Lean systems improvement tools for healthcare
Gemba Suite

Your personal Lean improvement toolbox — a suite of apps that work together, replacing your improvement templates in Word and Excel. Everything runs in your browser, on your device. Your data stays on your device.

PLAN DO CHECK ACT CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Go and see
Ask why
with facts
Involve the people
who do the work
The Toolbox

The Tools

New to Lean?

Not sure where to start? You don't need any lean experience to use these tools. Our getting started guide walks you through the basics — what lean improvement is, why it works, and how to run your first improvement session.

Read the guide →
Understanding the Workflow
Gemba-VSM
v6.3
Live
Finding the Root Cause
Gemba-RCA
v1.4
Live
Solving Problems at the Root
Gemba-A3
v2.5a
Live
Measuring What Matters
Gemba-SPC
v1.2
Live
Holding the Gains
Gemba-StandardWork
v1.9
Live

Improving the Toolbox

The Gemba Suite is growing. These tools are on the roadmap:

Strategy Deployment
FMEA Risk Assessment
Demand Load Capacity Analyser (DLCA)

Help us improve the toolbox.

Give feedback →

Get Started

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Load an app on your phone or tablet

Every tool runs in your browser — no app store needed. For the best experience, install it on your home screen so it works like a native app, including offline.

Android — Open the tool in Chrome. Tap the install banner, or use the three-dot menu and select "Install app" or "Add to Home Screen".
iPhone / iPad — Open in Safari (not Chrome). Tap the Share button, then "Add to Home Screen".
Desktop — Open in Chrome or Edge. Click the install icon in the address bar, or just bookmark it.
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How your data is stored

Your data is stored locally in your browser using localStorage. It stays on your device — never sent to a server, never uploaded to the cloud, never shared.

Data persists between sessions — close the browser and come back, your work is still there.
Data is specific to the browser you used. Switch browsers or devices and your data won't follow — use JSON export to move it.
Clearing your browser data (cache, cookies, site data) will permanently delete your saved work.
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Back up and export your data

Every app has a JSON export button. It creates a file you can save, share, or reload later. Make exporting a habit — it's your backup and your way to share work with colleagues.

JSON export saves everything — all data, settings, and photos in one file. Use it after every session.
JSON import reloads a previously exported file. Use it to restore a backup or move data to a new device.
Excel / Print / SVG exports create outputs for analysis, presentations, and reports.

Working offline

All Gemba Suite tools work without an internet connection once loaded for the first time. Poor hospital WiFi is never a barrier to data collection at the gemba.

Install the app to your home screen for the most reliable offline experience.
Data entered offline is saved to your device automatically — no sync step needed.
The AI coaching export generates a prompt you paste later — it works whenever you next have connectivity.
No accounts. No IT department. No setup. Every tool is a single HTML file that runs entirely in your browser. There's nothing to install through IT, no passwords to manage, and no data processing agreements to sign. Open the link, start working. If your trust needs an IG review, the entire source code is in that one file — readable by anyone.

Learning Resources

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New to lean improvement?

If you've never done process improvement before, start here. This guide explains what lean is, why it works in healthcare, and how to begin — in plain English, no jargon.

New to Lean? Start here →

User Guides

Step-by-step guides covering the lean methodology, how to install and use each app, and how to get the most from every feature.

Quick Start Guides

Short, task-focused walkthroughs — get up and running in minutes without reading the full user guide.

Learning Resources

Curated articles, infographics, podcasts and videos to support your team on its improvement journey.

Reference

Concepts, terminology, and definitions for the improvement methods used across Gemba Suite.

Books & References

Books, papers, and key references that informed the design of Gemba Suite and the improvement methods it supports.

Books
Learning to See — Mike Rother & John Shook (1998). The definitive guide to value stream mapping.
Understanding Variation — Donald Wheeler (1993). The key to SPC and process behaviour charts.
Managing to Learn — John Shook (2008). A3 thinking as a management practice.
Four Types of Problems — Art Smalley (2019). Matching the right method to the right problem.

Help us improve

The Gemba Suite is built by a clinician for clinicians. Your feedback shapes what gets built next — tell us what's working, what's not, and what tool you wish existed.

Share your feedback →

Recent Updates

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Built for the Gemba — where the real work is done.

Every tool in the Gemba Suite is a single HTML file that runs entirely in your browser. No accounts, no cloud storage, no IT department required. Your data stays on your device until you choose to export it.

The tools are designed for mobile-first use at the lab bench, the ward, or the clinic — wherever the work happens — the gemba. They work offline, so poor hospital WiFi is never a barrier to improvement.

Gemba Suite is a process improvement toolkit, not a clinical system. It does not connect to hospital systems, does not process patient data, and does not require regulatory approval. It is the digital equivalent of the whiteboards, sticky notes, and Excel spreadsheets that improvement teams already use — just faster, more structured, and available on any device.

The Gemba Suite is free for all healthcare improvement purposes under a Creative Commons licence. Read the full licence and terms.