Eugen Pilarski - Interim Project Manager / Program Management / Operational Excellence

Q: Where is Eugen based?

Eugen is based in Kolitzheim, Germany .

Q: What languages does Eugen speak?

Eugen speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), Polish (Intermediate) .

Q: How many years of experience does Eugen have?

Eugen has at least 30 years of experience. During this time, Eugen has worked in at least 12 different roles and for 12 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 4 months . Note that Eugen may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Eugen's latest experience?

Eugen's most recent position is Interim Project Manager / Program Management / Operational Excellence .

Q: What companies has Eugen worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Eugen has worked for Collins Aerospace / RTX Deutschland , ZKW Automotive Österreich , Hoffmann Group - Garant Productions Deutschland , and Smart-Interim Management GmbH .

Q: Which industries is Eugen most experienced in?

Eugen is most experienced in industries like Automotive , Manufacturing , and Metals and Mining . Eugen also has some experience in Aerospace and Defense .

Q: Which business areas is Eugen most experienced in?

Eugen is most experienced in business areas like Operations , Project Management , and Production . Eugen also has some experience in Supply Chain Management , Product Development , and Procurement .

Q: Which industries has Eugen worked in recently?

Eugen has recently worked in industries like Manufacturing , Automotive , and Aerospace and Defense .

Q: Which business areas has Eugen worked in recently?

Eugen has recently worked in business areas like Operations , Project Management , and Supply Chain Management .

Recommended expert

Kolitzheim, Germany

Check rate

Experience

Jan 2026 - Present

4 months

Hybrid

Interim Project Manager / Program Management / Operational Excellence

Jun 2024 - Dec 2024

7 months

Landshut, Germany

Interim Project Manager / Program Management

Collins Aerospace / RTX Deutschland

Responsible for development, industrialization, and production of military helicopter seats (Helicopter Seating, Part 21 / Part 145)
Responsible for an innovative seating system weighing < 15 kg and 100% crash safety according to EASA (side facing), from concept to SOP
Complete recovery of a project that was two years late with only 15% progress, frequent project manager changes, and massive loss of customer trust
Implementation of a recovery plan with concept approval and prototype testing in 4 weeks, and certification testing in 8 weeks to achieve 100% EASA certification
Managed global BCC development resources in Poland and India (>60% share) and optimized development cycles including FEA, as well as streamlined the supply chain
Ensured on-time EASA and series release, compliance with the NRE budget, and timely delivery including FAI, restoring customer satisfaction

Sep 2022 - Sep 2023

1 year 1 month

Wiener Neustadt, Austria

Interim Head of Process Engineering Electronics Production

ZKW Automotive Österreich

Responsible for process development of electronics production (SMT, control unit assembly, LED prints, and PCB assembly) with 40 employees
Introduced multi-project management based on a Stage-Gate process
Restructured industrialization processes and organization along the value chain
Synchronized industrialization with global development processes in the electronics segment
Established and upgraded production and industrialization processes to automotive standards
Carried out cost-down projects increasing production by 65% year over year by focusing on OEE, capacity, plant inventory, scrap, employee training, and procurement
Designed the production footprint for SMT manufacturing in Dalian (China) and Mexico
Defined pre-design processes in operations for the S4/Hana end-to-end transformation
Used Lean Six Sigma, value stream analysis, and Stage-Gate process to optimize the production site

Apr 2021 - Jun 2022

1 year 3 months

Reutlingen, Germany

Interim Manager

Hoffmann Group - Garant Productions Deutschland

Restructured industrialization and production processes with organizational changes along the value chain
Conducted cost-down projects focusing on output increase (HK/AwH), backlog reduction (revenue), and inventory reduction (WIP, cash flow)
Applied a brownfield approach to increase capacity in fine sheet metal processing, welding, and final assembly, achieving a 40% output increase
Outsourced a high-runner product group from sourcing to the assembly line
Served as interim head of final assembly with 40 employees and realigned manufacturing and assembly processes, achieving a 35% output increase

Jan 2019 - Dec 2025

7 years

Hybrid

Interim Manager

Smart-Interim Management GmbH

Restructuring, relocation, cost-down, and turnaround management in production
Factory planning for greenfield and brownfield plants, and agile project management
Designing and optimizing the production footprint, digitization, and process mining
Implementing lean management, change management, and S4/Hana transformation
In-house consulting for operations, supply chain, manufacturing engineering, and special machine building

Jun 2018 - Jan 2019

8 months

Germany

Plant Manager (Aerospace)

Kaman Aerospace - Specialty Bearings & Engineered Products

Plant management at a sister company of RWG Höchstadt an der Aisch
Implementation of the One Piece Flow production system
Managed 135 employees and 5 department heads, sales of EUR 28 million per year
Project lead on a brownfield approach in forming technology for rod end bearing production
Achieved a 135% increase in rod end output in four months
Reduced headcount in the production cell by 25% as part of a cost-down project
Created transparency and operational impact in operations by implementing shopfloor management (S-Q-C-D-P)

Dec 2017 - Jan 2019

1 year 2 months

Munich, Germany

Global Head of Manufacturing Engineering

Schlemmer Group

Established the global manufacturing engineering and supply chain group in the company, focusing on extrusion, plastic injection molding and assembly technology in multi-project development processes
Integrated production plants worldwide into a production network as part of the production footprint, focusing on efficiency, manufacturing costs and supply chain, especially in Eastern Europe, Africa and the USA/Mexico
Integrated and realigned the internal custom machinery unit into the Schlemmer Group
Expanded the service portfolio in the automation and software segment
Sourced and industrialized a 2K foam application with integrated 2K plastic injection molding machine in a fully automated one-piece flow concept for e-mobility
Reduced procurement costs by EUR 600k and cut project duration by 10 weeks ahead of the planned SOP date for an OEM automotive customer
Successfully expanded the plant in Romania with 2K injection molding technology and built the Mexico plant as a greenfield project

Dec 2017 - May 2018

6 months

Rimpar, Germany

Plant Manager for Component Manufacturing and Assembly

GRW

Managed component manufacturing and assembly of high-precision miniature ball bearings for the automotive and aerospace sectors
Digitized production processes and increased production flexibility
Introduced industrial automation in one-piece flow
Realigned manufacturing strategy and organization along the supply chain
Responsible for process development at the main plant and the assembly plant in the Czech Republic
Led 300 employees and 8 department heads, with annual sales of EUR 55 million
Successfully implemented the cost-down and lean project “Fertigungsinsel” to significantly advance production at the Rimpar plant
Further professionalized manufacturing processes and the end-to-end supply chain while improving quality to aerospace and automotive standards
Adjusted the production footprint of European plants in terms of efficiency, manufacturing costs and time-to-market
Relocated the tapered roller bearing product group to Prachatice, Czech Republic

Jul 2016 - Nov 2017

1 year 5 months

Grenchen, Switzerland

Plant Manager

Sinterwerke Grenchen AG

Led and reorganized the Grenchen plant with a focus on flow-oriented production as a value stream unit in the automotive sector
Increased output of operational units by 35% through operational excellence programs on the shopfloor and cut lead times from 34 to 6 days including supply chain
Managed 180 employees and 8 department heads, with annual sales of EUR 50 million
Took the site into profit with an earnings improvement of EUR 7.0 million in 2016 based on numerous cost-down projects focused on cash flow and inventory (WIP and finished goods)
Successfully industrialized the BMW cam carrier for variable valve timing and ramped up the production line using a value-stream approach
Achieved material cost savings of 11% (technology and volume) and raw material savings of 9% (WIP and scrap) using Six Sigma methods
Adjusted the production footprint with the German sister plant focusing on operational excellence

May 2012 - Jun 2016

4 years 2 months

Schweinfurt, Germany

Director of Business Service, Head of Maintenance

ZF Friedrichshafen AG

Operational management of maintenance for 7 production plants at the Schweinfurt site in the automotive sector
Developed and implemented operational excellence programs on the shopfloor, reducing lead times by 18% (lean operations)
Led 320 employees and 5 department heads, with a budget of EUR 55 million per year
Reduced costs in my area by 16% while increasing site output by 24% (make-and-buy in an end-to-end context) as part of the e-powertrain development strategy
Co-led a subproject in the European production footprint focusing on technology and relocation

Sep 2006 - Apr 2012

5 years 8 months

Schweinfurt, Germany

Head of Maintenance at Schweinfurt and Elfershausen Plants

Schaeffler AG

Operational management of maintenance at the Schweinfurt and Elfershausen sites in the automotive and aerospace sectors
Reduced lead times of the operational units by 17% while increasing production output through lean management
Established a planning and control department for overhauls at the site
Sub-project management in the production footprint with focus on technology and relocation
Managed 270 employees and 5 department heads with a budget of EUR 45 million per year
Developed and built a lean management team at the Schweinfurt site to align the organization with the value stream
Adapted the organization to the customer cycle through decentralized operational units in preparation for planned sales growth
Led the maintenance planning and control team, implemented new service concepts and introduced a KPI system on the maintenance shop floor
Sub-project management for setting up sites in Europe and Asia
Conducted workshops in production (value stream design)
SAP rollout in operations at the Schweinfurt and Elfershausen sites

Apr 1998 - Aug 2006

8 years 5 months

Stolberg (Rhineland), Germany

Operations Engineer / Workshop Foreman Mechanics / Technical Assistant / Industrial Mechanic

Aurubis AG

Industrial mechanic in a 5-shift system maintaining production equipment
Technical assistant with project management for industrialization and cost-down projects as well as overhauls with internal and external partners
Workshop foreman for mechanics with operational responsibility for mechanical maintenance at the site, managed 25 employees, including 5 shift leaders, budget approx. EUR 2.5 million per year
Operations engineer with project management for investments and overhauls in the production environment
Product and process development of copper collectors for electric machines and their industrialization (continuous forming process)
SAP rollout in operations at the Stolberg site

Feb 1996 - Mar 1998

2 years 2 months

Baesweiler, Germany

Industrial Mechanic Final Assembly

Eltro GmbH

Industrial mechanic in the final assembly of PVD/CVD systems in mechanical engineering
Assembled, adjusted, and commissioned system components and equipment

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Automotive, Manufacturing, Metals and Mining, and Aerospace and Defense.

Automotive

Manufacturing

Metals and Mining

Aerospace and Defense

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Operations, Project Management, Production, Supply Chain Management, Product Development, and Procurement.

Operations

Project Management

Production

Supply Chain Management

Product Development

Procurement

Summary

Many years of leadership experience as plant manager for component manufacturing and assembly of rolling bearings, car and truck transmissions, shock absorbers, hybrid electric drives, and electronics production. Global responsibility for manufacturing engineering and special machine building. Focus areas: product development, production management, restructuring in international emerging markets, supply chain, engineering, multi-project management, change and lean management, and quality; broad practical experience in Industry 4.0 in production settings. Over 30 years in operations and engineering in automotive, industrial, and aerospace sectors. Expertise in primary and forming technology, powder metallurgy, hard and soft machining, heat treatment, sheet metal processing and coating, SMT electronics production and development, ICT and end-of-line test equipment, plastic extrusion/injection molding and assembly technology, production IT, with 25 years in automotive.

Skills

Soft Skills:

Can-do Personality
Strong Execution Skills
Strong Technical Competence
Clear Communication At All Levels
Cooperative Leadership Style

Specific Technical Skills:

Technical Reliability
Product Development
Shop Floor Management
Asset Management
Leadership Principles
Supply Chain Management
Quality Management
Robust Development Processes For Synchronized Implementation
Manufacturing Engineering
Corporate Management And Controlling
Change Management
Lean Management
Agile Project Management
Digitization In Industrial Environments
Industry 4.0 On The Shop Floor
Isa-95 Model For Field Device Integration
Human Factors In Aviation (Part145)
Aviation Regulations Awareness

It Skills:

Sap Fi/co, Mm, Pp, Pm (Sap Plant Trainer)
Ms Office Applications (Very Good Knowledge)
Celonis Data Engineer (Process Mining)
2d/3d Cad/cam Systems: Autocad Inventor 3d, Hsm Cam

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Polish

Intermediate

Education

Mar 2001 - Feb 2006

Rheinische Fachhochschule Köln - Faculty of Engineering

Diploma in Mechanical Engineering · Mechanical Engineering · Cologne, Germany

Feb 1997 - Nov 1999

Chamber of Industry and Commerce Aachen

Industrial Foreman Metal · Industrial Foreman Metal · Aachen, Germany

Sep 1991 - Jan 1995

William-Prym Works

Industrial Mechanic · Industrial Mechanic specialization in Machinery and Systems Technology · Stolberg (Rhineland), Germany

Certifications & licenses

EASA Certification

EASA

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 13

Experience in Automotive 13.5 y

Avg length 2 y 7 m

Longest experience 8 y 4 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 3 (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Interim Project Manager / Program Management / Operational Excellence, Interim Project Manager / Program Management, Interim Head of Process Engineering Electronics Production

Main industries Automotive, Manufacturing, Metals and Mining

Main business areas Operations, Project Management, Production

Qualifications

Highest degree Bachelor

Certifications earned 1

Profile

Created

April 2026

Need a freelancer? Find your match in seconds.

Try FRATCH GPT

Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Eugen based?

Eugen is based in Kolitzheim, Germany.

What languages does Eugen speak?

Eugen speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), Polish (Intermediate).

How many years of experience does Eugen have?

Eugen has at least 30 years of experience. During this time, Eugen has worked in at least 12 different roles and for 12 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 4 months. Note that Eugen may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Eugen be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Eugen would be well-suited for roles such as: Interim Project Manager / Program Management / Operational Excellence, Interim Project Manager / Program Management, Interim Head of Process Engineering Electronics Production.

What is Eugen's latest experience?

Eugen's most recent position is Interim Project Manager / Program Management / Operational Excellence.

What companies has Eugen worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Eugen has worked for Collins Aerospace / RTX Deutschland, ZKW Automotive Österreich, Hoffmann Group - Garant Productions Deutschland, and Smart-Interim Management GmbH.

Which industries is Eugen most experienced in?

Eugen is most experienced in industries like Automotive, Manufacturing, and Metals and Mining. Eugen also has some experience in Aerospace and Defense.

Which business areas is Eugen most experienced in?

Eugen is most experienced in business areas like Operations, Project Management, and Production. Eugen also has some experience in Supply Chain Management, Product Development, and Procurement.

Which industries has Eugen worked in recently?

Eugen has recently worked in industries like Manufacturing, Automotive, and Aerospace and Defense.

Which business areas has Eugen worked in recently?

Eugen has recently worked in business areas like Operations, Project Management, and Supply Chain Management.

What is Eugen's education?

Eugen holds a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering from Rheinische Fachhochschule Köln - Faculty of Engineering.

Does Eugen have any certificates?

Eugen has 1 certificate: EASA Certification.

What is the availability of Eugen?

The availability of Eugen needs to be confirmed.

What is the rate of Eugen?

Eugen's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.