Industry 4.0 Experts
matched in minutes from over 15,000 CVs with the power of AIHire experts who connect machines, data, and production systems, design IIoT and automation workflows, and support smart factory projects with vetted, available freelancers matched fast and precisely.
Meet FRATCH Experts who have recently used Industry 4.0
Alexander Philipp Herbst
Last position:
Software Project Leader for Brake Control Units at ZF Friedrichshafen / ZF Active Safety GmbH
- Project management for software projects in the brake control unit area with a focus on deadlines, costs, and quality.
- Planning, control, and reporting of project progress, risks, dependencies, and work packages.
- Planning and tracking of work packages using PTC Integrity.
- Organizing and moderating customer meetings as well as coordination with internal departments, external suppliers, and third parties.
- Creating and maintaining project documentation according to Automotive SPICE requirements as well as management reporting.
Andre Kholodov
Last position:
Nearshore Engagement Manager at EnBW AG
- Building strong awareness within the company around nearshoring
- Engagement Manager in the Nearshore Competence Center
- Responsible for nearshore consulting, partner screening and technical onboarding, designing and implementing cooperation scenarios, change management, stakeholder management, participation in steering committees, and collaboration with IT and business units
- Tools used: Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Teams, Azure Devops, Microsoft Sharepoint, Conceptboard
- Key results: Establishment of a nearshoring strategy, successful identification and implementation of outsourcing partnerships, delivery of change management and stakeholder management at the highest level
Oliver Fries
Last position:
Modernization of a multi-company backend system at Energy utility company
Enhancement and modernization of a mature Aspire backend application in the environment of a utility company, focusing on new business requirements, testing, legacy code cleanup, and stable backend delivery.
Core contributions & results Implemented new business requirements in the context of customer orders, subcontractors, and cross-company backend processes, and ensured consistent workflows in a distributed system landscape. Modernized existing backend components step by step and reduced technical debt through targeted legacy code cleanup, refactoring, and structured code reviews. Improved the testability of business-critical services by expanding automated tests with xUnit, AutoFixture, and clearer validation structures. Supported the further development of workflow automations and integration processes via microservices, messaging, and API-based communication. Took over source code from external firms, systematically checked code quality, and derived technical improvements for maintainability, stability, and integration. Worked in agile development processes with Jira, Confluence, and Azure DevOps and supported cross-team alignment on architecture, quality, and implementation. Technical metrics Technologies & methods C#, .NET, ASP.NET, ASP.NET Core, Aspire, Docker, RabbitMQ, gRPC, REST API, Swagger, Microservices, NServiceBus, AutoMapper, Autofac, xUnit, AutoFixture, FluentValidation, Entity Framework Core, MediatR, Redis, Consul, Serilog, SonarQube, Azure DevOps, Azure Monitor, GitLab, Google Protocol Buffers, IronPDF, Mailjet, Jira, Confluence, Miro, agile development, Scrum, code reviews, refactoring, legacy code cleanup, workflow automation, power grids
Frank Cappel
Last position:
Agile and classic Change Transformation Manager at Freelance Interim Manager | Transformation, Change & Procurement Consultant
- Industries: Energy, Telecommunications, Manufacturing
- Transformation & Change: Supported complex IT and digital transformation programs as Scrum Master, Agile Coach, Change Manager and RTE Consultant at Siemens Energy (global SAFe rollout), E.ON (sales technology platform), Schneider Electric (S/4HANA transformation DACH) and Vodafone (Operational Excellence)
- Agile Roles: Scrum Master, Agile Coach, Product Owner, Business Analyst, RTE Consultant in cross-functional and scaled teams (SAFe, Scrum, Spotify Model)
- Procurement Excellence: Strategic purchasing consulting with a focus on cost optimization, supplier management, digitalization and organizational development, including building supplier scorecard models, AI-supported procurement approaches and process automation in purchasing
- Managed functional leadership of interdisciplinary project teams of up to 12 people in national and international settings
- Successful launch of several global ARTs at Siemens Energy with improved coordination across sites
- Increased change acceptance and established communication structures in the S/4HANA program at Schneider Electric
- Introduced agile methods, OKR frameworks and KPI dashboards at E.ON, increasing velocity and transparency
- Reduced purchasing costs through strategic sourcing and supplier optimization
- Implemented process innovations in close cooperation with IT and business teams
Arash Keshavarzi
Last position:
Global Digital Product Manager, IoT Services at Pfeiffer Vacuum GmbH
- Responsibility for the further development of digital service products with a focus on customer value, profitability, and scalable growth
- Development and prioritization of the service product roadmap based on customer feedback, market analysis, financial evaluation, and technical feasibility
- Identification of new digital service opportunities as well as derivation of product requirements, feature priorities, and value propositions
- Alignment of product vision, roadmap, and user experience with product owners, center of competence, sales, service, and market organizations
- Support of go-to-market activities, market validations, and internal training for the successful launch of digital service offerings
- Use of data-based decision-making to assess customer needs, business model assumptions, and product progress
Hashem Badra
Last position:
Project Manager, QMB and Safety Officer at TRIPLAN GmbH
Project Manager Management, coordination and monitoring, as well as documentation and evaluation, of numerous multidisciplinary projects in the field of "production plants/plant engineering", in the gas and oil, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries QMB and Safety Officer Involved in the introduction of the quality management system and in the preparation and execution of the certification audit "energy, safety, and QM audit".
Alain Rakotondrazaka
Last position:
Consultant Part-Time (Regional Sales Development) at Solwig GmbH
- Acquisition activities
- Reporting
Michael Kunisch
Last position:
Freelance Consultant at Tepo – Gebäudedienste GmbH
- Replacement and renewal of the existing client PCs with an upgrade to Windows 11 and mobile workstations with laptops and docking stations
- Introduction of Office365 with OneDrive use
- Introduction of e-invoicing with DATEV accounting software
- Revision of the standard office applications in daily use
- File storage in SharePoint instead of local data storage
- New authorization structure for users
- Use of Microsoft accounts to synchronize profiles
- Reorganization of the document scanning process with storage in SharePoint
- New backup concept in addition to the Microsoft cloud solution
- Introduction of new data structures: review and separation of data into active, inactive, private, business
- Simplification of processes
- Increased data security and improved security
- Permanent data availability at all internal and external workplaces
Anneliese Sound
Last position:
Consultant at Global Trust Impact Capital
- M&A advisory
- Strategic deal support
- Impact investments
Geza Lakatos
Last position:
UX Strategist & AI App Developer (AI-assisted App Strategy) at Own Projects (Nutrycoach.ai, LuxuryBandit)
Conceptualizing and developing AI-powered app MVPs from the first idea to a working product. I combine UX strategy with modern AI and no-code tools — especially Claude and Claude Code, where I work directly in the terminal on real code (React, Vite), complemented by Figma, Bolt.new, and Base44 — to quickly validate and build product ideas. Personal platforms: Nutrycoach.ai (AI nutrition coaching with role-based dashboards for clients, coaches, and admins, AI meal analysis, and a scalable design system) and LuxuryBandit (content/creator app). This led to my own practice 'AI-assisted App Strategy', which combines human creativity, UX logic, and intelligent automation.
Thorsten Georgi
Last position:
SMO Manager Carve-Out at BASF SE Food Performance & Health
Took over and led the operational and IT workstreams to ensure operational readiness on Day 1
Introduced SMO governance including status meetings and reporting
Crisis management
Managed the key ERP and non-ERP workstreams to secure data migration (SAP R3 to S4 Hana) and ensure operational readiness in logistics and production
Identified actions to address weaknesses/deficits in the existing SMO/IMO structure to meet budget and closing deadline
Developed and implemented a cut-over strategy including freeze and stock-taking
Completed the carve-out activities by the closing date, including the separation of the production-specific departments Operations, Logistics, Supply Chain, Sales & Procurement, IT, transfer of all data and documents into the target structure of the acquiring company LDC, and integration of the IT infrastructure into the buyer's target structure
Reduced the planned 7-day shutdown to 4 days
Secured operational readiness on Day 1
Handed over logistics inventory with inventory variance < 1 %
M. S.
Last position:
Security consulting, audits & assessments
- Innovation/pilot project eHealth Germany
- SaaS company in the media sector, NRW
- Secure software development lifecycle, NRW
- BSI IT baseline protection assessments for multiple clinics
Christian Musewald
Last position:
Self-employed business consultant at CuriousMinds Unternehmensberatung
- Strategic consulting, technical consulting, interim management, and training
- Management consulting and development of application solutions through interdisciplinary solution approaches
- Employee and team development as well as innovation and communication management
Jozsef Ferincz
Last position:
IT project management, introduction of AI-supported software development
- Industry: software manufacturer
- Tasks: project management; tracking and coordination of projects; stakeholder management; change management; prioritization of requirements; alignment of architecture; supplier management (internal and external); release management; monitoring defect resolution with the teams; AI-supported software development, software testing and code analysis; AI prompting, prompt engineering
- Software: Jira, Confluence, MS Project, MS Teams
- Environment: IT, software development, agile, artificial intelligence (AI)
Christina Ebert
Last position:
Senior User Experience Designer at Siemens Healthineers
- Leading UX design for the neurology and emergency modules of syngovia, Siemens Healthineers' global imaging and diagnostic platform
- Exploring and implementing AI opportunities to make diagnostic workflows faster and more efficient
- Collaborating with clinical coaches, radiologists and cross-functional teams to translate complex medical workflows into clear, usable interfaces
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Statistics of experts using Industry 4.0
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
25 years
Position duration
3.5 years
Positions per freelancer
12
Top business areas
Information Technology, Product Development, Project Management
Top industries
Manufacturing, Information Technology, Professional Services
Certification focus areas
Information Technology, Quality Assurance, Project Management
Bachelor's degree or higher
95%
Master's degree or higher
62%
Doctorate
13%
Certifications per freelancer
3
Most common languages
German, English, French
Speak two or more languages
97%
Based on our profile pool as of 6 Sep 2026.
Daily rate distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers in this technology 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 of experts using Industry 4.0
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 6 Sep 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
About the technology
Smart factories
Industry 4.0 connects production equipment, sensors, software, and people in one operating model. It is used to improve visibility, automate decisions, and keep lines, assets, and logistics in sync.
Common stack
- PLC and SCADA integration
- IIoT gateways and edge devices
- MES, ERP, and data platform links
- OPC UA, MQTT, and API connectivity
- dashboards, alarms, and traceability
Typical work
Companies bring in freelance professionals for plant connectivity, data flow design, predictive maintenance, and process monitoring. Strong work also covers digital twins, OEE improvement, and migration from isolated machines to connected operations.
When to hire
Bring in outside experts when you need a fast assessment, a pilot plant, or help across mixed vendor environments. They are also useful when internal teams know the machines but need support with integration, architecture, or change across production and IT.
What strong experts do
Strong Industry 4.0 specialists translate shop-floor needs into reliable systems. They document interfaces clearly, test on real equipment, and keep security, uptime, and maintainability in view. They also work well with operations, maintenance, and software teams.
Delivery focus
- brownfield modernization without stopping production
- sensor-driven monitoring and quality control
- remote asset visibility and alerting
- data models for production analytics
- rollout plans that fit local plant constraints
Frequently asked questions
Before you brief your next project: the most common questions about Industry 4.0.
Industry 4.0 is used to connect machines, sensors, software, and production data so teams can see what is happening and act faster. It supports smart factory projects such as traceability, condition monitoring, predictive maintenance, and automated quality checks.
Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing are closely related, but they are not always used in exactly the same way. Smart manufacturing usually describes the practical factory setup, while Industry 4.0 is the broader idea that also includes data integration, connected systems, and process change across the plant and enterprise.
A strong Industry 4.0 specialist usually combines automation knowledge with data and integration skills. Look for experience with PLCs, SCADA, IIoT platforms, OPC UA, MQTT, APIs, and basic security for connected production systems.
A Industry 4.0 project often needs outside help when the plant has many legacy systems, different vendors, or no clear data flow between shop floor and business software. Freelance professionals are also useful for pilots, audits, and short-term delivery peaks.
Industry 4.0 is the broader operating model, while IIoT or the Industrial Internet of Things is one of the main building blocks inside it. In practice, many projects use IIoT sensors and gateways to enable the connected production systems that Industry 4.0 requires.
Yes. Industry 4.0 is often introduced in brownfield environments where equipment is still productive but not connected. Good specialists know how to add sensors, gateways, and integration layers without forcing a full replacement of working assets.
A Industry 4.0 specialist often needs some on-site time because plant access, hardware checks, and production constraints matter. Many tasks can still be done remotely, such as architecture, data modelling, documentation, and dashboard work, once the system is understood.
A strong Industry 4.0 freelancer explains how they handled real production constraints, not just technology names. Ask for examples of integration work, commissioning support, downtime reduction, and collaboration with operations, maintenance, and IT.
The average hourly rate of freelancers who have used Industry 4.0 in their recent projects is 124 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 989 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers who have used Industry 4.0 in their recent projects, 95% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 62% hold at least a Master's degree, and 13% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers who have used Industry 4.0 in their recent projects have 25 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 3.5 years.
The most common languages among freelancers who have used Industry 4.0 in their recent projects are German (100%), English (95%), and French (30%).
The most common industries among freelancers who have used Industry 4.0 in their recent projects are Manufacturing (92%), Information Technology (64%), and Professional Services (55%).
The most common business areas among freelancers who have used Industry 4.0 in their recent projects are Information Technology (79%), Product Development (77%), and Project Management (77%).
Main locations of FRATCH Experts, who have recently used Industry 4.0
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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FRATCH CEO
