GEMA WALK

• From the Japanese term gembutsu which means “real thing” or “real place”

• A personal observation of work

• Observation occurs where the work is happening

• Interaction with the people doing the work where the work is happening

• It’s often an actual walk

• Comes from Lean Six Sigma

WHEN IS IT NOT?

• Not an opportunity for finding fault with others

• Not a time to solve problems or make changes

• Not an opportunity to enforce policy requirements

• Note complaints but do not act… yet

• Consider the Four Ws • Where?

• Where shall I walk?

• Who?

• To whom shall I talk?

• When?

• When will I go?

• What?

• What do I want to know?

• Possible prompts for you

• Process being examined

• Description of process

• Team and individuals responsible

• Average time to completion (if applicable

• Average time to whatever comes next

• Quality of process or product that comes out of process

• Value added by process

• Individual feedback and frustrations

• Japanese term for ”waste”

• Extra steps

• Duplicative work

• Obstacles to producing product

• Think broadly about “product”

• Obstacles to an uncomplicated work environment

• Operationally

• Socially

• Talk with your mentors

• Go with the flow

• Use this outside the course

• Looking forward to your findings