Heads of Production in Germany
in minutes from 15,000 CVs with the power of AI.Bring in senior support for production planning, shop-floor coordination, capacity ramp-ups, and quality control. Ideal when you need calm leadership across teams, suppliers, and deadlines. Fast, precise matching with vetted, available freelancers.
Meet FRATCH Heads of Production in Germany
Michael Weimar
Last position:
Production Manager & Site Manager at Beton- und Energietechnik Heinrich Gräper GmbH & Co. KG
- Interim management of the production site to bridge a vacancy
- Strategic plant planning to scale production and logistics capacities
- Operational further development and optimization of ERP processes
- Development of a CAPEX strategy 2025-2029 to expand capacity in alignment with production planning and sales
- Planning and implementation of investments for 2025 as well as leadership of ongoing projects
- Analysis and implementation of optimized SCM processes and strategic alignment of training needs to increase efficiency
- Increase in operating result by approx. 40%
- Sustainable optimization of production and logistics with strategic direction for future growth.
Hans-Dieter Vetter
Last position:
Director of Production and Process Optimization with Leadership Support for Sustainable Plant Development at Customer-specific material and cut solutions including professional processing
- Process optimization (adjustment and new implementation of operational processes in the plants)
- Co-led management team workshop to develop and implement corporate strategies for sustainably securing and increasing the company's competitiveness
- Warehouse and logistics conversion (analysis and optimization of existing warehouse and logistics processes, support and ensuring smooth implementation of new processes)
- Designing and supporting change processes, e.g., during transformation and restructuring (establishing production planning and quality assurance)
- Shop floor improvements including identifying improvement potentials, developing measures to increase efficiency and optimize workflows, and supporting and monitoring implemented improvements
- Managing two plants and supporting the stabilization of leadership teams in three plants, including measures to stabilize operations and leadership culture, developing managers and employees, and promoting a performance-oriented corporate culture (e.g., working with KPIs and regular staff briefings and discussions)
Result: Optimized the plants' operational processes, reducing lead times by up to 30% and increasing delivery reliability to at least 95% (up from 78%). Stabilized and optimized operations (including leadership culture) through measures such as adjusting and reimplementing work and logistics processes, promoting performance through KPI use and regular employee communication, which led to a significant reduction in machine and staff downtime by up to 15% and an efficiency increase of at least 20%.
Gabriel Kruppa
Last position:
Studio Management, Production Management, Directing, Project Management at Financial Services
- Concept and technical planning of an internal corporate studio
- Negotiations with necessary internal departments
- Purchasing of technical equipment and licenses
- Set-up and implementation of an operating concept
- Regular production management and directing in cooperation with external event technicians
Ewa Kniaziak
Last position:
Art Producer & Production Manager at Center for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle
- Oversaw the full production and delivery of Feral Metaverse (Onassis Foundation × Kniaziakidis Productions) from pre-production to opening for the If/Then group exhibition at CCA Ujazdowski Castle
- Led both creative and technical direction on-site, bridging artistic intent with production realities to deliver a cohesive, complex, cross-disciplinary high-impact installation
- Managed fabrication, transport, and installation of large-scale custom-built catapult sculptures, projection systems, and the interactive gaming setup
- Acted as the central coordination point between the artist, museum, and Onassis Foundation, ensuring clarity and alignment across all teams
- Directed installation logistics and AV integration under tight institutional deadlines, resolving complex spatial and system challenges on-site
- Maintained conceptual and visual consistency throughout the process, ensuring the final installation reflected the artist’s vision in full scale and impact
Walter Wörle
Last position:
Production Manager at Biohof Hatzl
- 26 employees
- Over 14,000 tons of packaging volume per year
- Responsible for packaging, shipping and warehousing operations
- Providing and analyzing operational data
- Process optimization and quality management
- Preparing and supporting audits
Bari Baykal
Last position:
Head of Production at Flavor3d
- Supervised and coached a team of 5 PMs and producers, facilitating seamless daily CGI and 3D production operations for the automotive industry
- Managed end-to-end production processes from bidding, presentation, tracking to invoicing, resulting in a streamlined workflow
- Strategically handled resource planning, leading to optimized project delivery
- Cultivated strong client relationships through effective management and communication
- Coached teams in Scrum and Kanban methods
Heiko Nemmert
Last position:
COO / Production Manager at Lokia Management SARL
- Production management, talent management, acquisitions, budgets & financing
- Platform development, generative AI workflows, pipeline development, network development, sales
Michael Horn
Last position:
Production Manager Downstream (interim) at Magna
- Supported implementation of new products
- Improved overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)
- Improved daily line efficiency (DLE)
- Enhanced headcount performance
- Created a lean and efficient reporting system
Christian Stähle
Last position:
Head of Production, CTO at Freelance Consultant / Interim Management
- Interim replacement of plant manager/CTO for a medium sized company
Marcel Pieles
Last position:
CAPA/Deviation/OOS Manager Solid Dosage Production at Haupt Pharma Wülfing GmbH – Member of the Aenova Group
- Independent handling of deviations
- Independent handling of CAPAs
- Analysis of production OOS – evaluation and closure
- Technical consulting in operations
- Complete revision of CPV SOP, plan and report
- Development of coaching materials for production staff
Juliane Dummler
Last position:
Head of Production at SDI Media Synchronstudio
Stefanie Voß
Last position:
Head of Production at Artificial Rome GmbH
- Cultural immersive projects
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Heads of Production statistics
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
26 years
Position duration
2.3 years
Positions per freelancer
14
Top business areas
Operations, Production, Project Management
Top industries
Manufacturing, Media and Entertainment, Automotive
Certification focus areas
Information Technology, Operations, Quality Assurance
Bachelor's degree or higher
82%
Master's degree or higher
9%
Certifications per freelancer
1
Most common languages
German, English, French
Speak two or more languages
100%
Based on our profile pool as of 27 Aug 2026.
Daily rate distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers in this role in Germany are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows how many freelancers charge within that range.
Average rates for Heads of Production in Germany
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 27 Aug 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
About the role
Production leadership
A Head of Production keeps output steady, safe, and on plan. This role aligns people, machines, suppliers, and schedules so work keeps moving without avoidable delays.
- Build and adjust production plans
- Coordinate shift leads, planners, and operations teams
- Manage bottlenecks, changes, and urgent issues
- Track output, quality, waste, and downtime
- Keep communication clear between production and management
What they deliver
A strong Head of Production turns daily pressure into a controlled process. Companies usually bring in a production manager or manufacturing manager profile when they need structure fast, not a long handover.
Typical deliverables include:
- Clear short-term production priorities
- Stable planning for capacity and materials
- Supplier and subcontractor coordination
- Escalation handling for delays or quality issues
- Improvement actions for workflow, staffing, and throughput
Skills and tools
The best freelancers combine operational discipline with practical leadership. They understand production data, process flow, and how to keep teams aligned when demand shifts.
- Production planning and capacity management
- Lean thinking, root-cause analysis, and KPI control
- ERP and planning tools such as SAP, Excel, and BI dashboards
- Quality systems, shift planning, and cross-team coordination
- Clear reporting for plant, operations, and senior stakeholders
When to hire
Companies in Germany often hire a freelance Head of Production during restructuring, new product launches, seasonal demand peaks, or after a vacancy in the production lead role. It also helps when a site needs temporary leadership while a permanent hire is still open.
Freelance support works well when the task is specific, urgent, or tied to a transition. It fits manufacturing sites, consumer goods, packaging, and other environments where downtime is costly and decisions must be made quickly.
What strong candidates do
A good Head of Production does more than react to problems. They set priorities, remove blockers, and keep performance visible without creating noise.
- Make decisions with incomplete information
- Stay present on the floor and close to the team
- Balance delivery, quality, safety, and cost
- Spot risks early and escalate the right issue at the right time
- Improve the process, not just the next shift
Fit and collaboration
In Germany, freelance heads of production often work with local plant teams in German and join central meetings in English. That mix is common in international groups and export-driven businesses.
The best fit is a person who can step into existing routines quickly, work with operations and maintenance, and earn trust with supervisors. If the scope includes ramp-up support, turnaround work, or interim leadership, this role is usually a strong match.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions that come up most around Heads of Production.
A Head of Production keeps schedules, capacity, people, and materials aligned so output stays stable. The work includes planning shifts, solving bottlenecks, coordinating with suppliers, and following up on quality or downtime issues. In many companies, the role also covers reporting to operations leadership and improving the way the line or site runs.
A freelance Head of Production makes sense when you need help quickly, for a defined period, or during a transition. Common cases are a vacancy, a plant ramp-up, a restructuring, or a period of unstable output. It is also useful when you need senior support before the right permanent hire is in place.
Not always, but the roles often overlap. A Head of Production usually carries broader responsibility, with more focus on leadership, priorities, and cross-functional decisions. A production manager may be closer to daily scheduling and execution, depending on the company structure.
Look for a Head of Production who can plan work clearly, handle pressure, and make the team follow a stable process. Strong candidates understand capacity, quality control, lean methods, and how to use ERP or planning tools without getting lost in the system. They also communicate well with supervisors, maintenance, supply chain, and management.
A Head of Production often works with SAP, Excel, planning boards, and KPI dashboards. In more advanced setups, they also use MES or BI tools to track output, losses, and bottlenecks. The exact stack depends on the site, but the role must be comfortable turning data into action.
Yes. In many cases, a Head of Production needs regular on-site presence because the role is tied to shifts, machines, people, and real-time decisions. Remote work can help with planning, reporting, and coordination, but strong candidates are usually able to spend time on the floor in Germany when the situation demands it.
A good Head of Production creates order fast. You should see clearer priorities, tighter follow-up, fewer unresolved issues, and better communication between production and support teams. Quality is also visible in how they handle escalation: calm, specific, and focused on the real cause.
The role is common in manufacturing, consumer goods, packaging, and other process-driven environments. In Germany, it is especially relevant where plants run under tight schedules, local teams need hands-on leadership, and coordination with central functions matters. The same profile can also help in interim or turnaround situations where production has to stabilize quickly.
The average hourly rate for Heads of Production in Germany is 116 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 931 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers working as Heads of Production in Germany, 82% hold at least a Bachelor's degree and 9% hold at least a Master's degree.
On average, freelancers working as Heads of Production in Germany have 26 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 2.3 years.
The most common languages among freelancers working as Heads of Production in Germany are German (92%), English (92%), and French (42%).
The most common industries among freelancers working as Heads of Production in Germany are Manufacturing (67%), Media and Entertainment (50%), and Automotive (42%).
The most common business areas among freelancers working as Heads of Production in Germany are Operations (100%), Production (100%), and Project Management (83%).
FRATCH Heads of Production main locations
Our freelancers and interim experts are at home across the DACH region — available on-site in the major business hubs or fully remote. Choose a location to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
