Management is often about learning things from the practical work environment and taking decisions accordingly. If you are considering Gemba walk as a management technique, there are a few things worth knowing before taking the plunge.
What’s Gemba walk?
Gemba walk is a management technique, which involves going to see the actual production or work process, to understand, seek answers to relevant questions, and improve what’s required. It is necessary and important for businesses to understand that Gemba Walk isn’t meant to be a means to evaluate employee performance or keep a tab on their activities. It is an activity that’s focused on the process rather than people. For successful Gemba Walks, it is more than necessary for everyone to get involved. It is more about just checking things on the go, but also about documenting details, keeping a track of relevant details, reducing wasteful activities, and check the flow of processes.
Finding an app
There are apps that have been designed to simplify and ease Gemba Walks, and these can be quite handy. You will be able to have a better control on the entire process. It is possible to digitize Gemba Walks with the help of these apps, which reduces effort of manual notes and other details and everything is streamlined and systematized, which also means getting the best results. Before you go ahead and select an app, check the features and what it offers. Most developers offer a demo for free, which can be handy in understanding if the app works as expected for your business process.
Things that matter
Gemba Walks requires leaders to take note and suggest changes, but these changes are never suggested on the walk itself. Details are noted, and employees are usually encouraged to share their feedback. The ‘flow of value’ is something that leaders need to understand, because that’s what Gemba Walks wants to find and understand. If you are using app, check the various kinds of evidence that can be easily included, and it also makes sense to automate as many things, as possible. It is also more than necessary to ask relevant questions with regards to why employees do what they do.
Gemba Walks doesn’t have to be about the same leader doing the same thing all the time. Going around with leaders in groups is also a practice in this. You can check online to find more on Gemba Walks.
