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Operational

How to Conduct an Ophthalmology Gemba Walk

Go and see the real work — the starting point for every improvement.

Updated October 2026 · PACT MATTERS, LLC

A Gemba walk is a structured visit to where the work actually happens, to observe it directly rather than through reports. In an eye clinic, it is the fastest way to see the waste, workarounds, and friction that never show up in a meeting.

Why go and see

Dashboards tell you what happened; the Gemba tells you why. Standing in the testing lane, you see the queue the schedule hides, the extra steps no one documented, and the workarounds that have quietly become normal.

How to run one

  • Go with a purpose, not to audit people
  • Follow one patient from arrival to checkout
  • Ask what makes the work hard, not who is at fault
  • Note waits, walk time, rework, and handoffs
  • Look for the seven wastes: waiting, motion, transport, defects, overprocessing, inventory, overproduction

What to do with what you find

A Gemba walk is not a one-time event. Record what you observe, prioritize the largest constraint, and charter a project to fix it. Repeat regularly so improvement stays grounded in reality.

Key Takeaways

  • Gemba means observing the work where and when it happens
  • Follow the patient's journey, not the org chart
  • Ask about the work, never blame the worker
  • Use findings to charter a focused improvement project

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should be on a Gemba walk?

A small cross-functional group — a leader, a frontline technician, and someone from an adjacent area — so observations are seen from more than one perspective.

How often should we do them?

Regularly. Weekly walks keep leadership connected to operations and surface problems before they grow.

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