Supply chain operations
10 manufacturing consultants
These ten manufacturing consultants advise manufacturers on operations and production, and several have also led manufacturing operations in-house as plant managers, directors or vice presidents. A reader can learn how an outside consultant diagnoses throughput, quality and cost problems on a factory floor and which improvement methods tend to stick.
Professionals to explore
01—10Alan Radda
LinkedInExperience: Manufacturing Consultant · Radda Consulting, LLC
Manufacturing Consultant at Radda Consulting, LLC since 2021. Former Senior Vice President, Operations and Engineering at De Wafelbakkers (2020–2021), Director, Bottling Operations at Mizkan America (2019–2020) and Vice President of Operations at MaryAnn's Baking Co Inc (2018–2019). The profile describes him as an operations executive, interim executive and lean and Six Sigma manufacturing expert in food and beverage manufacturing.
Erik Brodin
LinkedInExperience: Manufacturing Consultant · EAB Manufacturing Consulting LLC
Manufacturing Consultant at EAB Manufacturing Consulting LLC since 2024 and President of the firm since 2012. Former Director Program & Process Integration at Foxconn EV Systems (2022–2024), Plant Manager at NSK (2017–2019) and Plant Manager Lean Manufacturing at MIDWAY PRODUCTS GROUP, INC. (2013–2016). The profile describes him as a lean manufacturing plant executive focused on startups, turnarounds and resolving operational problems.
Jim Kilpatrick
LinkedInExperience: Managing Director · Manufacturing Improvement Services Limited
Managing Director at Manufacturing Improvement Services Limited since 2017; the profile says he provides direct support to manufacturing and engineering companies that want to grow or improve their business. Former Head of Manufacturing at Aggreko (2002–2017), Equipment Development Engineer at Alcatel Optronics (UK) Ltd (2000–2002) and Manufacturing Engineer at NEC Electronics (1995–2000).
Jon Szalai
LinkedInExperience: Director, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Engineering Consultant · Kocer Consulting + Engineering, PLLC
Former Director, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Engineering Consultant at Kocer Consulting + Engineering, PLLC (2022–2026), and Managing Director there since 2026, where the profile says he leads the firm's engineers and consultants and still works directly with clients. He has been President of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers since 2025.
Ken Nelson
LinkedInExperience: Independent Manufacturing Consultant · Ken Consults
Independent Manufacturing Consultant at Ken Consults since 2024, former Partner at The Partnering Group (2019–2024), Lean Consultant at LCL Consult Ltd (2017–2018) and Lean and HPWS Consultant at Incito (2015–2016). The profile lists lean manufacturing capabilities including kanban, standard work, 5S, value stream mapping, kaizen event facilitation and KPI establishment, along with P&G IWS tools.
Mark Stevens
LinkedInExperience: Partner Manufacturing and Distribution Practice · Wipfli
Partner Manufacturing and Distribution Practice at Wipfli since 2002, former Partner - Manufacturing Practice at Performa (1996–2003) and Director of Real Estate and Continuous Improvement at Kellogg Company (1987–1996). The profile describes him as a manufacturing consultant and Six Sigma Black Belt who has guided local, national and international manufacturing companies through continuous improvement work.
Matthew Cook
LinkedInExperience: Independent Manufacturing Consultant · Upshot Consulting
Independent Manufacturing Consultant at Upshot Consulting since 2022. The profile also lists Director of Operations at Cicor Group (2025–2026), Principal at Fulcrum123 (2023–2025) and Sr. Operations Expert at MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (2020–2022). It says he helps clients implement the right improvement tools and coaches them through the work, with experience in operations, production, maintenance, engineering and quality.
Max Fadeyev
LinkedInExperience: Founder CEO · Propel Manufacturing Consulting
Founder CEO at Propel Manufacturing Consulting since 2024; the profile says he helps manufacturers increase production and simplify operations, and that Propel aims to boost productivity by aligning and optimizing equipment. Former Global Operations Project Manager - Operational Excellence Team at DuPont Water Solutions (2019–2023) and Senior Production Engineer at Dow (2014–2017).
Steve Smid
LinkedInExperience: Sole Proprietor & Manufacturing Consultant · Stephen Smid Manufacturing Consulting, LLC
Sole Proprietor & Manufacturing Consultant at Stephen Smid Manufacturing Consulting, LLC since 2017. Former Senior Vice President of Manufacturing Technology at Innocor, Inc. (2015–2017) and Director of Manufacturing Technology & Operations, Dow Solar at Dow (2013–2015). The profile cites experience directing manufacturing operations and technology for continuous, batch, bulk and discrete processes producing chemical, foam, solar and other products.
Zac Seger
LinkedInExperience: Principal · Seger Consulting Services
Principal at Seger Consulting Services since 2023; the profile says he helps manufacturing companies scale and specializes in interim manufacturing and operational leadership. Former Director of East Coast Manufacturing (2011–2023) and Plant Manager (2008–2011 and 2007–2008) at CaptiveAire Systems.
Choose the right perspective
Match the consultant's process and industry background to your plant, since continuous, batch and discrete manufacturing raise different problems. Ask whether they work hands-on with your team on the floor or mainly advise leadership, and agree on the metrics you will track before the work starts.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you find the main constraint on output in a plant during the first weeks of an engagement?
- 02Which lean or continuous improvement practices hold up after the consultant leaves, and which fade?
- 03How should a manufacturer weigh an equipment investment against fixing its processes first?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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