ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

The 12th European Lean Educator Conference (ELEC 2026) brings together academics, industry practitioners, and policy-makers to explore the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in Lean thinking, Operational Excellence, and human-centered digital transformation. The conference fosters collaboration, inspires innovation, and promotes sustainable practices that place people at the heart of organizational excellence.

The primary goals of ELEC 2026 are to:

• Advance Lean Education and Research – Promote innovative teaching methods, curriculum development, and scholarly research that strengthen Lean knowledge and Operational Excellence across industries and educational settings.

• Highlight Human-Centered Approaches – Emphasize the central role of people, human factors, and collaboration in the successful adoption of Lean. Engaging employees, aligning organizational culture, and empowering individuals are essential to ensure Lean principles are effectively implemented and sustained.

• Integrate Sustainability – Explore how Lean methodologies can contribute to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic resilience, supporting organizations in achieving long-term sustainable performance.

• Leverage Digital Transformation – Showcase how advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and cyber-physical systems can enhance Lean practices. Lean provides the principles, frameworks, and continuous improvement mindset necessary to effectively implement and sustain digital initiatives, ensuring that technology adoption delivers real value, reduces waste, and supports smarter, faster, and data-driven decision-making.

• Foster Cross-Sector Collaboration – Encourage meaningful interaction and partnerships between academia, industry, and policy-makers to share insights, best practices, and innovative solutions, driving collective advancement in Lean thinking and Operational Excellence.

• Inspire the Next Generation of Lean Leaders – Develop the mindset, skills, and vision needed for implementing Lean and Industry 5.0 principles, empowering individuals to drive human-centric, sustainable, and high-performing organizations.