Attending the seminar were representatives and leaders from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), NC Network Vietnam, Institute of Industrial Policy Studies (Ministry of Industry and Trade), Central Economic Committee. From the VNU University of Economics and Business, there were Vice Rector Assoc.Prof. Dr. Tran Anh Tai, Dean of Faculty of Business Administration Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Hai, Head of Office of Research and Partnership Development Dr. Nguyen Dang Minh, Director of Center for Business Administration Study Dr. Phan Chi Anh. 
The conference attracted over 150 scientists, consultancy specialists, managers from organizations, enterprises in Vietnam and abroad; lecturers and researchers from universities and institutes and those who are interested in the topic.
The conference was held for the first time at VNU, originating from the thinking of lean management which promotes profits/value added for business by employing intelligence to minimize wasted costs.

Many participants attend the conference 

Speaking at the conference, Vice Rector Assoc.Prof. Dr. Tran Anh Tai emphasized that the UEB has been developing a research team of lean management and thought, which introduced an advanced management methods to improve the performance of organizations and enterprises in Vietnam. In addition, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Tai expressed his hope that the conference would be a forum for specialists and managers to participate, discuss about the difficulties, challenges and experience in the application of lean management in their institutes. 
JICA representative - the sponsor of the conference Mr. Matsushita Takashi expressed his welcome speech and stressed that Vietnam is now affected by economic fluctuations, demanding enterprises to improve their manufacturing and general activities, minimizing waste costs by applying lean management methods (5S, Kaizen ...). The objective of JICA is to carry out volunteer activities to support Vietnam enterprises, particularly those of supporting industry through the application of 5S (Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, Shitsuke) and Kaizen (continuous improvement), etc.

At the conference, researchers shared about the spirit of lean management, demonstrated by several models and applied experience in some countries under different angles, such as analysis of the relationship of lean management and social responsibility of small and medium business in Vietnam, factors affecting the workers’ expectations during the transition to lean manufacturing, or lean management from the organizational perspective of the business…

In addition to the directive research, business managers at the conference also discussed about the application of lean management in their business. Afterward, the audiences raised their questions to the researchers and specialists about lean management, the difficulties in lauching, resources to apply lean management in their manufacturing, 5S assessment criteria and how to maintain.
After the heated Q and A, the conference ended successfully with many questions and the thorough responsed given by the speakers. The lean management research team leader Dr. Nguyen Dang Minh confirmed that the conference would be held annually in order to attract more speakers, researchers, especially entrepreneurs. Through the experience of applying lean management provided at the conference, hopefully the topic is extended to other areas such as services, health, education, public management, ect to reduce waste during manufacturing and solve other issues of social efficiency.