A Japanese term that means “Real Place” or “Where the action takes place.” In Lean we speak of GEMBA as being the place where “Value” is added to a product. See “Value Adding”
Comments: In the most practical sense Lean attempts to make everything in a factory “GEMBA” or a value adding process or location.
The antonym of GEMBA is MUDA or “Waste” which Lean practitioners do all in their power to eliminate.