Regardless of the efficiency of your business processes, there is always room for improvement. Managers cannot find these possible opportunities without visiting the real place of work, and that’s exactly what Gemba Walk is all about. For the uninitiated, Gemba Walk is a part of lean management, where managers go to the place where work processes are happening and take a walk around to find value flow and how processes can be improved. Here are some more aspects worth knowing.

The purpose of Gemba Walks

Gemba Walks are usually conducted with the intention of knowing the possible flaws in the work processes. Contrary to what some managers may believe, Gemba Walk is not same as Management By Walking Around. In fact, the latter has little or no advantage as far improving processes is concerned. Gemba Walk is about understanding operations, asking questions, and noting things, so that strategic decisions can be taken later.

Make it more effective

If your company is thinking of conducting Gemba Walks, it is wise to think of apps that can simplify the process, such as the one by Tervene. A Gemba Walk app is designed in a way that first-line managers can use it to note down all the details during a walk, right from text to photos and even voice notes. This also ensures that the information is penned down in one place, so every time you want to review a Gemba Walk, the process is easier and there is data that can be relied on.

Get your employees involved

During a Gemba Walk, you don’t want to intimidate the employees. You don’t want them to feel scared because it is not their performance test. They need to be participative in the process, because this is all about collaborative work. You can only gain from this exercise when every worker/employee suggests and says what they have to, which only benefits the process and allows managers to gain insight into the workplace problems and concerns.

Keep an open mind

It is necessary to understand that this is a regular exercise, and you don’t want to rush the process. Gemba Walks are handy for businesses across industries and niches, provided that they do things right. Also, if there is something wrong with a process or the work flow, take a note but do not say anything. There should be no suggestions or apprehension during the walk.

To know more on Gemba Walk apps, check online right now!