1. GEMBA WALK STAGE
Across all stages
2. BRIEF DESCRIPTION
A mentor-mentee program is commonly used to introduce new employees to a company’s culture as well as to further develop existing employee skills. An employee is assigned a mentor, who will support, mentor and coach them for a certain period of time. The duration depends on the mentee’s ability to learn new skills and to embrace the company’s spirit and vision. In the future, mentees will become mentors.
3. HOW TO USE THE MENTOR-MENTEE PROGRAM IN THE GEMBA WALK
Mentor-mentee activities are often applied both within the Gemba team as well as with other employees in the organization. The Gemba team facilitator mentors and coaches Gemba team members in tools and processes to conduct Gemba Walks and other improvement activities. The facilitator also coaches leaders in how to perform Gemba Walks, how to show respect and behave before, during and after the Gemba, as well as how to elicit problems, ideas and solutions from employees. The Gemba team together with the leader coaches other employees in continuous improvement activities as they perform the Gemba Walk.
4. ROLES AND ACTIVITIES
Leader: Supports mentor-mentee program by providing vision, time and resources
Facilitator: Coaches the Gemba Walk team in tools and processes for Gemba and continuous improvement, coaches leaders in how to perform Gemba Walks and how to behave/act before, during and after the walk
Team member: Receives coaching and coaches employees in improvement activities
5. EXPECTED BENEFITS FOR THE GEMBA WALK
Enables skill transfer
Formalizes relationships and encourages learning at all levels
Contributes to a continuous improvement mindset
Shortens learning and induction time
6. ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A MENTOR-MENTEE PROGRAM IN PLACE
Airbus Defence and Space, Barry Callebaut, Bocar Group, CEMEX, IMC, Interface, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Swisscom and Thermo Fisher Scientific