Gemba Walk Checklists
Digital tool to assist in conducting insightful and purposeful gemba walks
Digital tool to assist in conducting insightful and purposeful gemba walks
Published 16 Aug 2021
A gemba walk checklist is a tool used by management leaders to capture first-hand observations of what is exactly going on at the actual place where work happens. It helps document insights from discussions with employees and serves as a reference tool on how to improve processes and reduce existing waste.
A general gemba walk checklist is a tool used by leaders to explore the workplace and gain first-hand insight into themes such as safety, productivity, cost efficiency, etc. It helps management determine if work processes are performed according to standards and come up with ways to improve them if possible. Utilize this gemba walk form by following the points below:
The main goal of Gemba walks, which derived from the Japanese word “Gembutsu” (meaning “the actual place”), is to observe, listen, learn, and help. It is an efficient method that enables leaders to know what is and is not working by being with the workers right on the floor, delving into how they approach problem-solving and continuous improvement in everyday work. Gemba walks are structured and performed according to a particular intention (e.g. customer service, standard work, safety, cost efficiency, productivity, creativity, and workspace efficiency).
Further, Gemba walks are also done with the aim to:
As Gemba walks take leaders directly where actual work happens, they become an integral part of continuous improvement initiatives, such as Kaizen events and layered process audits (LPA). It helps them to see and understand processes through the employees that are directly involved in the work.
To achieve an insightful Gemba walk, walkers can follow these three fundamental elements:
Gemba walkers need to probe the value stream thoroughly and identify opportunities for improvement through active communication and listening. Leaders should be sincere and curious on how employees think about their work and solicit recommendations on how to improve it. Techniques such as 5 Why’s can be used to identify problematic areas of a process and ensure that they address root causes of systemic issues.
Improve your Gemba walks by using iAuditor by SafetyCulture, the world’s #1 inspection app, to streamline data collection and productivity reporting. The Auditor Gemba Walk App enables lead walkers to use Gemba walk checklist templates to have more focused and targeted Gemba walks. The inspection tool also assists participants to easily document their observations and generates comprehensive reports right after Gemba walks. Further, the iAuditor Gemba walk app allows you to:
Get started with these free Gemba walk checklist templates you can download and customize for free.
Use this Gemba Walk Template to record observations when performing a walk around the workplace. With the iAuditor Gemba Walk App, managers can use this gemba walk form to cover already identified problems and document recommendations to improve the work process.
This gemba walk checklist for the manufacturing industry aids leaders when conducting walkthroughs of manufacturing sites and helps them document notes and observations during sit-downs with manufacturing workers.
A gemba walk interview checklist template, also known as a process walk interview checklist, is a tool used by managers to determine how employees go about a normal workday. Understand what your employees are doing and why they do it and identify challenges. As one of the core principles of kaizen, it places managers in a better position to collaborate with employees and document actions and solutions formulated to solve issues.
