Senior Advisor for Digital Manufacturing

About the role

As a Senior Advisor within Factory Advisors' Global Advisory Network, you will work directly with manufacturing clients to streamline processes, improve performance, and create sustainable change.

Responsibilities

• Partner with manufacturing organizations to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost through operational excellence and digital manufacturing initiatives.
• Apply deep functional knowledge to solve complex manufacturing, operational, and technology challenges across client engagements.
• Work alongside Factory Advisors consultants and client leadership to design, implement, and sustain business, operational, and digital solutions.
• Coach executives, plant managers, and functional leaders through operational improvements, organizational change, and technology adoption.
• Drive manufacturing performance by analyzing production systems, manufacturing processes, data, KPIs, and operational workflows to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Implement digital manufacturing solutions such as MES, manufacturing systems, automation, AI-enabled tools, industrial data platforms, and other Industry 4.0 technologies.
• Design and implement practical operating systems, management routines, digital workflows, and best practices that improve long-term business performance.
• Create executive-level deliverables such as project plans, business cases, implementation roadmaps, dashboards, cost-benefit analyses, reports, and executive presentations.
• Contribute technical expertise to client proposals, solution development, assessments, and discovery activities.
• Build client capability through mentoring, training, leadership coaching, and knowledge transfer.
• Identify project risks, remove barriers, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and ensure successful project outcomes.

Requirements

• Minimum 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, industrial operations, engineering, digital manufacturing, automation, supply chain, quality, or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated success leading operational improvements, manufacturing transformations, digital initiatives, or large-scale business improvement programs.
• Experience implementing measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, throughput, cost, or customer performance.
• Strong communication, facilitation, coaching, and executive stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence organizations through both strategic leadership and hands-on execution.
• Ability to operate independently as a consultant through an LLC or S-Corp.

Desired Experience

• Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System, Six Sigma, or Operational Excellence leadership.
• Digital Manufacturing, Smart Factory, or Industry 4.0 transformation initiatives.
• Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES/MOM), ERP, SCADA, Industrial IoT, Automation, Robotics, or Connected Factory technologies.
• Artificial Intelligence applications in manufacturing and industrial operations.
• Data analytics, manufacturing intelligence, KPI development, or operational reporting.
• Experience leading cross-functional, multi-site, or global manufacturing organizations.
• Internal or external consulting experience.

Key Attributes

• Passionate about improving manufacturing performance through operational excellence and technology.
• Comfortable working independently while collaborating across multidisciplinary consulting teams.
• Thrives in dynamic manufacturing and industrial environments.
• Enjoys travel and working directly with clients on the plant floor.
• Naturally curious, analytical, and driven to solve complex operational challenges.
• Exceptional active listening, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Coaches leaders and frontline teams to build sustainable capabilities and lasting business results.