Recently came across an excellent breakdown of Gemba – the Japanese concept meaning “the real place” where value is created.

For leaders looking to improve operational excellence, here’s the essential guide to conducting an effective Gemba walk:

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁:
– Set clear objectives
– Notify workers in advance
– Gather background information
– Maintain an open mind
– Bring the right tools

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀:
1️⃣ Prepare your purpose
2️⃣ Go to the Gemba
3️⃣ Observe the process
4️⃣ Ask questions
5️⃣ Document findings
6️⃣ Follow-up

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿:
– Go See 🔍
– Ask Why ❓
– Show Respect 🤝

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱:
– Acting as an auditor
– Not engaging with the team
– Rushing through the walk
– Jumping to solutions
– Interrupting workflows

𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝘀𝗸:
“What challenges do you face with this process?”
“What happens if something goes wrong?”
“How do you think we can improve this?”
“Why is this step necessary?”

Remember: A Gemba walk isn’t about inspection – it’s about observation, understanding, and improvement through respectful engagement.

Share ♻️ to help others and follow me Sergio D’Amico for more insights on continuous improvement and organizational excellence.

𝗕𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘀: Kudos to Putera Camaro for these additional questions:

✨ What is the biggest obstacle preventing the team from achieving their daily goals?

✨ Can you walk me through the process step-by-step and show me where you experience the most delays or issues?

✨ What workarounds or fixes have you implemented to keep things moving, and why were they necessary?