COST. CASH. PERFORMANCE.

OPERATIONAL
EXCELLENCE

Costs are rising. Supply chains remain unstable. Cash is tied up.
At the same time, expectations on speed, efficiency and digitalisation keep increasing. Production footprints and core competences are under review. Most organisations are running, but not optimised.

Talk to us
Smiling factory worker in hard hat and hi-vis vest with the pink H&Z Hand icon — Operational Excellence | H&Z

PERFORMANCE UNDER PRESSURE

Where Performance Gets Lost

Operational performance does not break in one place. It erodes across footprint, planning process, manufacturing, delivery and systems.

Inventory is too high. Network does not reflect geopolitical situation and optimised cost position. Digital initiatives don’t translate into measurable results.

Improvement starts when operations are managed as a system, not as isolated initiatives.

1

The Problem

  • Cash tied up in inventory and inefficient working capital structures
  • Production network and logistic footprint does not reflect geopolitical situation and optimised cost position
  • Inefficient processes and hidden productivity losses
  • Digital and AI initiatives without measurable impact
2

What We Fix

  • Working capital becomes transparent, is actively reduced and optimised
  • Footprints are simplified and aligned to demand
  • Processes are streamlined and performance-driven
  • Digital and AI are applied where they improve operations
3

The Impact

  • Improved liquidity and cash release
  • Lower cost and higher resilience
  • Faster, more stable operations
  • Measurable performance improvement

Delivering Measurable Results

Operational Excellence delivers when performance, cost, resilience and cash are managed together. Only a system-wide approach ensures that improvements translate into measurable financial impact and lasting results.
10–30%
Reduction in working capital through targeted liquidity programmes
300+
Successful operations projects completed across industries
20%
Operations cost reduced

Where We Improve Operations

Liquidity Programmes (NWC)

Working capital is often the fastest lever for performance. Transparency on inventory, receivables and payables drives immediate liquidity impact. We identify cash levers, implement targeted measures and establish active working capital steering.

Young green plant growing from a pot filled with coins, symbolising sustainable growth | H&Z

Footprint Optimisation

Production network and logistics footprint often no longer reflect geopolitical realities or an optimised cost position. Through detailed network analysis, we define and implement target footprints with a clear focus on cost reduction and resilience.

Hand placing a red pin on a technical drawing to mark a project milestone | H&Z

Efficiency

Hidden inefficiencies across processes and interfaces reduce performance. Clear structures unlock productivity. Bottlenecks are identified, processes redesigned and performance management systems introduced to sustain improvements.

Consultant sketching business diagrams on a whiteboard during a strategy session | H&Z

Digitalisation & AI

Digital and AI only matter when they improve operations. Applied pragmatically, they increase transparency and speed. We prioritise relevant use cases, support implementation and ensure measurable impact on operations.

Open laptop displaying code on a modern white desk, symbol of software development work | H&Z

Awarded Services

H&Z has been recognised multiple times for delivering measurable results in operations, performance and transformation.
BrandEins Berater2026DE basic logo – client reference | H&Z
Hidden Champion 2026/27
Top Consulting Firm 2026 Award Seal

Successful Operational Excellence Projects

Reduced working capital, simplified footprints and more efficient processes lead to measurable improvements in cost, cash and performance.

Large industrial manufacturing machine with workers in protective suits inside a clean production facility, representing consulting expertise in high-tech manufacturing and process optimization.
Success Story
 

Brückner Maschinenbau, together with H&Z, has built a quality culture that goes beyond technical precision.

Outdoor Vaillant aroTHERM plus air-to-water heat pump installed next to a modern residential building | H&Z
Success Story
 

H&Z drove significant improvements in Vaillant Group’s operating working capital through targeted analysis, sustainable planning, and enhanced S&OP processes.

Promotional image of a yellow LIFTKET electric chain hoist suspended on a beam in front of the LIFTKET facility, highlighting industrial equipment solutions used in operations consulting and lifting applications.
Success Story
 

H&Z partnered with LIFTKET to enhance production by 40% in a year through targeted optimization and strategic planning techniques.

Success Story
 

Learn how a leading ammunition manufacturer decreased inventory levels significantly and streamlined operations for better cash management.

Large industrial gas turbine rotor mounted on yellow stands in a manufacturing hall, S&OP case key visual | H&Z
Success Story
 

Discover how a top gas turbine manufacturer enhanced its sales and operations planning by refining processes and leveraging advanced IT solutions for better performance and customer service.

Success Story
 

H&Z redefined a space industry leader’s operations, enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and optimizing their sales strategy for sustained growth in a competitive landscape.

All H&Z Success Stories

Our latest Insights

Insights on working capital, operations, efficiency and digital transformation.
All H&Z Insights
Webinar
25.06.2026
 | Webinar

This webinar shows automotive suppliers how to optimize the RFQ-to-SOP process through smarter operations, AI-driven decision-making, and best practices to boost speed, competitive

3D mockup of a guide booklet titled "Enabling NextGen Category Management" featuring a hand touching glowing hexagonal icons on the cover, set against a light blue background
Strategy Paper
10.03.2026

Discover practical insights to shift your procurement approach from tactical sourcing to resilient, value-driven strategies for a dynamic market.

Mock-up of a corporate report titled 'Mechanical and Plant Engineering Pulse Check' featuring a picture of industrial machinery and modern graphic elements, representing industry insights and consulting analysis.
Strategy Paper
12.02.2026

Our paper translates AI-business priorities in the Mechanical & Plant Engineering sector into a concrete, use-case driven roadmap.

Operational Excellence

Let us help achieve your objectives

Rising costs, tied-up cash and declining efficiency are rarely isolated issues. They result from how operations are structured and managed. Improving performance means addressing operations as a system and creating clarity across processes, decisions and responsibilities.

Portrait of Dr. Markus Contzen, senior advisor at H&Z consulting, wearing glasses and a dark suit jacket, standing against a neutral background.

Dr. Markus Contzen

Partner
Markus leads H&Z’s Private Equity industry with over 20 years of experience across the full investment lifecycle driving measurable value creation. As a Partner, he also supports H&Z’s focus on Operational Excellence.