TEMPLATE
Gemba walk: Word checklist
Use this checklist to observe a process where the work happens and record the gap to the standard before you agree an action with the team.
Download the template
What is in the template
Observation, team explanation and your own hypothesis go in separate fields. The checklist does not score people; for an immediate hazard, follow your plant safety procedure.
- Preparation with focus, area, process and observation time
- Observation prompts for safety, quality, material and workflow
- Separate fields for observation, team explanation and hypothesis
- Action follow-up and a filled manufacturing example
Who it is for
Who the Gemba walk checklist is for
The checklist is for production managers, supervisors and lean managers who want to observe on site regularly and derive actions from it. It separates observation, team explanation and your own hypothesis and does not score people.
How to work with the Gemba walk checklist
- 1
Prepare
Set focus, area, process and observation time before you go to the shop floor.
- 2
Observe
Record separately for safety, quality, material and workflow what you see, what the team says and what you suspect.
- 3
Record actions
Transfer the findings to the action sheet with owner and due date.
What matters on a Gemba walk
Observe before you judge
If you hand out solutions on the shop floor right away, you learn little about the process. Separate fields keep observation and hypothesis apart.
The process is the focus
A Gemba walk checks processes, not people. That builds trust and makes honest answers from the team more likely.
One focus per walk
A walk with a set topic, such as material flow, achieves more than a general look at everything. Change the focus from week to week.
Further reading
Download the Gemba walk checklist
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