice an issue, follow it up to see how you can improve.
- Record The Observations
Every data point needs recording, so your checklist should have space for recording all the answers to the questions you provide. You can also choose to document everything on a video. The important thing is that you are recording everything from the Gemba walk. After the process is done, every bit of information will be helpful for the business. You can ask team leaders to write their own checklists as well. Having fresh sets of eyes review your findings can help you uncover helpful insight.
- Get Feedback
After everything is done, you have to solicit feedback from the employees. Asking the team questions after the Gemba walk checklist for office makes it a collaborative exercise. Give the staff a follow-up report based on what you have learned from the process and give them a chance to react to it. You can get feedback in person, through team management or via email.
The Benefits of a Gemba Walk
Gemba walks are a crucial part of lean management philosophy. The Gemba concept was first developed in the manufacturing industry. But it’s now leveraged in almost all industries. It’s an opportunity to learn how effective your team is performing. Team leaders and managers can observe the work process and engage with employees. You will discover many opportunities for improvement.
The valuable insight and data from the effective Gemba walk help with strategic decision-making. The exercise will bring your team and stakeholders closer and help them find long-lasting solutions to their problems. Taking time to ask the staff questions and welcome feedback improves communication in the organization.
You can easily spot positive and disruptive innovations using Gemba walks. This helps you save money and time by eliminating strategies that aren’t working. It’s also easy to streamline operations when you know what is happening on the ground.
How to Write a Better Gemba Walk Checklist
Make Gemba walk questions part of your business processes. A Gemba walk can foster continuous improvement when you implement it successfully. Take your time to plan and create a bulletproof checklist using the steps above. It’s not a one-time thing; you can do Gemba walks frequently to ensure everything is working according to the company’s standards.
Christian Scott is the founder and operator of Malware Brains, a comprehensive cybersecurity website dedicated to educating individuals and businesses about malware and its impacts on society. With over 25 years of collective industry experience, Christian and his team of experts provide unbiased, factual information to help users understand and mitigate the risks associated with malicious software.
