Rainer Meyer

Mentor & Quality Lead

Potsdam, Germany

Experience

Aug 2024 - Nov 2024
4 months
Zehdenick, Germany

Mentor & Quality Lead

Diehl Advanced Mobility GmbH

  • Restructured operational quality assurance
  • Reduced scrap costs
  • Mentor for new quality manager
  • No staff responsibility
Apr 2024 - Jul 2024
4 months
Krefeld, Germany

Interim QHSE Manager Europe

Akiem Technik GmbH

  • Set up operational quality assurance for rail maintenance
  • Built complaint management
  • Transformed European sites
  • No staff responsibility
Feb 2023 - Feb 2024
1 year 1 month
Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany

Interim Quality Manager / Deputy Operations Manager

HKR Automotive GmbH

  • Led 15 staff
  • Restructured and built quality department
  • Handled customer & supplier complaints
  • Reduced scrap by changing process and product design
  • Restructured QMS
  • Continuous improvement project: Lean Management (OEE boost)
  • Coordinated and passed IATF 16949 certification
  • Built digital KPIs
  • Coached plant management (strategy & operations)
  • Reporting line: plant management, CEO, CTO, shareholders
May 2022 - Jan 2023
9 months
Berlin, Germany

Project Lead Intralogistics

Siemens AG

  • No direct staff leadership, team coaching
  • Planned new intralogistics for plant relocation
  • Structured project
  • Reporting line: SCM head, plant management
Oct 2021 - May 2022
8 months
Itzehoe, Germany

Confidential QM/Operations Projects for Battery Cell Production

Custom Cells GmbH

  • Led 2 staff
  • Aviation development projects
  • Automotive & aviation
  • Reporting line: operations, quality head, CEO
Jan 2020 - Oct 2021
1 year 10 months
Karlsruhe, Germany

Interim QM Lead Europe

SAS Autosystemtechnik GmbH

  • Led 16 staff
  • Functional Q lead for 9 European plants
  • Transformed QM systems for SAS–Faurecia
  • Led VW & Audi taskforce to improve JIS supply performance
  • Disciplinary Q lead / deputy plant manager
  • Coordinated and passed IATF 16949 certification
  • Restructured quality at Meerane plant
  • Reporting line: VP Customer Satisfaction & QM, COO, CEO
Jul 2019 - Nov 2019
5 months
Wörth am Rhein, Germany

Senior Expert

Webasto Mechatronic GmbH

  • Optimized electronics production incl. internal logistics & engineering for wallboxes and power electronics
  • Reporting line: CEO
Jul 2019 - Sep 2019
3 months
Velten, Germany

Interim Head of Development/Design

Wall GmbH

  • Led 17 staff
  • Covered illness absence
  • Reporting line: CEO
Feb 2019 - Jun 2019
5 months
Wörth am Rhein, Germany

Interim Head of Quality Department

Webasto Mechatronic GmbH

  • Led 9–12 staff
  • Restructured quality department
  • Validated products/processes (e.g. power electronics)
  • Rebuilt quality area
  • Reporting line: CEO
Oct 2018 - Feb 2019
5 months
Markgröningen, Germany

Senior Expert for Supplier Selection & E-Motor Engineering

ACPS Automotive GmbH

  • No staff responsibility
  • Electric trailer hitch
  • Reporting line: CEO, head of design
Mar 2018 - Oct 2018
8 months
Hildesheim, Germany

Interim Project Manager

Aptiv GmbH

  • Led 8 staff
  • Outsourcing and relocation
  • Series support and launch management
  • Tracked product validation actions
  • Reporting line: development head, program management
Dec 2017 - Mar 2018
4 months
Eisenach, Germany

Senior Management Expert Scrap Reduction

Rebo lightning GmbH

  • No staff responsibility
  • Technical/economic evaluation of production, products and complaints
  • Optimized internal logistics & costs
  • Change management in production
  • Coached CEO (operations) and operations manager
  • Reporting line: plant management, CEO, Chinese owners
Jun 2017 - Dec 2017
7 months
Ludwigsfelde, Germany

Interim Project Manager BMW Project

Gestamp Umformtechnik

  • Led 6 staff
  • Evaluated tools and parts for pre-series
  • Reporting line: plant management
Feb 2017 - May 2017
4 months
Munich, Germany

Interim Program Manager BMW Project

Magna Seating

  • Led 9 staff
  • Interior, seating
  • Reporting line: international management circle
Nov 2014 - Jan 2017
2 years 3 months
Langenfeld, Germany

Interim COO

redi Group GmbH

  • Led 220 staff (indirect >600)
  • Personnel, budget and results responsibility
  • Restructured entire technical area
  • Led engineering, metrology and control departments
  • International projects (focus Mexico) with OEM and Tier 1 incl. relocation Germany to Mexico
  • Supplier development, task force, ramp-up management
  • Supplier development: optimized product & process for head-up displays for premium OEM, incl. software QS and validation review
  • Defined and implemented PAR program (Prevention/Action/Reaction) from development to series
  • Reporting line: CEO, owners
Jun 2014 - Nov 2014
6 months
Lüdenscheid, Germany

Senior Expert

Kostal GmbH

  • No staff responsibility
  • Supplier development (national/international)
Apr 2014 - Dec 2015
9 months
Lippstadt, Germany

Senior Quality Expert

BHTC GmbH

  • No staff responsibility
  • Interface analyses in quality with Automotive SPICE needs
  • Concept to reduce quality costs
  • Reporting line: plant management, quality head
Mar 2014 - May 2014
3 months
Hanover, Germany

Change Management & Coaching

Nexans GmbH

  • No staff responsibility
  • Change management and coaching to implement growth strategy
  • Reporting line: CEO
Apr 2013 - Jan 2014
10 months
Berlin, Germany

Head of Quality Management with Staff Responsibility

Lautsprecher Teufel GmbH

  • Led 21 staff (Germany, China)
  • Built new quality management area
  • Restructured QM tasks in Hamburg, Berlin and TangXia/China with interfaces to purchasing, suppliers, logistics, development
  • Relocated products within China
  • Introduced 8D reporting at suppliers (China) and supplier reporting
  • Introduced quality assurance for development projects
  • Budget and staff leadership
  • Quality costs along logistics chains
  • Introduced KPIs and project reviews
  • Reporting line: CEO, CFO
Jun 2011 - Apr 2013
1 year 11 months
Berlin, Germany

Senior Consultant Quality Management: E-Machines

Daimler AG / EM Motive GmbH

  • Led 7 staff
  • Industrialized E-machines incl. pre-series builds
  • Process/quality approval of complex assembly systems
  • Interface between Daimler (PL), suppliers and Bosch/EM
  • Transferred equipment & products from Daimler Berlin plant to JV partner EM Motive GmbH, Hildesheim
  • Completed successful VDA 6.3 audit
  • Reporting line: Daimler division head, EM Motive CEO
Jun 2011 - Dec 2011
7 months
Bratislava, Slovakia

Supply Quality Rear Lights

Volkswagen

  • Touareg, Porsche Cayenne
  • Improved quality and secured volumes
  • Weekly Q reviews
  • Reporting line: VW purchased parts quality head
Feb 2010 - Jun 2011
1 year 5 months
Wolfsburg, Germany
Hybrid

Quality Management & Project Lead

Volkswagen AG

  • No direct staff, international teamwork
  • Hybrid/E drivetrains (VW, Porsche, Audi)
  • Troubleshooting suppliers (Czech, China)
  • Purchase part quality for hybrid/E components: e-machines, power electronics, HV connectors, BMS
  • Supplier qualification in Czech & China via fault analysis, operating data and measurements
  • First samples of HV connectors (incl. functional safety)
  • Prioritized vehicle functions with ASIL ratings considering SW interfaces
  • Task forces: China for start-up and serial supply; relocation within China and supplier selection
  • Interface between VW design, development/system partners, brands, procurement and suppliers
  • Assessed product and process validations at suppliers (HV connectors, power electronics, e-motor)
  • Prepared division/board updates
  • Reporting line: VW division head, group quality head
Jan 2009 - May 2010
5 months
Molsheim, France

Task Force Headlights

Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.

  • No staff responsibility
  • Quality assurance of products and processes (injection molding, assembly)
  • Ensured supply capability (supplier in UK)
  • Weekly Q reviews
  • Reporting line: purchasing, technical planning Bugatti
Aug 2009 - Feb 2010
7 months
Zwickau, Germany

Project Lead: Factory of the Future / Cockpit Assembly

SAS Autosystemtechnik

  • Led 5 staff
  • Designed, simulated and validated alternative JIS solutions (novel logistics concept)
  • Detailed study to shift from 3- to 2-shift with HR and works council
  • Evaluated and planned new site incl. GC selection and factory planning
  • Series start-up planning and emergency strategies
  • Coordinated with VW Mosel plant
  • Aligned with labor partners
  • Reporting line: plant management, CEO
Jan 2009 - Dec 2009
1 year
Bad Salzdetfurth, Germany

Senior Expert Production/Process Optimization, Q Project Lead, Interim QM Lead

Fuba GmbH

  • Led 3 staff
  • Projects for Daimler/BMW/Ford: antenna systems
  • Industrialized antenna systems
  • Q project lead for new antenna systems for various OEMs
  • Interim QM lead during restructuring
  • Strategic advice on cost-efficient assembly/process optimization
  • Six Sigma analyses in production and process flow optimization with design improvements
  • Conducted internal audits per VDA/ISO TS 16949
  • Process and product audits for BMW, Mercedes, Ford
  • Reporting line: plant management
Aug 2005 - Feb 2009
3 years 7 months
Reynosa, Mexico

Project Lead: Quality Assurance

Delphi Delco Electronics GmbH

  • Led 4 staff
  • Projects: Saab, Opel, Audi navigation systems; VW radios; Toll Collect system
  • Cost reduction in navigation system development (HW/SW)
  • Change management: set up processes for prototype build, startup and failure analysis
  • QA project lead for new infotainment systems incl. customer approvals and series handover
  • Designed service/repair site in Czech Republic incl. service partner selection
  • Analyzed returns and zero-km failures as lessons learned
  • Teardown analyses in prototype phases
  • Supplier audits (electronics, electro-mechanics, assembly) per VDA 6.3/ISO TS 16949
  • FMEA moderation (software, design, process, system)
  • Software FMEA with multicultural dev team
  • Assessed internal/external validation of components and assemblies
  • International troubleshooting
  • Monthly Q and gate reviews at management level
  • Reporting line: program manager, dev head
Apr 2005 - Jun 2005
3 months
Wiesbaden, Germany

Restructuring Concept

Elenxis GmbH / Nord Control

  • Technical assessment of automotive supplier (four sites) for restructuring concept incl. VDA 6.1/6.3 audits
  • Strategic redesign concept
  • Developed short- and long-term measures to boost productivity at three sites
Oct 2004 - Jun 2006
1 year 9 months
Buxtehude, Germany

Supplier Audits

Airbus/KID Systeme

  • Audited aerospace suppliers (national/international) in metal, plastics, cable, PCB and electronics per EN9100
Jun 2003 - Jul 2005
2 years 2 months
Recklinghausen, Germany

Project Lead: Change Management & Cost Reduction

Hella Hueck KGaA & Co

  • Led 4 staff, teamwork
  • Electronics production, rework and headlight assembly
  • Built cross-plant failure analysis database and coordinated external partners to capture costs and daily reporting to cut quality costs
  • FMEA moderation
  • Process optimization in lines per tech and economic needs
  • Weak-point analysis and restructured defect and scrap management
  • Redesigned production workflows
  • Reporting line: plant management, production technology head
Feb 2003 - Apr 2004
1 year 3 months
Cologne, Germany

Quality Lead Development Project “Automaxx and Gibomaxx”

ESG GmbH

  • QA for HW/SW development
  • Coordinated mechanical and electronic partners
  • FMEA moderation and action implementation
  • Created requirements specs with tech and production needs
  • Supplier selection (HW/SW) and audits
  • Reporting line: division head
Jul 2001 - Jan 2003
1 year 7 months
Nuremberg, Germany

QA Project Lead: VW Infotainment, Toll Collect

Grundig GmbH

  • QA lead (product development)
  • Deputy project lead
  • FMEA moderation and actions
  • Supplier audits per VDA/ISO 9001 and audit support
  • Implemented QM measures for “Electronic Toll Collect” incl. confidential repair concept
  • Optimized cross-company processes
  • Reporting line: quality head
Apr 2001 - May 2001
2 months
Munich, Germany

Training & Consulting

Teradyne GmbH

  • Trained and advised on new optical inspection systems
  • Advised US management
Jan 2001 - Apr 2001
4 months
Bruchsal, Germany

Process Optimization (Electronics)

Siemens AG

  • No staff, teamwork
  • Tech support in PSGA part production
  • Selected equipment, suppliers and optimized processes
Dec 2000 - Dec 2002
1 year 1 month
Dreieich, Germany

Lecture Series

Speedline Technologies GmbH

  • Delivered lectures in Germany, Hungary and Switzerland
Mar 2000 - Mar 2001
1 year 1 month
Hildesheim, Germany

Group Leader

Blaupunkt Werke

  • Led 13 staff
  • Led and coordinated “Production Technology” group
  • Built and trained “Assembly Technology” team
  • Implemented quality goals in assembly tech for new tech
  • Selected and commissioned complex assembly systems and SW programming
  • Planned new production lines strategically
  • Reporting line: plant management, production tech head
May 1999 - Nov 1999
7 months
Hanau, Germany

Built Germany Branch

Heller Industries Deutschland GmbH

Apr 1999 - Feb 2001
1 year 11 months
Hildesheim, Germany

Project Lead

Blaupunkt Werke

  • Developed “Fine Pitch BGA” process to series ready with special tech requirements
  • Designed, built and commissioned new lines (SMD and assembly)
  • Qualified and validated bonding and potting processes
Jan 1997 - Dec 1998
2 years
Dreieich, Germany

Key Account Manager Siemens & Bosch

Speedline Technolgies GmbH

  • Project/customer consulting (Europe) on production, tech and economic tasks
  • Technical talks at partners and universities
  • Application support: smart card production processes
  • Reporting line: CEO
Oct 1988 - Dec 1997
8 years 3 months
Berlin, Germany

Group Leader

Siemens AG

  • Built electronics assembly technical center
  • Led 11 staff
  • Off-tariff staff since 1991
  • Led “Production Technology Development” group
  • Tech and production support to plants (Europe)
  • Training for process optimization
  • Weak-point analyses in Siemens and customer plants
  • Standardization work: SMD tech, Siemens AG and DKE
  • Coordinated with automation business unit
  • Presented at international fairs
  • Reporting line: division head
May 1985 - Oct 1988
3 years 6 months
Munich, Germany

Mobile Phone Production Tech & SMD Setup

Siemens AG

  • Introduced SMD for mobile phones to series
  • Built production tech group
  • Established phone line incl. machinery procurement
  • Transferred know-how to second site
  • Joined cross-plant teams
  • Reporting line: division & department heads
  • Reference: Siemens AG board award

Summary

  • Over 25 years of experience in engineering, supplier and quality management at both OEM and Tier 1–n with international assignments (e.g. China, Mexico)

  • Leadership experience at all company levels in quality and production

  • Extensive method know-how in quality management, e.g. FTA, FMEA, complaint handling (8D), QFD, Ishikawa, PPAP, APQP, continuous improvement

  • Strong focus on efficiency (OEE), root-cause analysis and solutions

  • Development, production, quality, logistics and suppliers

  • Engaged motivator with an eye on costs, economics and sustainability

  • Generalist with strong strategic and technical skills, plus organizational and change management experience, including restructuring

  • Over 10 years of leadership at second management level

  • Over 8 years in middle management in automotive and electronics industry, corporate and mid-size

  • Highly international with many short- to medium-term overseas assignments (e.g. supplier task forces) within EU, USA, Mexico and China

  • Broad industry expertise in automotive and electronics sectors

  • Infectious drive for new ideas and approaches

  • Authentic, value-oriented, focusing on sustainability, positive curiosity and personal integrity

  • Strong success and problem-solving orientation with high social skills and teamwork

  • Decisive combined with participative leadership of support and challenge

  • Results- and cost-oriented as key to sustainability

  • Dynamic strategic visionary with high implementation skills, focused on innovation, product realization and services

  • Authentic in actions and decisions

Languages

German
Native
English
Advanced
Italian
Elementary

Education

Oct 1981 - Jun 1985

Cologne University of Applied Sciences

Dipl.-Ing. Production Engineering · Production Engineering / Mechanical Engineering · Cologne, Germany

Oct 1980 - Jun 1981

Ratingen Technical High School

University Entrance Diploma · Ratingen, Germany

Oct 1975 - Jun 1980

Mannesmann Tube Works

Power Plant Electrician, Electrical Installer · Düsseldorf, Germany

Certifications & licenses

Certified Expert per ISO/IEC 17024: Automotive Failure Analysis

Process Auditor VDA 6.3

VDA, Hann. Münden

Process Auditor VDA 6.3

VDA, Hann. Münden

Systemic Business Coach

Internal Auditor ISO 9001

DGQ