Lean in Retail and Sales

On January 10, the Industrial Engineering and Management Days (EGI) at Lusófona University hosted a lecture that brought to the center of the debate the application of LEAN management in operational contexts. Organized by professors Raphaela Vidal and Pedro A. Marques, the session was attended by engineer Daniel Bourdain, currently Head of Continuous Improvement at Leroy Merlin Portugal.

Under the theme “Lean in Retail and Sales”, the speaker emphasized the need to adjust the principles of the LEAN methodology to the retail sector, highlighting the importance of implementing and encouraging the adoption of a culture of continuous improvement among teams. With a practical approach, he addressed topics such as optimizing processes and teams, reducing waste and increasing efficiency, while also highlighting how these practices can transform the customer experience and drive more sustainable results in today's competitive market.

The participants, who included students and teachers from the EGI course, had the opportunity to learn about real cases of implementing LEAN methodologies at Leroy Merlin Portugal, illustrating challenges and successes in transforming the company's operational and organizational processes. The session culminated in an interactive discussion, where students and teachers asked practical questions about the application of LEAN in the different areas that make up Leroy Merlin's operating sector. The real-life examples presented clearly illustrated the challenges faced and the results obtained by the team in the stores where the LEAN project is already being implemented.

The event reinforced Lusófona University's commitment to bringing academia and the business world closer together, providing students with an innovative, practical and up-to-date perspective on the best commercial and operational management practices in the retail sector.