Senior Advisor for Digital Manufacturing

Description

Senior Advisor - LLC/S-Corp position - up to 90% travel (US - based)

At Factory Advisors, we partner with manufacturing and industrial leaders to solve complex operational challenges, delivering measurable results and lasting impact. As a Senior Advisor within our Global Advisory Network, you’ll work directly with clients to streamline processes, improve performance, and create sustainable change—often on-site where the action happens.

About Us

Factory Advisors is an operational and digital manufacturing consulting firm that helps industrial organizations accelerate performance through integrated business, operational, and technology solutions. We partner side-by-side with client teams to optimize manufacturing operations, implement digital transformation initiatives, and drive measurable improvements across people, processes, and technology.

Our work spans operational excellence, lean manufacturing, manufacturing systems, data-driven decision making, AI-enabled operations, and digital manufacturing technologies, helping clients improve productivity, quality, throughput, and business performance.

Our Global Advisory Network brings together independent industry experts with deep experience in manufacturing, operational excellence, digital manufacturing, industrial automation, smart factory technologies, supply chain, quality, and business systems. Together, we provide clients with the practical expertise and hands-on execution needed to solve complex manufacturing challenges and deliver sustainable results.

The Opportunity

As a Senior Advisor, you will serve as both a strategic advisor and hands-on execution leader for manufacturing clients navigating operational improvement and digital transformation. You'll operate as an independent contractor (LLC or S-Corp) within our Global Advisory Network, enjoying the flexibility of consulting while benefiting from the reputation, collaborative culture, and reach of Factory Advisors.

Our advisors work alongside client leadership and plant teams to solve complex manufacturing challenges, improve operational performance, implement digital manufacturing technologies, and deliver measurable business results. Whether optimizing production flow, deploying Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), leveraging industrial AI, modernizing operations, or coaching leadership teams, you'll help clients achieve sustainable transformation.

Disciplines We Seek

We are actively expanding our network of Senior Advisors across a broad range of manufacturing, operational, and digital expertise, including:

• Manufacturing Operations Leadership
• Plant Management
• Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement
• Supply Chain, Purchasing & Sourcing
• Production Planning & Scheduling
• Industrial Engineering
• Quality Management & Quality Systems
• Maintenance, Reliability & Asset Management
• Technical Engineering
• Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS)
• Leadership Development & Organizational Change
• Project & Program Management
• Manufacturing Strategy & Operational Excellence
• Digital Manufacturing & Industry 4.0
• Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES/MOM)
• ERP & Manufacturing Business Systems
• Industrial Automation, Controls & Robotics
• Smart Factory & Connected Operations
• Operational Technology (OT)
• Industrial IoT (IIoT)
• Manufacturing Data Analytics & Performance Management
• Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing—including AI-enabled process optimization, predictive maintenance, machine vision, generative AI, intelligent knowledge management, and advanced analytics for manufacturing decision-making.

If your expertise supports manufacturing performance, operational excellence, digital transformation, or industrial technology, we'd still love to hear from you.

What You'll Do

• Lead Operational and Digital Transformation – Partner with manufacturing organizations to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost through operational excellence and digital manufacturing initiatives.
• Develop Specialized Expertise – Apply deep functional knowledge to solve complex manufacturing, operational, and technology challenges across client engagements.
• Collaborate with Cross-Functional Teams – Work alongside Factory Advisors consultants and client leadership to design, implement, and sustain business, operational, and digital solutions.
• Serve as a Trusted Advisor – Coach executives, plant managers, and functional leaders through operational improvements, organizational change, and technology adoption.
• Drive Manufacturing Performance – Analyze production systems, manufacturing processes, data, KPIs, and operational workflows to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Implement Digital Manufacturing Solutions – Support the deployment and optimization of MES, manufacturing systems, automation, AI-enabled tools, industrial data platforms, and other Industry 4.0 technologies.
• Develop Sustainable Solutions – Design and implement practical operating systems, management routines, digital workflows, and best practices that improve long-term business performance.
• Create Executive-Level Deliverables – Develop project plans, business cases, implementation roadmaps, dashboards, cost-benefit analyses, reports, and executive presentations.
• Support Business Development – Contribute technical expertise to client proposals, solution development, assessments, and discovery activities.
• Coach and Develop Client Teams – Build client capability through mentoring, training, leadership coaching, and knowledge transfer.
• Manage Risk and Drive Execution – Identify project risks, remove barriers, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and ensure successful project outcomes.

RequirementsWhat We're Looking For

Minimum Experience Required

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, industrial operations, engineering, digital manufacturing, automation, supply chain, quality, or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated success leading operational improvements, manufacturing transformations, digital initiatives, or large-scale business improvement programs.
• Experience implementing measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, throughput, cost, or customer performance.
• Strong communication, facilitation, coaching, and executive stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence organizations through both strategic leadership and hands-on execution.
• Ability to operate independently as a consultant through an LLC or S-Corp.

Desired Experience (Not Required)

• Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System, Six Sigma, or Operational Excellence leadership.
• Digital Manufacturing, Smart Factory, or Industry 4.0 transformation initiatives.
• Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES/MOM), ERP, SCADA, Industrial IoT, Automation, Robotics, or Connected Factory technologies.
• Artificial Intelligence applications in manufacturing and industrial operations.
• Data analytics, manufacturing intelligence, KPI development, or operational reporting.
• Experience leading cross-functional, multi-site, or global manufacturing organizations.
• Internal or external consulting experience.

Key Attributes

• Passionate about improving manufacturing performance through operational excellence and technology.
• Comfortable working independently while collaborating across multidisciplinary consulting teams.
• Thrives in dynamic manufacturing and industrial environments.
• Enjoys travel and working directly with clients on the plant floor.
• Naturally curious, analytical, and driven to solve complex operational challenges.
• Exceptional active listening, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Coaches leaders and frontline teams to build sustainable capabilities and lasting business results.

Why Join the Global Advisory Network?

• Impact: See your work translate into real results—fast.
• Flexibility: Choose the projects and timelines that fit your business and lifestyle.
• Collaboration: Work alongside a diverse, high-caliber group of professionals who share your passion for excellence.
• Credibility: Leverage the strength and reach of the Factory Advisors brand while maintaining your independence.