How to Do a Gemba Walk: Walk with a Purpose

A Gemba Walk to Go See, Ask Why, and Show Respect is a key way to more actively engage people in performance improvement activities. Even if you currently do Gemba Walks in all likelihood you fall short of what the best companies do. This ‘how to guide’ provides leaders a basic menu of options on ways to do a more effective Walk. The guide describes three key reasons for doing a Gemba Walk: 1. Clarify Purpose: Gemba Walks provide a wonderful opportunity to learn if people inside the organization have a deep understanding of ‘why’ they are doing their work activities. 2. Process Understanding: Leaders can see, with their own eyes, how effectively work activities between departments and between work-groups are aligned with what the organization is trying accomplish. 3. Engaging People: The walks provide an opportunity for leaders discover barriers that inhibit people’s ability to do great work. The guide describes questions to ask for different types of walks (including Office Walks) and outlines an approach for leaders seeking to better understand the facts, to make better decisions, and to build consensus to achieve important goals. One chapter describes how to coach leaders in this important activity.Examples are drawn from organizations with outstanding improvement practices: Toyota, Autoliv, OC Tanner, Cogent Power and the author’s experiences as Chairman of the Association of Manufacturing Excellence’s Awards Council. A respectful, effective Gemba Walk builds trust and lays the groundwork for a major transformation! It is amazing what one can learn during a walk! How can you be an effective leader and not want to do this?