Supply Chain Manager for a World Innovation in the Aircraft Industry

Major Goals for Supply Chain Manager

The textile company was entering a completely new business segment in seating, involving plastics and pneumatic technologies. Therefore, no such expert knowledge was available within the company. The management wanted to ensure that they could benefit from an interim manager who brings in relevant knowledge, and transfers the know-how into the company during this crucial phase of implementation.

The Goal

The goal was also to identify appropriate suppliers and partners and to lead the negotiations with them. And, as it is usually the case with projects, time was pressing.
It would have taken months to hire and to introduce a new permanent employee, the Senior Interim Manager was able to start within two weeks.

Textil Company

The company is a leader in the design, production and distribution of textiles and services for the international community of aircraft, bus, railway and cruise ship operators.

Aircraft Industry

Client Feedback

“When a new business division is being established, tasks arrive at irregular intervals and sometimes the burden is enormous. Thus, the great flexibility and tireless effort of the Interim Project Manager perfectly matched our needs”, the CEO reported.
Further, he said “The Interim Manager virtually laid the foundation. Then, step by step our own staff took over responsibility. We optimally used time and resources and expanded our business while taking a moderate risk.”

Main Task of the Interim Supply Chain Manager

The company needed someone to set up the entire production and supply chain of the pneumatic system, consisting of plastic cushions and the air-pump system. This included the search for and selection of suppliers as well as to conduct the contract negotiations. A whole new supply chain had to be established. There were no in-house capacities available for this new system.

Achieved Results

The project manager had to start with a white sheet of paper. There were only a few hand-made

prototype samples available, however. He had to industrialize and to commercialize the product first before he could establish the supply chain and serve the first airline’s orders. He took full responsibility of the SCM project. He worked independently and could draw on his previous hands-on supply chain experience in plastic materials. “With his strategy and his implementation skills he made a substantial contribution towards our success”, the client’s CEO summarized the mandate.