Manufacturing

Making it all work together, better.

In a sector with more than its share of disruption, pricing pressure, and automation, sustainable success is far from automatic. Tight deadlines, tighter margins, and the constant specter of new industry competitors only compound the natural stresses of business operations. FortéOne can help.

Our people—all with decades of experience—have built, run, revamped, and resuscitated manufacturing companies around the world. Working side-by-side with your team, they’ll quickly identify what you’re doing well and what needs a rethink. And they will, of course, help in that area, as well. By the time their engagement is done, your firm will have every one of our Six Factors for Sustainable Success well in hand.

A sampling of how we’ve helped past clients achieve consistent growth.

Adjust the organizational structure and staffing resources to better match strategic goals
Install/overhaul end-to-end SIOP processes to ensure lows costs and consistent quality
Implement system-wide lean processes
Help design and oversee new facilities construction
Implement Six Sigma principles
Improve throughput using the theory of constraints
Conduct Kaizen events and employ other efficiency-improvement and waste-reduction initiatives
Perform process and production line analysis, and optimize all plant processes
Assess product profitability and perform SKU rationalization at both plant and firm-wide levels
Supplement production, assembly, and distribution leadership
Assess plant personnel at all levels – including management, production staff, maintenance, supply chain, outsourced functions and liaisons – and restructure as necessary
Align overall strategy with the best market opportunities

A partial list of the industry sectors we serve.

FortéOne has helped dozens of firms across virtually every subset of the manufacturing landscape, including:

Food
Consumer products
Cosmetics and Hair Care
Automotive
Industrial Manufacturing and Equipment
Metal, Chemical, and Electronics
Building Products

If you’re unsure if your company fits neatly into one of these categories, worry not. Chances are exceptionally high that we have worked with someone in your space before.

A few words from Manufacturing clients.

“Together, we improved nearly every part of our company […] FortéOne worked side-by-side with us creating and leading many management presentations to prospective buyers -- as well as spearheading the intense due diligence efforts. In less than two years, the Klement's and FortéOne team completed a successful sale of our family company to a respected private equity firm.”

John Klement, CEO, $85MM Protein Manufacturer

“You always wonder if they can do the job. FortéOne provided the experience and manpower to get us ready to sell. It has been an extremely positive experience … I have a very high regard for their ability and their knowledge. If I have another company, I will use them again.”

Ed Zinke, Owner, $250MM Manufacturing Company

“After an intensive initial assessment, our team, supported by ongoing FortéOne assistance, launched corrective action programs that covered a period of about 18 months. As a result of that effort, profitability was restored to our target levels sooner than our initial expectations.”

John Russell, CEO, $300MM Manufacturing & Construction Company

“The team at FortéOne did a great job helping Accella optimize our freight and distribution network as we rapidly acquired companies from 2015 - 2017. True professionals with a great understanding of the complexities involved in such an exercise. Highly recommend them.”

Scott Snider, EVP Operations, $500MM Specialty Chemical Manufacturer

Recent Manufacturing Success Stories

$40MM National Storage Systems Manufacturer (Private Equity)

Firm was losing revenue and needed new leadership immediately. Experienced interim CEO was placed within one week. Supply chain savings of $800K were realized in 2 months, sales increased by 50% in 18 months, and on-time deliveries improved from 70% to 100%. Our executive was later hired by the company, which is growing rapidly and achieving historically high margins.

$20MM International Industrial Components Manufacturer (Family Office)

Mature industry with flat growth, firm had declining margins. FortéOne supplied an interim CEO, and the following improvements were achieved within 16 months: ROIC rose from 5% to 19%, Gross Margins increased from 12% to 27%, debt reduced from $890K to $0, EBITDA tripled, and distributions in excess of tax of $2M. Enterprise value increased more than 15X.

$45MM National Medical Device Repair and Manufacturer (Private Equity)

The firm was struggling to integrate 3 acquisitions, margins were decreasing, and clients were consolidating. We assessed the firm, then worked internally with their operations, finance and sales teams to reorganize the firm, install SIOP/supply chain firm wide, and change sales processes. Sales now at 15% growth, profits increased from $2.5MM to $6MM, and firm is receiving purchase offers at high multiples.

$85MM International Industrial Components Manufacturer (Private Equity)

New CEO needed financial leadership following a tuck-in acquisition, the installation of a new ERP, and an inability to issue timely and accurate reports. We provided an experienced CFO who fixed the above issues, and also functioned as a Project Manager for the ERP implementation. He works alongside the CEO and will remain with the firm until it sells in 2017.

$200MM Regional Packaging Manufacturer (Private Equity)

Sales were flat, but inventory had increased by 20% and internal projects had failed to build supply chain efficiencies. We provided a senior Supply Chain executive who assumed a staff and project leadership role. We installed new supply chain and forecasting processes, strengthened the internal Team with new hires, reduced inventory by $6MM, and then trained and turned over the department to an internal manager. Firm went to market late 2016.

$180MM National Electrical Equipment Manufacturer (Private)

A rapidly growing manufacturer was experiencing 20+ week lead times and product quality issues. We assessed the manufacturing operation and supply chain, worked internally to install new supply chain and manufacturing processes, and assisted in upgrading the staff. Lead times were reduced to 8 weeks within 3 months, supplier selection was revamped, and quality issues were reduced. Hard savings in excess of $500K were realized, and key clients (and their in-process orders) were retained.