Thomas Kopp - Interim Manager COO

Q: Where is Thomas based?

Thomas is based in Donaueschingen, Germany .

Q: What languages does Thomas speak?

Thomas speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Intermediate) .

Q: How many years of experience does Thomas have?

Thomas has at least 36 years of experience. During this time, Thomas has worked in at least 10 different roles and for 13 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 9 months . Note that Thomas may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Thomas's latest experience?

Thomas's most recent position is Interim Manager COO at Self-employed .

Q: What companies has Thomas worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Thomas has worked for Self-employed .

Q: Which industries is Thomas most experienced in?

Thomas is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing , Automotive , and Energy .

Q: Which business areas is Thomas most experienced in?

Thomas is most experienced in business areas like Project Management , Product Development , and Production/Manufacturing . Thomas also has some experience in Supply Chain Management , Quality Assurance (QA) , and Sales .

Q: Which industries has Thomas worked in recently?

Thomas has recently worked in industries like Automotive and Manufacturing .

Q: Which business areas has Thomas worked in recently?

Thomas has recently worked in business areas like Product Development , Project Management , and Supply Chain Management .

Recommended expert

Donaueschingen, Germany

Experience

Apr 2015 - Present

11 years

Interim Manager COO

Self-employed

Sales and project planning in automotive plastics engineering
Interim head of development, sales, and supply chain management departments (COO)
Staff training and leadership development
Execution of complex plastics projects in the automotive industry
Technical customer consulting in plastics and mold engineering (thermoplastics and elastomers)
Technical support for plastics companies and automotive suppliers
Key account management
Troubleshooting
Rheological part analysis and fill analyses with Moldex 3D

Jan 2014 - Mar 2015

1 year 3 months

Project and Key Account Manager

Karl Simon GmbH & Co. KG

Sales support for customers VW, Audi, BMW, Hella, and Weber
Technical consulting in single-component and multi-component technology
Technical consulting and implementation of electroplating technology, painting, and laser processing
Budget responsibility for all projects, approx. €4 million
Direct contacts with Hella, VW, Audi, and Weber
Project cost calculation: part pricing, mold and equipment costing, and proposal preparation
Acquisition of new projects from customers
Planning and managing projects through all process phases
Ensuring and meeting deadlines, costs, and quality
Order planning in terms of scheduling, project organization, and capacity planning

Jan 2013 - Jan 2014

1 year 1 month

Hockenheim, Germany

Project and Key Account Manager

Promens GmbH

Project support for Mercedes truck and MAN customers
Project cost calculation and presentation to the customer
Technical customer consulting
Manufacturing of plastic rotational parts

Jul 2011 - Dec 2012

1 year 6 months

Wackersdorf, Germany

Project and Key Account Manager

TPS Group GmbH

Project support for customers Continental, VW, Audi, BMW
Project cost calculation and presentation to the customer
Costing of molds, parts, and equipment
Budget responsibility
Generating new projects at customers
Planning and managing projects through all phases from concept to finished product
Ensuring and complying with effort, schedule, cost, and quality
Ensuring processes according to the APQP method
Order planning in terms of scheduling, project organization, and capacity planning

Jan 2010 - Jun 2011

1 year 6 months

Stuttgart, Germany

Automotive Project Manager

Daimler AG

Vehicle validation matrix for model series W246, W176, C117, and X156
Ensuring the correct vehicle setup of test vehicles before each test drive
Participation in working groups, component, and development meetings
Supporting and motivating type supervisors in capturing and submitting test results to FAM

Sep 2008 - Nov 2009

1 year 3 months

Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany

Sales Representative and Technical Field Consultant

Grässlin KBS

Customer support and new customer acquisition
Budget responsibility
Material recommendation and technical advice on customer projects
Quote preparation and cost calculation
Customer support at trade fairs

Mar 2007 - Mar 2008

1 year 1 month

Radolfzell, Germany

Automotive Project Manager

Dekorsy GmbH

Project support for customers TRW, PSA, VW, Audi, BMW, Marquard and Valeo
Project cost calculation and presentation to the customer
Mold, part and equipment cost calculation
Budget responsibility
Generating new projects with the customer
Planning and managing projects through all phases from idea to finished product
Ensuring and maintaining effort, schedule, cost and quality
Ensuring processes according to the APQP method
Order planning including scheduling, project organization and capacity planning

Apr 2005 - Feb 2007

1 year 11 months

Rottweil, Germany

Technical Project Buyer Paper Handling

BDT AG

Project-based procurement of technical plastic parts and injection molds in Asia
Implementing and applying changes according to customer requirements
Negotiating part and tool prices
Supplier consolidation and tool relocation
Technical support in material selection for projects
Conducting tenders and project inquiries
Budget responsibility

Mar 2001 - Feb 2005

4 years

Nürensdorf, Switzerland

Sales Manager Technical Plastics

Createchnic AG

Sales and presentation of own products and solutions to customers
Support and acquisition of customers across Europe
Implementing marketing requirements
Sales and budget responsibility
Part and mold cost calculation
Quote preparation
Project support
Customer support at trade fairs

Aug 2000 - Feb 2001

7 months

Technical Consultant in Field Sales

Teske

Advising customers in technical field sales

Mar 1992 - Aug 1998

6 years 6 months

Schaffhausen, Switzerland

Plastics Technologist (Plastics Molder) Piping Systems

Georg Fischer Rohrleitungssysteme AG

In-company training as a plastics technologist, graduated at DEMAG in Nuremberg
Start-up of production molds and DEMAG NC 2, NC 3, Ergotech and ENGEL machines
Process engineering initial sampling of new molds on DEMAG and ENGEL equipment
Finding and setting parameters
Initiation of mold modifications
Setup of handling equipment from Wittmann and ABB robots
Quality assurance
Setup of CNC machining equipment
Supervision of machining of fluoroplastic parts for pure water systems

Jan 1991 - Feb 1992

1 year 2 months

Automatic machine setter

Heim Heudorf

Programming and setting up automatic lathes
Quality control

Jul 1986 - Dec 1989

3 years 6 months

Donaueschingen, Germany

Skilled worker in the turning and gear cutting department, shift supervisor and machine setter

Stegmann GmbH

Operating and setting up turning and gear cutting machines
Leading the shift and setting up machines

Industries Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time. Longer bars indicate deeper hands-on experience, while shorter ones reflect targeted or project-based work.

Experienced in Manufacturing (33 years), Automotive (17 years), and Energy (1 year).

Manufacturing

Automotive

Energy

Business Areas Experience

The graph below provides a cumulative view of the freelancer's experience across multiple business areas, calculated from completed and active engagements. It highlights the areas where the freelancer has most frequently contributed to planning, execution, and delivery of business outcomes.

Experienced in Project Management (21 years), Product Development (14.5 years), Supply Chain Management (11 years), Production (11 years), Quality Assurance (10 years), and Sales (8 years).

Project Management

Product Development

Supply Chain Management

Production

Quality Assurance

Sales

Skills

Ms Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Ms Project)
Sap R3
Solidworks And Solidcam
Innosoft
Moldex 3d Fill Studies
Lean Management
Shopfloor Management
Assertive Leader
Hands-on Mentality
Flexible, Resilient, Goal-oriented
Team Player With Management Experience
Motivator

Languages

German

Native

English

Intermediate

Education

Sep 1998 - Jul 2000

Feintechnikschule Schwenningen

State-certified precision technician, specializing in automation and production engineering · Precision engineering · Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany

Mar 1992 - Mar 1994

Georg Fischer AG

Plastics technologist (plastic molder) · Schaffhausen, Switzerland

Sep 1986 - Jul 1989

Stegmann GmbH

Machining mechanic (automatic turning technology) · Donaueschingen, Germany

Certifications & licenses

DGQ Quality Assistant QA certificate

Internal process auditor VDA 6.3

Internal system auditor ISO/TS 16949

Profile

Created

September 2025

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Thomas based?

Thomas is based in Donaueschingen, Germany.

What languages does Thomas speak?

Thomas speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Intermediate).

How many years of experience does Thomas have?

Thomas has at least 36 years of experience. During this time, Thomas has worked in at least 10 different roles and for 13 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 9 months. Note that Thomas may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Thomas be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Thomas would be well-suited for roles such as: Interim Manager COO, Project and Key Account Manager, Automotive Project Manager.

What is Thomas's latest experience?

Thomas's most recent position is Interim Manager COO at Self-employed.

What companies has Thomas worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Thomas has worked for Self-employed.

Which industries is Thomas most experienced in?

Thomas is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing, Automotive, and Energy.

Which business areas is Thomas most experienced in?

Thomas is most experienced in business areas like Project Management, Product Development, and Production/Manufacturing. Thomas also has some experience in Supply Chain Management, Quality Assurance (QA), and Sales.

Which industries has Thomas worked in recently?

Thomas has recently worked in industries like Automotive and Manufacturing.

Which business areas has Thomas worked in recently?

Thomas has recently worked in business areas like Product Development, Project Management, and Supply Chain Management.

What is Thomas's education?

Thomas holds a Doctorate in Machining mechanic (automatic turning technology) from Stegmann GmbH and a Bachelor in Precision engineering from Feintechnikschule Schwenningen.

Does Thomas have any certificates?

Thomas has 3 certificates. These include: DGQ Quality Assistant QA certificate, Internal process auditor VDA 6.3, and Internal system auditor ISO/TS 16949.

What is the availability of Thomas?

Thomas is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Thomas?

Thomas's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.