Learn how Gemba Walking is used by leaders to better understand the current state process.
“Gemba walking” is leadership visiting the actual location where work is being conducted by the employees so he/she can grasp a first-hand understanding of the constraints, waste, and non-empowerment opportunities existing in the current state process. This course provides a preliminary understanding of this foundational tool of the Lean business mentality, includes the behaviors and planning necessary to optimize positive outcomes in the form of process improvement, and strives to lay the groundwork for strengthening mutual trust between employees and leadership. Interactive class exercise gives participants the opportunity to practice Gemba walking.
All classroom dates meet for 2.5 hours unless otherwise noted. Registration for all classes closes one week prior to their start date. Online registration is available for most courses. Otherwise, you may contact Registration and Records at (405) 325-6034 to sign up.
Course length: 2.5 hours
Prerequisites: None
Instructor: Brian deFonteny, LSS Black Belt
Next offered: TBA
Cost: $275.00. 5-person minimum for class to make.
Location: Tinker Business and Industrial Park or onsite at the client's location.
Coached Gemba Walks are encouraged to follow most tools training to reinforce learning. Allow approximately 30 minutes per Gemba Walk.
Participants receive Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits, which are required to maintain many professional licensures. OULI training also qualifies as PDU credits for Project Management Professionals.
Public classes are held at the Tinker Business Industrial Park at I-40 and Sooner Road. All public classes are open enrollment and typically feature an interesting mix of teams from a variety of industries.
The Lean Institute also offers private or contracted training programs onsite at locations across the state, including workshops implemented at suitable client facilities.
OULI's team of instructors & consultants are practicing experts in the field with extensive history in implementing process improvement efforts & coaching students.
deFonteny is the creator of Leading with Lean and other short courses offered by the OU Lean Institute. A certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt once active in the oil and gas industry, deFonteny has more than a decade of experience as a Lean practitioner, coach and instructor. He holds a master’s degree in human relations and a bachelor’s in psychology. deFonteny is committed to optimizing organizational success by helping others Lead with Lean. He is the author of Leadership Reimagined and an adjunct professor with the University of Oklahoma.
Hinton is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and has served as an OULI Lean Six Sigma coach, instructor and consultant for many of the Institute’s major clients. She is the primary instructor for the Institute’s LSS White and Green Belt training workshops. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and has completed extensive training in Lean Six Sigma methodologies, as well as having extensive experience in both management and procurement..
Tobias is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt trained by some of the original consultants in the industry (Sigma Sciences, Inc., p.k.a. Six Sigma Associates). She has worked with Six Sigma Academy, the first consulting organization created by the founder of Six Sigma, Dr. Mikel Harry. Tobias has extensive experience at the strategic level working with leadership. At the tactical level, she has coached and mentored clients' internal resources for hundreds of transformational projects.
Fisher is the Center Process Manager for Continuous Improvement and Innovation (CI2), Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker AFB. He coordinates continuous improvement mentoring and training for 35,000+ Airmen. As a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Black Belt, he is an instructor and facilitates multi-organizational improvement events, mentors, and coaches those utilizing CI2 techniques and seeking LSS Green Belt/Black Belt certifications. Since 1985, Fisher has held positions in engineering, quality, contracting and process improvement organizations.
