Plant managers: discover our examples of industrial transition missions

According to the latest France Transition barometer carried out in 2023, 53% of transition assignments are carried out with industry players . The industrial sector is thus at the top of the list of areas of activity that make the most use of this outsourcing solution, whether to manage a crisis, to manage change management or to replace a plant manager at short notice.

To better understand the specificities of these interventions, WAYDEN offers you an overview of some examples of transition missions with the management of industrial sites.

 

Examples of industrial transition missions

Replacing the plant manager of a large industrial group

One of the missions for industry carried out by WAYDEN was to manage a factory for a large industrial group with a turnover of more than 2 billion euros and specialized in the manufacture of recycled containers. The client requested the help of our interim management company (EMT) to take over one of the industrial production sites. The objective was above all to appease the social climate, which had been tense since the carve-out operation was carried out a few years earlier.

In a few days, WAYDEN was thus led to identify three interim managers whose profiles met the group’s expectations. The client finally chose an interim manager, an engineer by training and with 30 years of professional experience in heavy industry.

The interim manager, hired on an interim basis, successfully met all the challenges of the mission, which consisted of ensuring all the functions incumbent on the plant manager: setting up and managing investment projects; manage the group’s operational excellence plan; define the objectives in terms of quality, quantity, cost and production time of the factory; ensure compliance with EHS (safety, health and environment) rules… Human resources management, crisis management, process optimization and sustainable development were also at the heart of WAYDEN’s concerns in this interim management mission.

 

Implementing change management in a food group

Another mission was carried out with an agri-food group Specialized in the creation of products with innovative flavors. Following the launch of a new product, one of the factories faced significant export needs, with volumes increasing sharply.

The client called on WAYDEN to seek the help of an interim manager capable of implementing this change management at the management committee and team level, to structure the new environment and to establish greater flexibility. To do this, our interim management company (EMT) has commissioned an experienced interim manager with solid experience in the field of factory restructuring. The interim manager has optimised existing processes and established a new dynamic, in line with the client’s objectives.

Replace a Retired Plant Manager

WAYDEN was also approached by a company that is now one of the European leaders in the production of particleboard and offers products of superior quality to the usual market standards.

After parting ways with the industrial director, who had not been able to carry out the functions inherent to his position, the general manager called on WAYDEN to identify an interim manager capable of filling the vacant position, on a temporary basis.

Our interim management company (EMT) has retained the profile of Martin Dupont, a former plant manager with the know-how and know-how sought by the client and experienced in the management of reinforcement missions. The latter has successfully fulfilled all the missions related to this strategic function: setting up and managing the coordination of activities, ensuring the productivity of operational teams, organising the proper allocation of resources, guaranteeing compliance with QHSE ( Quality, Health, Safety, Environment) requirements, planning the implementation of preventive maintenance, managing engineering projects, reporting to general management, etc.

Transition assignments allow for agile and efficient management of transformation periods, whether it is restructuring, reorganization, industrial performance improvement or strategic development.

Why use an interim manager for the industrial sector?

Many cases may require the use of an interim manager for the industrial sector, such as:

• The management of a crisis (logistical, financial, health, etc.);
• The management of change management (industrial restructuring, opening or closing of a site, relocation, etc.);
• Improvement of industrial performance ;
• Organizational transformation of companies
• Digital transformation to integrate new technologies and thus optimize the process
• Support in the optimization of the supply chain to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• To bring a fresh look at the processes in place in order to identify areas for improvement and innovation.
• …

The interim manager for the industrial sector is a high-flying professional with a long career of 15 to 25 years in strategic positions in the industry. It can be used for a period ranging from 6 to 18 months. Thanks to his hindsight, his managerial skills, his sectoral expertise and his methodology oriented towards obtaining concrete and rapid results, he is able to respond to the problem encountered with the greatest possible operational excellence.

At WAYDEN, we regularly carry out transition missions with industry players for all trades: aeronautics, automotive, agri-food, energy, etc. With a very large pool of interim managers, we are able to select a profile whose technical skills and human qualities meet your needs and challenges.

Contact us to find out more.