Thomas Geser - Subproject Manager "Inventory Reduction"

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Sulzbach an der Murr, Germany

Experience

Jul 2024 - Sep 2024

3 months

Subproject Manager "Inventory Reduction"

SMA Solar Technology AG

Defined measures to improve inventory and cash flow
Managed and coordinated those measures
Prepared data and created presentations (Power BI, Excel, PPT)
Developed new operational metrics for cash flow trends
Created C-level presentations as decision support

Jul 2023 - Jun 2024

1 year

Subproject Manager "Material Availability"

SMA Solar Technology AG

Master data analysis and order history analysis (SAP S/4Hana MM and Power BI)
Procurement process analysis (SAP Signavio)
Identified improvement opportunities and coordinated follow-up actions
Investigated interface issues between strategic and operational purchasing
Designed and implemented a metrics system for future data-driven process and department control
Project planning, control and stakeholder management (including C-level)
Presented projects in steering committees
Defined and tracked project management guidelines

Feb 2020 - Jun 2023

3 years 5 months

Head of Strategic Capacity Planning

Beiersdorf AG

Responsible for Beiersdorf’s global production capacities
Expanded capacity monitoring and control to suppliers
Managed all global supply shortfalls and coordinated COVID crisis measures
Designed and launched a supply chain resilience program to secure robust supply chains and supplier relations
Built a KPI dashboard for early detection of capacity bottlenecks (internal and supplier)
Produced analyses and reports for executive management
Managed 7 international strategic capacity managers

Sep 2017 - Jan 2020

2 years 5 months

Operation Manager

Beiersdorf AG

Led Beiersdorf’s only global metal packaging plant (metal printing and coating, stamping and forming processes)
Introduced a new production management system focused on shift, daily and weekly performance
Designed, planned and executed machinery park renewal (€20m+ investment; >70% of equipment renewed, 100% brownfield)
Raised standards in autonomous and planned maintenance
Managed digitization and streamlining of support and control processes in production (shift planning, staff communication, knowledge sharing and documentation)
Coached and mentored team leaders in their first leadership roles toward future department head positions
Managed a team of 4 salaried staff and about 50 operators

Mar 2016 - Jun 2017

1 year 4 months

Planning Excellence Manager

Unilever Supply Chain Services GmbH

Led the project to centralize procurement (moved procurement activities from 50 European factories into a pan-European planning hub)
Project management (scheduling, resource planning)
Standardized procurement processes (including SAP R/3 data)
Improved and partially automated European material requirements planning (SAP R/3)
Change management in both the releasing plants and the new planning hub
Stakeholder management (plant managers, regional VPs, purchasing managers, procurement heads, IT, local production units)
Created training materials and conducted staff training
Indirectly led a 5-member international project team

Dec 2014 - Jan 2016

1 year 2 months

Manufacturing Manager (interim Plant Manager)

Unilever Produktions GmbH & Co.OHG

Managed the plant leadership team (finance, HR, supply chain and logistics, tech & innovation, production, quality, industrial engineering)
Onboarded and mentored new department heads (quality, logistics, planning, industrial engineering)
Negotiated with the works council (topics: employee oversight, communication systems, site security)
Coordinated the cross-department WCM program to improve factory performance
Represented the plant in the European SC Leadership Team
Oversaw ~500 employees, >110,000 tons of personal care products and >330 million units for the global market, >€170 million turnover

Jun 2012 - Feb 2016

3 years 9 months

Manufacturing Manager

Unilever Produktions GmbH & Co.OHG

Change management: implemented new organizational structure and leadership
Rolled out and professionalized WCM production management system (advanced TPM, continuous improvement, cost-based activity prioritization, etc.)
Boosted efficiency (equipment OEE, shift output, setup time optimization)
Negotiated with the works council (topics: employee oversight, terminations)
Managed 12 salaried staff and ~230 operators

Feb 2011 - Jan 2013

2 years

Planning & Logistics Manager

Unilever Produktions GmbH & Co.OHG

Change management focused on headcount reduction, process simplification and automation
Led a supply chain department with 3 teams: procurement, production planning, customer service & transport planning
Production planning in SAP APO
Procurement and transport planning via SAP R/3 and SAP LE-TRA
Established supplier partnerships and exchanges
Optimized processes in campaign planning, procurement and automated customer communication
Coached and mentored team leaders in their first leadership roles toward department head positions
Managed 25 salaried staff

Oct 2009 - Jan 2011

1 year 4 months

Thayngen, Switzerland

Assistant Supply Chain Manager

Unilever Produktions GmbH & Co. OHG

Local lead for a European supply chain project ("Factory Responsiveness")
Analyzed and optimized production frequencies, sequencing and product prioritization (total cost optimization)
Handled operational procurement in SAP R/3 and was responsible for master data
Rolled out the "Factory Responsiveness" project to the Swiss sister plant in Thayngen (4 months on site)

Summary

15 years of experience in production, procurement & crisis management (production and supply chain bottlenecks)
Solid expertise in SAP S/4Hana MM (including customizing, etc.)
Strong skills in project and program management (time, budget, resources and C-level management)
Leadership and personnel development competence (managed teams of up to 250 employees)
Deep expertise in Excel VBA and Power BI–based data analytics
Special talent for spotting and realizing optimization potential
Leading and executing procurement improvement projects (potential analysis, project planning and control, implementation, training and review)
SAP S/4Hana – building, migrating and optimizing materials management and procurement
Crisis management in supply chains and factories
Designing and building supply chain resilience programs
Consulting and training of operational and strategic supply chain management areas
Developing and rolling out production control systems