Operations Improvement Leader

I help operational teams improve output, reliability, flow and capability.
By making the work visible, fixing the real constraints, and building systems that last.

I work with manufacturing, infrastructure and complex operational teams to lift performance through practical, hands-on improvement work, on the shopfloor, in the data, and in the way teams are led. I'm available for senior improvement roles, transformation projects, fractional operational excellence support, and targeted consulting engagements.

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Charlotte Cordier
Charlotte Cordier
Operations Improvement Leader · Lean Transformation
Capacity, Flow & Frontline Performance · Sydney, AU
Lean Six Sigma Hoshin Kanri Kaizen TPM DMAIC AI & Digital Operations
17+
Years Experience
APAC & USA
Geographies
50+
Improvement Initiatives Delivered

Selected Outcomes

Mean time between failures: 20 min → 10 hours $3M+ cost savings identified 900-person safety culture transformation 70% output increase in 4 weeks Mean time between failures: 20 min → 10 hours $3M+ cost savings identified 900-person safety culture transformation 70% output increase in 4 weeks

I get close to the work, make the system visible, and stay until the improvement holds.

Lean Expert MIT Negotiation Master of Industrial Engineering CPSI Certified French · English · Spanish

About

Hands-on, data-led,
people-first

I am an industrial engineer and operations improvement leader with 17+ years' experience across manufacturing, defence, energy, pharmaceuticals, mining, logistics, R&D, customer service and digital operations.

My work sits at the intersection of process improvement, frontline engagement, operational data and practical delivery. I help teams understand where performance is being lost, stabilise the way work is done, improve flow and capacity, and build the daily routines needed to sustain results.

I am especially strong in environments where the problem is complex, cross-functional or poorly defined, where leaders need someone who can get close to the work, make the system visible, align stakeholders and turn analysis into practical action.

Master of Industrial Engineering, ECAM France
Negotiation & Influence for Executives, MIT Sloan
Creative Problem-Solving Leadership, CPSI Buffalo NY
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, SAI Global
NSW AME Committee Member

How We Can Work Together

How I can work with
organisations

Three practical ways to bring me in, depending on what your organisation needs right now.

Operational improvement work on siteOperations leadership in the field

Permanent or contract roles

Senior operations improvement, transformation, operational excellence or continuous improvement leadership roles, embedded in your team, on a permanent or fixed-term basis.

Project-based consulting

Diagnostics, rapid improvement programmes, capacity analysis, operating system design and hands-on improvement delivery, scoped around a specific problem or opportunity.

Fractional support

Ongoing improvement leadership, coaching, governance support and improvement cadence for growing or changing teams who need senior capability without a full-time hire.

Selected clients & affiliations

Association for Manufacturing Excellence Honsha Thales AstraZeneca Essilor Landis+Gyr SBS Flexcon DSI Underground AGL Hanes Fenner Dunlop Service Stream Association for Manufacturing Excellence Honsha Thales AstraZeneca Essilor Landis+Gyr SBS Flexcon DSI Underground AGL Hanes Fenner Dunlop Service Stream

My Approach

A hands-on approach
built for lasting results

I start by understanding the work as it really happens: the data, the process, the people, the handovers, the bottlenecks and the routines. From there, I help the team agree what to fix first, make the change practical, and build the management rhythm to hold the gain.

1

Diagnose

Performance data, process mapping, workflow analysis, cultural assessment, and stakeholder interviews. I get close to the work and see how it really happens, before changing anything.

→ Diagnostic report & prioritised improvement roadmap

2

Align

Collaborating with leadership to translate organisational strategy into aligned priorities, cascaded targets, and executable plans, using Hoshin Kanri and Strategy Deployment principles.

→ Strategy A3, aligned KPIs, and cadence design

3

Transform

Kaizen events, system redesigns, daily management implementation, rapid improvement workshops. We address variability, waste, and constraints, and measure every step.

→ Measurable improvements across output, quality, and lead time

4

Sustain

Structured coaching, Leader Standard Work, development workshops, and governance rhythms that transfer capability, so your team sustains and scales improvement independently.

→ Embedded capability, coaching plans, management systems

Case Studies

Results across
complex environments

From a pharmaceutical line lifted from 58% to 77% OEE, to a 900-person safety culture transformation: measurable results across manufacturing, defence, energy and mining.

View case studies

Resources · For Business Owners & Operational Leaders

How much capacity is hiding in your operation?

If you run or lead an operational team, take the five-minute capacity scorecard to get an instant read on where flow, quality and capacity are leaking, and what to fix first.

Take The 5-Min Scorecard →

Ways I Can Help

How I can help

Whether you need a focused diagnostic, a rapid improvement programme, or someone to coach your team over the longer term, the work is scoped around your situation, not a standard package.

Operational Diagnostic

A clear, practical read on where your operation is losing time, quality and capacity, before changing anything, delivered as a prioritised, costed roadmap.

Typically includes

  • On-site observation and data collection
  • Stakeholder interviews and value-stream mapping
  • Prioritised roadmap with ROI

Rapid Improvement Programmes

Focused 6–12 week programmes that attack one constraint, whether throughput, lead time or quality, with measurable results.

Typically includes

  • Kaizen events and structured problem-solving
  • Workflow redesign and pull systems
  • Daily management and standard work

Capability and Coaching

I build improvement capability into your team, so the gains don't leave when the project ends.

Typically includes

  • Leader Standard Work coaching
  • Practitioner development workshops
  • Tiered Daily Management

Strategy Deployment

Hoshin Kanri facilitation that turns strategy into aligned priorities, targets and a cadence that sticks.

Typically includes

  • Executive strategy workshops
  • A3 and X-matrix development
  • Cascaded KPIs and review cadence

Operational Due Diligence

Pre- and post-acquisition assessments (M&A or investment) that quantify productivity upside, surface risk and model investment scenarios.

Typically includes

  • Current-state operational assessment
  • Capacity and scalability modelling
  • Risk and constraint identification

AI and Digital Workflow Design

AI-enabled workflows and automations that cut manual overhead and free your team for higher-value work.

Typically includes

  • Digital workflow analysis and redesign
  • AI and low-code prototyping
  • Automation of reporting and tracking

Who I Work With

The right fit for
the right challenge

  • Manufacturers under capacity pressure

    You're leaving output on the table and you know it. The bottlenecks are real but unclear. You need someone who can find the constraint, fix it fast, and protect the gain.

  • Leaders who want to build capability, not dependency

    You're tired of improvement projects that fade the moment the consultant leaves. You want your own people to be able to diagnose problems, solve them, and hold the line.

  • Organisations navigating growth or M&A

    You're scaling up, integrating an acquisition, or entering a new market. You need operational clarity and rigour before you commit capital and headcount.

  • Complex, regulated environments

    You operate in defence, pharma, mining, or energy, where the stakes are high and the tolerance for error is low. I've worked in these environments for 17+ years. I understand the constraints.

Industries I've worked in

Mining Equipment Pharmaceuticals Defence Manufacturing Energy & Mining Consumer Goods Optics / FMCG Broadcasting Bedding & Retail Navy / Defence Smart Metering Fashion & E-Commerce

Get In Touch

Let's talk about your operation
or your next role

The best starting point is usually a conversation, whether you're hiring for a role, scoping a project, or just want a second opinion on your operation. Tell me what you're working on and what you're trying to achieve, and we'll figure out together whether there's a good fit.

info@charlotte-cordier.com Connect on LinkedIn Sydney, NSW, available nationally and globally