Objective

We want to incorporate Gemba walks into our corporate culture to find opportunities for automation, simplification, increased transparency, business unit synergies and better cross-silo collaboration. This programme will assist staff members and departments in identifying and seizing chances for constructive change while promoting a culture of continuous improvement in the face of diminishing revenue.

Benefits of Gemba Walks

1. Enhanced Understanding of Processes: By observing processes directly on the work floor, people involved understand the challenges and opportunities first-hand.
2. Identification of Improvement Opportunities: Direct interaction with employees helps identify areas for simplification, automation, and improved efficiency.
3. Increased Transparency and Collaboration: Encourages cross-departmental collaboration, highlighting dependencies and fostering synergies.
4. Employee Engagement and Empowerment: Involvement in the improvement process empowers employees, enhancing their engagement and morale.
5. Continuous Improvement Culture: Reinforces the kaizen mindset, promoting an ongoing commitment to incremental improvements.

Implementation Plan

Duration and Team Composition

• Time Needed: 2-4 days per department.
• Team Composition:
  • Agile Coach/Facilitator: To guide the process and ensure effective communication and documentation.
  • Tech/Product Focus Person: To provide insights into technological and product-related improvements.

Steps for Gemba Walks

1. Preparation
   • Identify Critical Processes: Focus on the most important processes or tasks on the critical path of the value stream/money flow.
   • Select Departments: Choose departments or business units where initial Gemba walks will have the most significant impact.
2. Execution
   • Pairing: Pair up with the employees responsible for the processes or specific steps.
   • Observation: Spend 2-4 days shadowing these employees, observing their work, and taking detailed notes.
   • Questioning: Use Socratic questioning to deeply understand the processes, their reasons, and the value they deliver. Questions may include:
     • What is the purpose of this step?
     • What challenges do you face in this process?
     • Are there any delays or bottlenecks?
     • How do you think this process could be improved?
3. Analysis and Documentation
   • Analyze Findings: Review the observations and notes to identify patterns, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
   • Collaborate: Discuss findings with the employees involved to validate insights and gather additional input.
4. Recommendations
   • Develop Recommendations: Formulate practical and impactful recommendations for simplification, automation, and improved efficiency.
   • Report: Prepare a detailed report summarizing the observations, findings, and recommendations.
5. Presentation and Follow-Up
   • Present to Management: Share the findings and recommendations with the management team, highlighting the potential benefits and expected impact.
   • Implementation Plan: Develop an action plan for implementing the recommended improvements, including timelines and responsible parties.
   • Continuous Monitoring: Establish a follow-up process to monitor the implementation and measure the impact of the improvements.

Expected Outcomes

• Improved Efficiency: Streamlined processes leading to time and cost savings.
• Increased Revenue: Enhanced process efficiency, contributing to improved revenue streams.
• Employee Empowerment: Greater employee engagement and ownership of processes.
• Sustainable Improvement: Establish a culture of continuous improvement that drives long-term success.

Conclusion

Introducing Gemba walks into our company culture as a strategic initiative to drive process improvements, foster collaboration, and enhance transparency. By focusing on critical processes and involving employees directly, we can uncover valuable insights and implement changes that lead to significant benefits across the organization.

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