1. GEMBA WALK STAGE
Gemba Walk Strategy and Setup
2. BRIEF DESCRIPTION
The Gemba Walk toolbox is a collection of selected tools and methods made available to the leadership and employees to support the Gemba Walk implementation and activities. The assortment of tools can contain essential tools agreed to be implemented throughout the organization, as well as specialized tools to be used only in specific processes. The toolbox content must be aligned to the Gemba and lean organizational strategies and regularly reviewed and updated to ensure the tools are used as intended and are yielding the expected results. The Gemba Walk toolbox is typically proposed, integrated and managed by the Gemba Walk facilitator.
3. HOW TO USE THE TOOLBOX IN THE GEMBA WALK
While the Gemba Walk is a practice often referred to “on its own”, it works at its best when supported by other continuous improvement practices and tools. Most organizations include tools like KPIs, Visual Boards, 5 Whys, Value Stream Mapping, Root Cause Analysis (Ishikawa), Standup meetings, Brainstorming, A3 Thinking, and Kaizen events in the Gemba Walk toolbox, yet each organization customizes the Gemba toolbox according to its needs.
4. ROLES AND ACTIVITIES
Leader: Uses the toolbox to continually improve Gemba Walks and coordinate with the facilitator on any needs, changes, issues related to the toolbox
Facilitator: Responsible for creating, updating, maintaining and communicating the toolbox to leaders and employees, for adding new tools and retiring old ones, for providing support and for coaching with the use of the tools
Team member: Uses tools from the toolbox to continually improve processes and Gemba Walks
5. EXPECTED BENEFITS FOR THE GEMBA WALK
Supports Gemba Walks, and continuous improvement
Provides standard tools and methods for Gemba Walks
Supports organizational continuous improvement strategy
Enables facilitators to structure the process and provide support
6. ORGANIZATIONS THAT POSSESS A GEMBA WALK TOOLBOX
Airbus Defence and Space, Bocar Group, CEMEX, Interface and Swisscom