A Gemba walk is a lean management practice originating from Japanese manufacturing. The term “Gemba” means “actual place” in Japanese. It involves physically going to the location where work is done to observe and understand how the processes are conducted in order to gain insights to make informed decisions to improve and optimize operations.
During this walk, leaders and managers interact with employees, gather data, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement in order to enhance efficiency, quality, and safety in the workplace.