Steps
- Review downtime and OEE per line and per shift beforehand
- Go onto the shop floor with one concrete question
- Test your observation against the data, does what you see match what you measure?
- Record the observation and the figure together as the basis for an action
Example (illustrative)
The data shows a downtime peak on line 3 between 06:00 and 08:00. On the floor, it turns out that material supply falters at the shift changeover. Observation and figure together make the action concrete.
Data does not replace the shop floor
A gemba walk stays human work, data makes it targeted instead of arbitrary. VDS supplies the figures beforehand; the round and the interpretation stay with you and your operators.
Frequently asked questions
What is a gemba walk?
A structured round across the shop floor where the work happens, to observe and understand instead of steering from a distance.
How often do you do a gemba walk?
That differs per organisation; what matters is regularity and a clear goal per round, not frequency in itself.
Does data replace the gemba walk?
No. Data tells you where to look; the floor tells you why. They reinforce each other.
EB
