GEMA WALK

WHAT IS A GEMBA WALK

· From the Japanese term gembutsu which means “real thing” or “real place”

· A personal observation of work

· Observation occurs where the work is happening

· Interaction with the people doing the work where the work is happening

· It’s often an actual walk

· Comes from Lean Six Sigma

WHEN IS IT NOT?

· Not an opportunity for finding fault with others

· Not a time to solve problems or make changes

· Not an opportunity to enforce policy requirements

· Note complaints but do not act… yet

STEPS TO TAKE

· Consider the Four Ws • Where?

· Where shall I walk?

· Who?

· To whom shall I talk?

· When?

· When will I go?

· What?

· What do I want to know?

EVALUATION SHEET: TAKING NOTES

· Possible prompts for you

· Process being examined

· Description of process

· Team and individuals responsible

· Average time to completion (if applicable

· Average time to whatever comes next

· Quality of process or product that comes out of process

· Value added by process

· Individual feedback and frustrations

LOOK FOR MUDA

· Japanese term for ”waste”

· Extra steps

· Duplicative work

· Obstacles to producing product

· Think broadly about “product”

· Obstacles to an uncomplicated work environment

· Operationally

· Socially

CONCLUSION

· Talk with your mentors

· Go with the flow

· Use this outside the course

· Looking forward to your findings