What We Do
Ramp-Up Management
What happens without a structured ramp-up?
A new product, a new line, a new plant – the ramp-up is often underestimated.
The consequences:
- Manufacturing-critical defects in product and process go unnoticed
- Quality levels drop during ramp-up
- Planned output is not achieved
- Costs for rework and scrap increase
- Risk of field failures, dissatisfied customers and recalls rises significantly
- In the worst case, the entire business case is at risk
10–20%
of the entire product lifecycle can be taken up by the ramp-up phase.
What is ramp-up management?
Ramp-up management ensures that product and process maturity increase continuously and in a controlled way – structured, planned early, with clear responsibilities.
It covers the critical phase between development and stable series production, when weaknesses in design, processes and suppliers surface for the first time.
With clear criteria for each phase and one shared plan for engineering, production and quality, the launch reaches its targets for quality, output and cost – on time.
Our approach: the phase model
Test phases and error-resolution phases alternate – each audit decides whether the next phase may begin.
- Planning based on market launch date and volume: defining the ramp-up curve
- Test phases validate product, process and the qualification of everyone involved
- Time buffers between phases are used for error resolution
- An audit at the end of each error-resolution phase decides the move to the next phase
- Result: continuously increasing maturity of product and process
Production Readiness Audit
Even without ramp-up management in place, the audit gives management confidence: release of series production – or targeted corrective actions with follow-up tracking.
Success factors
- Identify the key factors influencing the ramp-up
- Define criteria for each ramp-up phase
- Set KPIs with targets per phase (performance, quality, logistics)
- Communication structure with clear responsibilities
- Management attention throughout the entire phase
A benefit that lasts beyond one launch
Identified deficits and optimization potential feed into the next project – especially effective when they are already considered in the concept phase of the successor product.
What we offer
Ramp-Up Management works three ways, depending on where you are.
Ramp-Up Strategy
For companies without a ramp-up strategy, Oliver helps structure it from scratch: the curve, the phases, the KPIs and the communication structure needed to keep a complex launch under control.
Production Readiness Audit
For companies close to launch, a Production Readiness Audit offers a faster, independent check, before production starts, or as a gate between each phase.
Turnaround Support
For companies already in the production ramp-up phase experiencing quality and output issues, we deliver rapid, independent assessments and hands-on turnaround support to restore operations and achieve the agreed performance targets.
Ramp-up Management Consultants
Oliver Fuchs
Partner
Automotive & Defense
In addition, I advise companies on executive search and talent-related career solutions. My goal is to be a trusted and long-term partner in developing organizations with the right people — bringing together talent, leadership capability, and deep industry know-how to create lasting impact.
Driven by a passion for international collaboration, I help build powerful global organizations that deliver technologically advanced, sustainable, and high-quality solutions — with the ambition to build strong, future-ready automotive and defense ecosystems.
Disclaimer
The consultants (B&P Partners) featured here operate as independent service providers. Brandt & Partners assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy, completeness, or quality of the content displayed, nor for any actions or outcomes resulting from services provided independently by these consultants.