Cases

Below are anonymized examples of assignments in manufacturing and industrial automation. The purpose is to provide insight into the types of situations I typically engage in, how I work in practice, and which approaches help create the conditions for successful delivery.

All examples are simplified and anonymized. Outcomes always depend on project context, organization and decisions – my role is to contribute structure, clarity and forward progress.

Case 1 – Large-scale greenfield automation project

Situation:
I was involved in a large-scale greenfield project within manufacturing, where a new factory was established with multiple automated assembly lines. The project was characterized by high complexity and many parallel dependencies, while several brands within the group were consolidated around a shared technical platform, adapted for different markets.

Over time, both technical solutions and ways of working evolved, resulting in numerous changes and reprioritizations. The project included multiple parallel machine lines, several international suppliers, and close interaction between automation, IT and product development.

Requests for quotation and supplier dialogues were conducted in English and addressed to both domestic and international suppliers.

My role and contribution:
I was involved throughout most of the project lifecycle and held several roles over time. Initially as an automation engineer focusing on requirements, technical coherence and overall machine functionality. Relatively early, I took on a broader project-leading role, even though the formal title was assigned later.

When a colleague left the project, I formally assumed the role of Project Manager for the entire assembly workstream, covering multiple suppliers and parallel lines, with responsibility for coordination, budget and delivery. In this role, I had task allocation responsibility for a team of project managers and engineers.

In the later stages, I transitioned into a combined project and technical management role, focusing on technical coherence, verification and the transition from project to operations. Throughout the project, I reported to program management and steering committee, and in the final phase directly to the factory manager.

• Maintaining technical coherence across multiple deliveries and assembly lines
• Structuring requirements, verification and technical interfaces in a changing environment
• Leading and coordinating project managers and engineers
• Supporting prioritization and trade-offs, both cross-functionally and within the team
• Ensuring alignment between automation, IT and product platform
• Plan and structure international RFQ processes in English, including requirements definition, evaluation, and ongoing supplier dialogue.

Practical outcome:
The work contributed to improved clarity around technical structure, verification and decision-making in a highly complex project. Shared RFQ and URS templates for automated lines were developed and established as part of the organization’s internal procurement framework, and are still used today.

Case 2 – Development and procurement of a custom automation solution

Situation:
Within a larger industrial program, a need was identified for a new automated buffer solution handling products with high variation. Available standard solutions on the market could not meet the required capacity, footprint or investment constraints, making a custom solution necessary.

The objective was to create a system that, based on forecast, handled homogeneous stacks of items for the coming 1–3 days, while also supporting “on-demand” batches linked to downstream assembly orders.

My role and contribution:
I led the work from early concept and design through to procurement. Acting as technical lead, my focus was on developing a viable solution balancing functionality, capacity and investment.

The work included concept development, overall solution design, structuring the requirements, preparing RFQ documentation, and collecting and evaluating supplier quotations. I worked closely with suppliers to refine the solution and ensure technical feasibility and verifiability.

Procurement was carried out in close cooperation with the purchasing organization. I participated in negotiations and was responsible for the technical appendices to the contract, iterated together with the supplier until a clear and unambiguous technical description was achieved.

The resulting solution was based on customized automated storage, robotic handling and two separate material flows:

• Items routed to one production branch for further processing (e.g. drilling and hardware installation)
• Items sorted, placed in customized carriers and automatically transported to a parallel processing flow

Handover and continued support:
After procurement, the project was handed over to an internal project manager ahead of the installation phase, with a focus on providing clear technical conditions for continued execution.

I continued to act as technical and commercial support, reviewing solutions and handling matters related to contracts and supplier relations. My involvement in supplier discussions contributed to clarity in technical decisions and resolution of misaligned expectations.

In preparation for implementation, I also took responsibility for defining FAT and SAT protocols and for conducting and approving FAT, based on my overall technical understanding of the solution and its verification requirements.

At a later stage, an additional item identification function was initiated and integrated into the buffer solution, requiring redesign of inflow and the addition of further robotic processes. This work was also driven through design and procurement before handover to execution project management.

Practical outcome:
The assignment resulted in a procured solution adapted to the organization’s actual needs and constraints. Through clear requirements, verifiable documentation and active supplier dialogue, conditions were created for a controlled transition from design to implementation.

If you would like to discuss a similar situation in your project, you are welcome to get in touch.