Gemba
現場·gemba·"the real place, the actual spot"
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Gemba means 'the real place' - the location where work happens and value is created, where leaders must go to understand actual conditions.
Definition
Gemba is a Japanese term meaning "the real place" or "the actual spot"—the location where work happens and value is created. In manufacturing, gemba is the production floor. In healthcare, it's the patient bedside. In services, it's where the customer interaction occurs. Lean thinking emphasizes that leaders must go to the gemba to understand actual conditions rather than relying solely on reports, metrics, or secondhand information. Problems can only be truly understood and solved at the gemba, where reality is visible.
Examples
A plant manager noticed quality metrics declining but couldn't identify the cause from reports. By spending three hours at the gemba observing the assembly process, she discovered that a recent layout change had created an awkward reach that fatigued operators, leading to assembly errors. The insight was invisible from her office.
Key Points
- The gemba is where facts exist; offices contain opinions, reports, and interpretations
- Going to the gemba shows respect for the people who do the work
- Problems should be solved at the gemba, not in conference rooms
- Regular gemba presence builds leaders' understanding and workers' trust
Common Misconceptions
Gemba visits are inspections. Going to the gemba to catch people doing things wrong destroys trust and prevents honest communication. The purpose is to understand, learn, and support—not to audit or criticize.
Reports can replace gemba observation. Reports aggregate and summarize, losing the context and detail that reveal root causes. A metric showing "95% on-time delivery" doesn't reveal the heroic efforts or shortcuts making that number possible.