31 · Hoshin Kanri
1. GEMBA WALK STAGE
Across all stages
2. BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Hoshin Kanri is a planning technique developed in Japan in the 1960s that enables the organization’s vision to be translated into a strategy, objectives, goals and actions, ensuring it cascades through all functions and all levels. Hoshin Kanri is also commonly referred to as Hoshin Planning and Policy Deployment.
3. HOW TO USE HOSHIN KANRI IN THE GEMBA WALK
Organizations using Hoshin Kanri to translate their vision into a strategy, objectives, goals and actions, include the Gemba Walk practice as a supporting mechanism to collaboratively work towards the organizational vision. In this way, leadership transparently commits to supporting Gemba Walks, and employees commit to conducting them regularly. Having Gemba Walks embedded into the Hoshin Planning, ensures everyone is aligned, understands why Gemba Walks are carried out as a practice, and how this will contribute to the benefit of the entire organization. During Gemba Walks, the vision defined as a result of Hoshin Kanri is cascaded down to all functions and teams, making sure everyone’s efforts are contributing to reach the targets set.
4. ROLES AND ACTIVITIES
Leader: Ensures the teams understand the organizations’ overall vision and cascades the key objectives, supports objectives, goals and actions. Expresses and demonstrates his/her commitment to implement improvements in order to reach the targets defined in Hoshin Kanri
Facilitator: Facilitates the Hoshin Kanri session, coaches leaders and employees in using Hoshin Kanri and deploying its outcomes, and provides training when needed
Team member: Sets the actions that will contribute towards the realization of goals defined by management, promotes strategy on the shop floor
5. EXPECTED BENEFITS FOR THE GEMBA WALK
Clear roles & objectives
Leadership evident at all levels
Aligned strategy
Aligned resources & metrics
A clear line of sight
6. ORGANIZATIONS THAT PERFORM HOSHIN KANRI
Airbus Defence and Space and Interface