What we do
Seven disciplines. One experienced pair of hands.
From the shop floor to the boardroom, we bring senior operational expertise across the areas that matter most to manufacturing and industrial SMEs.
Not a generalist. Not a full-time hire.
The Manufacturing MD brings deep, hands-on experience across seven operational disciplines — the same areas that keep SME directors awake at night. You get the expertise of a seasoned MD, engaged on your terms, without the overhead of a permanent appointment.
Supply Chain
Reduce cost, reduce risk, improve resilience.
Supply chain problems rarely announce themselves — they accumulate. We conduct end-to-end supply chain reviews, identify single points of failure, and work with you to build supplier relationships and processes that hold up under pressure.
- Supplier rationalisation and performance management
- Lead time and inventory optimisation
- Risk mapping and contingency planning
- Procurement process improvement
Quality Management
Systems that protect your reputation and your margins.
Quality failures are expensive — in rework, returns, customer relationships, and time. We help you build quality management systems that are practical, auditable, and embedded in how your business actually operates.
- ISO 9001 implementation and audit readiness
- Quality management system design and review
- Root cause analysis and corrective action
- Continuous improvement culture development
Human Resources
Build a team that performs — and stays.
People are your most important operational asset. We help SMEs build the HR foundations that attract, retain, and develop the right people — without the complexity of a large corporate HR function.
- People strategy aligned to business goals
- Recruitment support and onboarding frameworks
- Performance management and appraisal systems
- Employment compliance and policy development
Health & Safety
Protect your people. Protect your business.
Health and safety compliance isn't just a legal obligation — it's a reflection of how you run your business. We help you build a safety culture that goes beyond tick-box compliance and genuinely protects your workforce.
- H&S management system design and implementation
- Risk assessments and method statements
- Incident investigation and prevention
- Safety culture development and training
Finance
The commercial clarity to make better decisions.
Many SME directors have a good instinct for their business but lack the financial visibility to act on it with confidence. We provide the financial controls, reporting, and commercial insight that turns instinct into informed decision-making.
- Management accounts and financial reporting
- Cash flow management and forecasting
- Financial controls and process improvement
- Commercial analysis and business case support
Process Improvement
Remove waste. Increase throughput. Improve margins.
Inefficiency is expensive, and it compounds over time. Using lean and Six Sigma principles — applied pragmatically, not academically — we identify where your processes are losing time and money, and help you fix them.
- Value stream mapping and waste identification
- Lean implementation and 5S programmes
- Six Sigma problem-solving methodology
- KPI development and operational dashboards
Research & Development
Turn innovation into competitive advantage.
R&D in manufacturing SMEs is often underfunded, poorly structured, or not exploited commercially. We help businesses build the frameworks, processes, and funding strategies to make innovation a reliable driver of growth — not an occasional accident.
- R&D strategy development and roadmapping
- R&D tax credit identification and process documentation
- New product introduction (NPI) process design
- Innovation pipeline management and stage-gate frameworks
How we work
Flexible engagement. Real commitment.
Every business is different. We work on a retained, project, or interim basis — whatever fits your situation. Engagements typically start with a no-obligation discovery conversation to understand where you are and what you need.
Retained
Ongoing fractional MD support on a part-time basis — typically one to three days per week. Ideal for businesses that need consistent senior leadership without a full-time appointment.
Project
Focused engagement to deliver a specific outcome — a supply chain review, an ISO implementation, a restructure. Clear scope, clear deliverables, clear timeline.
Interim
Short-term full-time cover during a transition, vacancy, or period of rapid change. Available at short notice for businesses that need immediate senior operational resource.
Not sure which service you need?
Most engagements start with a conversation. Tell us where the pressure is and we'll be straight with you about whether and how we can help.