HinzConsultMichael Hinz · Hanover

Interim managementOperations · Production · Quality

Take charge.
Make change stick.

Where operational leadership is needed, I take responsibility in the line. Where clarity is needed, I work as an independent consultant alongside management, owners or investors.

Portrait of Michael Hinz
Michael Hinz · Hanover · Food, food supplements, cosmetics

Safety bootsover PowerPoint.

Hands-on On the shop floor Leading by example

Two routes. One aim: better performance.

The difference lies in the responsibility

Line role

I decide inside the organisation.

As an interim manager I take on operational responsibility for a defined period.

  • A key position is vacant?
  • A plant is not reaching its performance targets?
  • Production, quality or the organisation need stability?
  • A transfer or restructuring is due?

Leading, prioritising, deciding — and answering for the result.

Roles Plant management · Head of production · Operations management · Technical management · Head of quality · General management / CEO

See line management →

Consulting

I help the organisation decide well.

As a consultant I analyse processes, organisation and performance — independent and free of internal interests.

  • What is causing the weak performance?
  • Why is an organisation not working?
  • Is a business plan operationally realistic?
  • What structure does a plant need?

Name the causes, show the options, support the implementation on request.

Topics Production performance · Restructuring · Process optimisation · Plant structure · Delivery performance · Cost structures · Quality systems · Plant transfers

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When an interim manager, when a consultant?

Both are brought in when a task lies outside the routine and cross-industry experience counts for more than in-house knowledge. The difference is not one of competence, but of mandate and responsibility.

Interim managerConsultant
Mandate Solve the problem. The goal is fixed before the assignment starts. Understand the problem. The process is open-ended.
Role Part of the line — with authority over people, budget and decisions. External — alongside management, owners or investors.
Responsibility Responsibility for execution. I decide and answer for the result. Responsibility for advice. Analysis, options, recommendation — the decision stays with the client.
Contribution Leading, prioritising and implementing in day-to-day operations — including uncomfortable personnel decisions. External knowledge and method, independent assessment, concept and prioritised roadmap.
Outcome A stabilised plant, an organisation that can be steered, measurable performance. Transparency, clarity about the decisions, a realistic path to implementation.
Duration Several months to more than a year, full-time on site. A few weeks to months, project-based or accompanying.

In short

  • You know what needs to be done — but nobody is there to do it.Interim manager
  • You are not yet sure what needs to be done.Consultant

Example: restructuring

The consultant assesses whether a plant has a future, names the levers and presents the action plan. The interim manager then implements that plan — in the line, with the workforce, against the clock.

I offer both, and one often follows from the other: an analysis shows that management capacity is missing; an assignment shows that a structural question needs to be settled.

What sets my work apart

Four principles
  • Responsibility over observationIn a line role I am part of the organisation — with the responsibility that belongs to that role.
  • Clarity over complexityProblems are structured, causes identified, decisions prepared or taken.
  • Implementation over concept papersA concept only has value once performance, organisation or processes actually improve.
  • Sustainability over dependenceStructures, processes and leadership must work without me after the assignment.

Selected assignments

Selection of 20 · four months and longer
  • 2025–26Operations DirectorPrimal State Performance, BerlinFilling +20 %, fulfilment +50 %
  • 2025Plant and technical managementMars Petcare, MindenLeadership team developed
  • 2024Plant managementGerresheimer, Bünde850 employees
  • 2021–23Project lead plant transferKneipp, OchsenfurtParis → Hohestadt
  • 2020–21Plant and technical managementNature’s Choice B.V., NetherlandsSAP roll-out
  • 2015–16CEOEuropean Convenience Food, Borken4 companies
  • 2014–15Plant managementPowerBar, Voerde+30 % output

See all 20 assignments →

Which situation do you need to solve?

Take charge

You need an experienced leader for plant, production, operations or quality at short notice?

Discuss interim management

Assess the situation

You need an independent assessment, an action plan or support with a transformation?

Discuss a consulting project