When to use it
Use it when leaders walk the floor. It gives structured questions on safety, quality, flow, people and 5S, records pass or fail with notes, and lists the actions needed.
What you enter
Mark each item Pass, Fail or N/A. Entries are saved in this browser only. Copy the results to paste into Excel or email.
What it checks
- Safety: Are walkways, exits and emergency equipment clear?; Is everyone wearing the required protective equipment?; Are there any near misses or hazards people have not reported?
- Quality: Is the current standard visible at the workstation?; Are defects stopped and recorded where they are found?; Are gauges and tools in calibration and in good condition?
- Delivery and flow: Is work flowing at the pace of the customer demand (takt)?; Is any material waiting, searching or being moved without need?; Are visual boards updated and showing the real status?
- People: Do operators know what good looks like and who to call for help?; Have last week's problems and ideas been followed up?; Did you ask a question and listen, not give an instruction?
- Cost and 5S: Are tools, materials and waste bins in their marked places?; Is any equipment leaking, idle or waiting for repair?
What you get
- Result
- Checklist
- Actions needed
How to use the Gemba Walk Checklist
A gemba walk means going to where the work happens to observe, ask questions and support the team, not to inspect or blame.
- Pick a theme for the walk, such as safety, flow or quality.
- Use the checklist questions and record what you see, with facts and photos.
- Agree a small number of actions with the team and follow up on the next walk.
Worked example
A walk focused on flow follows one order from release to dispatch and finds it waits 2 days for a missing drawing. The action, owned by engineering, is to release drawings with the work order.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Walking without a purpose or a checklist.
- Fixing problems for people instead of coaching them.
- Raising actions and never coming back to them.
Frequently asked questions
What does gemba mean?
Japanese for 'the real place': where value is created, such as the shop floor, warehouse or office desk.
What questions should I ask on a gemba walk?
Open questions such as: What is the standard? How do you know you are on track? What gets in your way?
How often should leaders do gemba walks?
Daily for team leaders, weekly for managers and at least monthly for senior leaders is a common rhythm.
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