Matthias S. - Senior Consultant and Interim Manager PMO

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Schwanewede, Germany

Experience

Aug 2021 - Jul 2022

1 year

Austria

Senior Consultant and Interim Manager PMO

Global Player, Powder Metallurgy

Supported the setup of systematic multi-project management (around 200 projects)
Established portfolio and pipeline management
Special focus on resource management
Rolled out project and portfolio management software
Software training at all leadership levels from PM to executive board
Supported all users, especially key users
Change management: cultural shift in project organization
Monitored portfolio and pipeline KPIs
Status reporting to management and department heads
Ramp-up, continuous improvement
Successful rollout in seven business units
Developed and embedded the necessary processes
Changes in working methods / growing cultural shift
Eased the project pipeline and increased output through targeted control (“stop starting – start finishing”)

Jan 2021 - Jul 2021

7 months

Schwanewede, Germany

Founder

Dr. Strickrodt Project Management & Consulting

Founded company
Shaped company profile
Organized operations

Aug 2020 - Dec 2020

5 months

Kassel, Germany

Lean Six Sigma Project Leader

Alphadi Academy

Goal: reduce lead time
Applied data-driven Lean Six Sigma DMAIC roadmap
Traced problem statement back to root causes
Developed implementation plan for improvement measures addressing those causes
Provided proof through statistical hypothesis tests
Actions to ensure sustainable process control
Rated “very good” by an independent certification body; this project, along with written and oral exams, formed the basis for successful Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification.

Feb 2019 - May 2020

1 year 4 months

Bremen, Germany

Hybrid

Special Project Manager, Executive Staff Office

thyssenkrupp System Engineering GmbH

Project manager for implementing corporate strategy (OPEX) in change & claim management, hybrid PM approach, hands-on role
Developed and presented approval templates, project objectives, and reports
Analyzed and broke down necessary changes
Developed and implemented lean, efficient end-to-end solutions with the team (core 6 people, extended 14 people)
EBIT improvement through project: seven-figure on nine-figure revenue
Identified six key action areas based on in-depth weakness analysis
Split the overall project into parallel subprojects, appointed subproject leaders, hands-on involvement
Managed, coordinated, and executed all six subprojects with 14 team members from various functions and levels, meeting all schedule and budget targets
Introduced KPIs to control improvement measures
Trained, supported, and coached all affected operational areas
Change management: successfully embedded changes in company culture
Operational Excellence: successfully implemented corporate strategy, prepared PMO launch

Mar 2009 - Feb 2019

10 years

Bremen, Germany

Product and Sales Manager for New Products

thyssenkrupp System Engineering GmbH

Systematically searched for and identified potential new products
Conducted customer dialogues, validated with customers, performed competitive analysis, evaluated market opportunities
Led product development projects
Created business plans
Prepared portfolio expansion including sales concept and acquisition
Organized and led new product launches
Coached the handling of first orders for new products
Implemented strategic innovation and product management for the test technology division, partially using Design for Six Sigma tools
Identified innovative products for automated testing as key elements of production digitization and developed them with key accounts
Led multilateral development projects to create USPs and industrial-grade hardware and software solutions
Successfully developed, maintained, and coordinated collaboration with internal and external partners and customers, including at executive level
Introduced new, innovative products into the portfolio
Coordinated and executed marketing and sales activities; trained the sales team

Mar 2009 - Feb 2019

10 years

Bremen, Germany

Strategic Project Management Staff Office

thyssenkrupp System Engineering GmbH

Led various improvement projects to optimize project management foundations and internal processes and achieve cost savings, including:
Revised pre-calculation concept for proposals, adjusted module granularity and aligned with projects
Designed and implemented an integrated feedback loop for calculation data maintenance from projects
Created a new requirements specification concept to save costs in order processing and project management
Implemented and ran regular lessons-learned workshops within the division
Documented increases in quality and efficiency as well as cost reductions
Improved reproducibility of workflows
Laid the groundwork for continuous improvements

Apr 1997 - Aug 2017

20 years 5 months

Bremen, Germany

Sales and Project Manager

thyssenkrupp System Engineering GmbH

Clarified request for proposals with customers in the global automotive OEM industry
Prepared technical and commercial proposals
Presented and tracked proposals until order placement
Project manager for engine and component test benches, powertrain assembly in automotive
Led interdisciplinary project teams
Overall responsibility for project content (technology/quality), schedule, and costs
Managed interfaces with customers and suppliers
Contributed to winning automotive industry projects worldwide
Successfully led various complex special machine projects for customers such as Rover (UK), Vauxhall (UK), JCB (UK), BMW (UK), GM (USA), VW do Brazil, Fiat-GM Powertrain Brazil (BRA), Opel (DE), Audi (DE/HU), Ford (UK), Ford (ESP), Daimler (DE), Renault (FR)
Successfully led, coordinated, and motivated up to 20 changing team members in each project

Jan 1993 - Apr 1997

4 years 4 months

Pontypridd, United Kingdom

Research Associate and Subproject Leader

University of Glamorgan

Co-led AI-based support in a collaborative research project
Focused on Computer Aided Control System Design
Coordinated with other subprojects and research institutes
Supervised, coached, and involved undergraduate students
Contributed a new scientific insight to the recognized state of research
Published in international scientific journals
Completed PhD; examined by an independent external reviewer

Jan 1991 - Dec 1992

2 years

Hanover, Germany

Process Engineering Project Engineer

Varta Battery AG

Technically supported production processes in series manufacturing for automotive suppliers
Conducted data-driven analyses of production and quality metrics and parameters
Coordinated, conducted, and led production trials
Introduced, tested, and optimized production and testing procedures and processes to improve quality and efficiency
Successfully led three specialist working groups (each 5 people) for continuous improvement activities
Achieved significant quality improvements and productivity gains
Received multiple executive awards in internal quality competitions

Summary

My motto in the logo stands for my value proposition and means: strengthening margins through reliability and a robust flow in projects and production.
30 years of project management experience focusing on the supplier industry and special machine construction for the international automotive industry, Project Management Office, portfolio and pipeline management, improvement projects, implementation of corporate strategies (Operational Excellence), transformation, change and claim management, process optimizations, quality improvements, systematic problem solving, business division expansion, new products, development projects, market launches.
Equally extensive experience in leading project teams of up to 20 people and the lateral leadership skills vital for modern organizations.
My services: interim project management, designing process flow, establishing professional project management, building a Project Management Office, interim PMO management, portfolio and pipeline management, bottleneck analysis and management, systematic problem solving in mixed teams, change management, improvement projects to reduce non-conformance costs, activating in-team process intelligence, increasing process adherence, supporting AGILE teams.
Practical and pragmatic goal and implementation orientation, strengths in analytics, strategy, and concept; positive attitude, confidence; values: Commitment, Courage, Focus, Openness, Respect (= SCRUM values) plus trust and reliability. Client’s team and company goals are central.
The right balance of diligence over quick decisions. Diligence is not perfection. Implementation matters more than fancy presentations. Team and varied experience over individual achievements. Individual situations and needs over rigid methods. The result is more important than the path.