Pedro Amendoeira’s Story of Turning a Printing Detail Into Major Cost Reduction

Pedro Amendoeira’s Story of Turning a Printing Detail Into Major Cost Reduction

Key highlights

• Delivered ~20% savings through optimisation of printed catalogue specifications
• Identified a paper waste issue hidden in supplier manufacturing tolerances
• Achieved implementation in just 6 weeks from insight to rollout

Pedro Amendoeira has been with ERA Group for 16 years and is based in Porto, Portugal. His role focuses on client acquisition, relationship management, and analytical work across categories such as energy, but his main motivation comes from helping clients uncover practical ways to improve how their businesses operate.

One of his most memorable projects came from a client in catalogue-based retail, where printed catalogues represented a significant operational cost. At first glance, the process appeared standard—nothing out of the ordinary in how materials were sourced or used.

During the analysis phase, Pedro and his colleague identified a subtle inconsistency in the physical dimensions of the catalogues. To illustrate the issue, two versions were placed side by side during the client presentation.

As Pedro recalls, “we put both catalogues on the table and asked them to spot the difference—they couldn’t see any.”

Even when examined closely, the CEO and marketing director could not identify any meaningful variation. The breakthrough came when the team revealed that one version was slightly shorter—by just one to one and a half millimetres.

That small difference uncovered a much larger issue. On visiting the supplier’s production process, the team discovered inefficiencies in how paper was being used and cut. This insight led to a change in supplier approach, where materials were produced to more precise specifications, significantly reducing waste.

As Pedro explains, “the supplier was following instructions, but no one had ever questioned whether those dimensions actually made sense.”

The result was both simple and impactful. The client moved to a more efficient production specification and achieved savings of around 20%, along with a meaningful reduction in paper waste. The solution was implemented in just six weeks and quickly became a catalyst for further improvements across other categories.

For Pedro, this project reflects the broader value of ERA Group’s approach: combining time, expertise, benchmarking, and an external perspective to see what internal teams often overlook. It is this ability to identify small details that lead to significant outcomes that defines his work with clients.

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