GEMBA WALK is a Japanese term that means the actual place and was the place where wont is done much as a factory shop for A Gemba walk in the price of observing and collaboration whe real work being cone so that adors get thand experience their work related processes
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BY SAMSHER SINGH CHAHAL COPYRIGHT 2023 2
Gemba Walk is to go to the
actual place where the work
is done, such as the
production floor, to
understand what goes on.
Gemba Walk is to go to the actual place where the work is done, such as the production floor, to
understand what goes on.
Gemba Walk should consist of three elements: “Go see, ask why, show respect.” Here's what each of
these means. Go see. This call to action encourages leaders to leave their usual routine and see what's
happening on the Gemba
What do you mean by GEMBA WALK
3. Go see. This call to action encourages leaders to leave their usual routine and see what’s
happening on the Gemba (Actual work place). So if you were Elon Musk, you’d visit the Tesla
factory to see what’s going on, talk to employees on the shop floor, and look for things that could
be improved. This activity isn’t limited to Founders and CEOs – managers of all levels can do this.
Ask why. The goal is to identify and eliminate wasteful activities to improve value. The best way
to do this is to listen to your team and use different problem-solving techniques, such as a fault
tree analysis, to identify the root cause of any issues in the process. As ‘ask why’ implies, it’s the
manager’s job to ask and listen, rather than talk.
Show respect. When we picture a boss walking around the office, some of us might think of a guy
in a suit making golf chat or telling people to ‘get back to work’ before disappearing into their office.
This is the opposite of what a Gemba Walk should be. It’s the manager’s job to support their team,
locate weak spots in the process (rather than blame people), and work together towards a solution.
10/19/2023
BY SAMSHER SINGH CHAHAL COPYRIGHT 2023 3
What do you mean by GEMBA WALK
5. Go see. This call to action encourages leaders to leave their usual routine and see what’s
happening on the Gemba (Actual work place). So if you were Elon Musk, you’d visit the Tesla
factory to see what’s going on, talk to employees on the shop floor, and look for things that could
be improved. This activity isn’t limited to Founders and CEOs – managers of all levels can do
this.
Ask why. The goal is to identify and eliminate wasteful activities to improve value. The best way
to do this is to listen to your team and use different problem-solving techniques, such as a fault
tree analysis, to identify the root cause of any issues in the process. As ‘ask why’ implies, it’s the
manager’s job to ask and listen, rather than talk.
Show respect. When we picture a boss walking around the office, some of us might think of a
guy in a suit making golf chat or telling people to ‘get back to work’ before disappearing into their
office. This is the opposite of what a Gemba Walk should be. It’s the manager’s job to support
their team, locate weak spots in the process (rather than blame people), and work together
towards a solution.
10/19/2023
BY SAMSHER SINGH CHAHAL COPYRIGHT 2023 5
GEMBA WALK Key Elements
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BY SAMSHER SINGH CHAHAL COPYRIGHT 2023 6
1. Prepare your team
3. Follow the value
stream
5. Document your
observations
7. Don't suggest changes
during the walk
9. Mix up the schedule
11. Return the Gemba
2. Have a plan
4. Focus on processes, not
people
6. Ask questions
8. Walk in teams
10. Follow-up with
employees
11 steps to an effective GEMBA WALK
7. 1. Prepare your team- Let team member what a semba walk is and why they will be observed
during the process
2. Have a plan- Prepare questions to ask and have a structured plan laid out.
3. Follow the value stream- Follow the flow of value and observe areas with a high potential
for waste that can be optimized
4. Focus on processes, not people- Gemba walks are not employee performance evaluations,
they are meant for observing, understanding, and improving processes.
5. Document your observations- Always log your observations and rebord your findings
6. Ask questions- Ask who, what, where, when, and why questions to uncover why operations
are performed in a particular order.
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BY SAMSHER SINGH CHAHAL COPYRIGHT 2023 7
11 steps to an effective GEMBA WALK
8. 7. Don't suggest changes during the walk- A Gemba walk is for observation only Action
comes after
8. Walk in teams- Gemba walks can be effective in teams, especially if the walk involves
people from another department
9. Mix up the schedule- Gemba walks should not be scheduled at the same time, mix it up to
see how processes may change throughout the day or week
10. Follow-up with employees- Follow-up with employees to share what you have learned
and plan ahead for your next step
11. Return the Gemba- Perform Gemba walks to observe changes you've implemented and if
they
results
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BY SAMSHER SINGH CHAHAL COPYRIGHT 2023 8
11 steps to an effective GEMBA WALK