The engineer Carlos Achaerandio, expert in Lean Office and Lean Manufacturing, offered at the University of Navarra some techniques on how to increase productivity at work. His lecture is framed in the presentation of the projects of the first semester of the first and second year students of ISSA School of Management Assistants.

In total, a hundred students carried out 19 projects at partnership with companies based in Navarra and Gipuzkoa: Ulma Handling Systems, Orona, CAF, Irizar, Nordex Energy Spain, Guardian Insdustries Navarra S.L., Abaigar, VDR Mutilva S.L., Erro y Eugui and Obras Especiales. In their work they analyzed the role of the assistant manager and the business profile of these companies, to which they were presented with a diploma as a thank you for their partnership and availability

In his lecture, Carlos Achaerandio recalled that "90% of the time at work in companies we do things that do not add value to the customer" and affirmed that the "added value" is everything that adds value to the product or service and for which the customer is willing to pay. In this sense, he bet on Lean thinking (lean production) in the processes, which aims to eliminate those tasks that do not add value. He recalled that this thinking was introduced in the 1950s by the Japanese company Toyota, currently one of the world's leading vehicle manufacturers, business .

Putting on "the glasses to see waste".

He also stated that just because a task involves effort does not mean it brings added value and that working efficiently is not working more. "We need to put on our waste glasses," he said. To detect them we must look, he said, at overproduction, waiting, transportation, excess inventory of stored products, unnecessary movements and operations without quality. In this regard, he stressed the need to "know what the customer values; make value flow to the customer, but only when the customer asks for it, without getting ahead of ourselves; and always strive for perfection, not settling for having improved".

The projects carried out by first-year students are based on the management of offices and those of second-year students on the management quality and environmental systems. Elena Altube is a former student of ISSA School of Management Assistants at the University of Navarra and is currently assistant to the CEO of Ulma Handling Systems, one of the participating companies. She has collaborated with one of the projects presented and said that it has been a very rewarding experience: "It has helped me personally and professionally to get to know the 'look' that students have of the business". He also indicated that this first contact with the working world is core topic for the students. "It is important that they take advantage of these opportunities," he said.