Rick Ottiger - Interim Operation Manager

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Kiel, Germany

Experience

Apr 2024 - Present

1 year 4 months

Interim Operation Manager

Element Materials Technology Holding Germany GmbH

Operated as operation manager, works and project manager
Managed projects and change initiatives including restructuring & crisis management, process optimization and shopfloor management implementation
Implemented Lean management
Integrated and automated technologies

Jan 2024 - Mar 2024

3 months

Expert Project and Process Optimization

Element Materials Technology Holding Germany GmbH

Analyzed processes and structures
Conducted value stream analyses
Developed evaluation instruments
Implemented Lean management
Integrated and automated technologies
Optimized and documented processes

Jul 2023 - Dec 2023

6 months

Kreuzlingen, Switzerland

Project Manager SAP Polaris

Amcor Flexibles Kreuzlingen AG

Led SAP Polaris project
Analyzed end-to-end processes and systems
Designed and implemented solutions
Organized and led key user teams
Managed master data

Apr 2023 - Sep 2023

6 months

SCM – Operational and Strategic Optimization

Magnetbau Schramme GmbH & Co. KG

Analyzed potentials and assessed opportunities
Provided Lean coaching
Managed operations
Optimized quality
Delivered engineering services

Jul 2020 - Mar 2023

2 years 9 months

Head of Supply Chain Management

hGears AG

Restructured supply chain and interfaces
Managed order center, production planning, production, quality assurance, logistics, and shipping teams
Established shop and office floor management
Led Lean Six Sigma continuous improvement projects
Created structures and workflows and optimized processes
Oversaw customs responsibilities
Optimized inventory and enhanced KPIs and reporting systems
Directly managed 5 team leaders and provided technical leadership to over 50 employees
Achieved backlog reduction by 80%, on-time delivery increase by 55%, inventory reduction by 35%, productivity increase by 15%, and supply chain cost reduction by 17%

Mar 2020 - Jun 2020

4 months

Project Manager IT Project Digitalization of Business Processes

StartUp LEAN4Future

Analyzed potentials and provided Lean coaching
Managed operations and quality optimization and delivered engineering services
Planned and expanded server topology
Digitized order management processes and automated workflows
Implemented DMS with controlled information access

Jul 2013 - Feb 2020

6 years 8 months

Chief Operating Officer (COO) & Head of Order Center & Quality Management Representative & Energy and Environmental Management

Herold Maschinenbau GmbH

Had full operational responsibility for the company
Drove future-proof setup and development of the organization
Created and optimized structures and processes
Expanded and enhanced planning tools including Microsoft Dynamics AX, Babtec CAQ, and ELO DMS
Developed, evaluated, and integrated KPIs
Established cost management along the value chain
Advanced cross-department tolerance management (design, production, quality)
Implemented supplier management system
Negotiated contracts with creditors and debtors
Restructured and realigned the IT infrastructure
Introduced Lean operation (shop and office floor management), Lean administration, and process management
Procured robotics, automation, and handling systems
Designed, built, and programmed test benches for quality assurance using LabVIEW and PLC
Implemented CAQ and DMS within the existing ERP
Increased production capacity by over 32%
Raised EBITDA from 5% to up to 23%
Reduced rejection rate from 2% to below 0.04%
Improved on-time delivery from 92% to 99.8%
Increased automation level

Jan 2013 - Jun 2013

6 months

Team Leader Quality Management

Schuck Group

Developed and standardized processes
Organized and enhanced quality management system
Planned and conducted audits (customer, supplier, internal)
Managed quality planning and advanced quality planning
Planned and executed incoming and outgoing goods inspections
Planned and executed production and cooperative inspections
Established and supervised supplier management system including agreements, audits, monitoring, evaluation, and sampling
Established and supervised complaint management system (internal/external, supplier/customer)
Conducted management reviews
Organized and led certifications, quality circles, and continuous improvement projects

Nov 2009 - Dec 2012

3 years 2 months

Head of Design (Special Machine Construction) & Responsible for Production Equipment Quality Assurance & Project Manager Design

va-Q-tec AG

Organized and led new design and further development of products, components, tools, equipment, machines, and plants
Filed and registered various patents
Led automation projects for quality assurance
Designed, planned, and integrated a hot air welding process into production facilities

Jan 1997 - Sep 2008

11 years 9 months

System Administrator & IT Security Officer

BVW

Built, managed, and administered the IT infrastructure
Enhanced security standards
Trained users
Performed maintenance and troubleshooting

Aug 1993 - Dec 1996

3 years 5 months

Insurance Sales Agent

Debeka

Summary

As an interim manager, I help companies optimize their processes and boost efficiency. I take a holistic approach that includes identifying improvement opportunities and creating implementation plans.

My passion for innovative technologies and commitment to continuous learning enable me to plan, execute, and refine projects successfully to exceed my clients’ requirements and expectations. My core strength is process optimization and improving operational efficiency. As an experienced project engineer, I have in-depth technical knowledge and hands-on experience in designing, executing, and maintaining complex systems. I combine my technical expertise with strong problem-solving skills to analyze challenges precisely and develop effective solutions. My solid understanding of IT/OT security allows me to build robust systems that meet the highest standards for data integrity and cybersecurity. My leadership skills let me guide a motivated team and enhance cross-department collaboration. As a manager, I aim to improve product and service quality, control costs, and raise customer satisfaction. I rely on process analyses to spot weaknesses and drive continuous improvements. My strategic thinking and decision-making help put the company on a sustainable growth path and successfully enter new markets.

Empathetic, skilled, down-to-earth, and assertive leader with high resilience, holistic thinking, future-focused vision, and entrepreneurial foresight
"Hands-on mentality" with an analytical and strategic approach to deliver targeted results
Over 20 years of leadership experience in e-mobility/automotive, IT, printing and machine tools, power tools, and aerospace industries
Successfully initiated, designed, and implemented numerous change and transformation processes under dynamic conditions like financial, energy, and sales crises
Continuously challenge and support employees to achieve outstanding results and act as an active part, mentor, and sponsor of the team in innovations, improvements, and major changes to ensure on-time success

Languages

German

Native

English

Intermediate

Russian

Elementary

Education

Aug 1993 - Dec 1996