Stop Losing Money on Late Deliveries, Quality Issues and Production Chaos
Manufacturing SMEs are missing millions in AI savings or drowning in expensive consultants. Get manufacturing-specific AI that pays for itself in 3-12 months - without the consulting price tag.
Quality Control + Production Planning + Delivery Reliability = Real ROI in Real Time
Proven Quick Wins: 3-12 month payback periods, not multi-year projects
Manufacturing-Specific: Quality control, scheduling, supplier management solutions
Collaborative Approach: You maintain control, we provide expertise
No Expensive Consulting: Work directly with you, not through layers of consultants
Why Traditional AI Consulting Fails Manufacturing SMEs.
Most manufacturing companies have been burned by expensive consultants
who investigate for months,
deliver theoretical recommendations,
then disappear - leaving you with massive bills and no practical solutions.
You've probably been approached by AI consultants before. Here's why our clients say we're different:
Traditional Consulting Approach
6-month investigation phase: €50K+ with uncertain outcomes
Theoretical recommendations you can't implement yourself
Separate implementation costs: €100K+ additional investment
2-3 year uncertain payback with no guaranteed results
Generic AI solutions not designed for manufacturing realities
Relationship: Consultant disappears after deliver
Our Collaborative Method:
2-week assessment working with you: €5K maximum investment
Practical, immediately actionable solutions you can implement
Guided implementation: you lead the project, I support your success
3-12 month proven payback with measurable ROI from day one
Manufacturing-specific AI designed for your operational challenges
Relationship: Long-term partnership supporting your growth
You shouldn't have to bet your company on AI.
Start with proven quick wins, then scale what works.
I Work WITH You, Not FOR You
Traditional consultants investigate your business, write reports, and leave. I collaborate directly with you to identify opportunities and guide your implementation while you maintain complete control.
Operational Experience, Not Just AI Theory
Having managed supply chains, production planning, and quality systems across multiple industries, I understand exactly where AI creates real value in manufacturing - and where it doesn't.
Lighthouse Before Transformation
Instead of betting your company on massive AI transformation, we prove value with small, focused projects that deliver immediate ROI, then scale what works.
No theoretical frameworks.
No expensive investigations.
Just practical solutions that work in real manufacturing environments.
The Lighthouse Approach or
Manufacturing AI That Actually Works
Instead of expensive transformations that disrupt your entire operation,
we start with your single biggest pain point and prove the potential value of AI immediately.
Can't Deliver On Time?
The Problem: Your ERP can't manage suppliers effectively. You're constantly scrambling to reschedule production when materials don't arrive.
The Solution: Intelligent supplier management and inventory optimization that ensures production readiness.
Real Example: Seasonal business eliminated late deliveries and overtime costs in 6 months through AI-driven production planning.
Quality Issues Costing Customers?
The Problem: Manual inspection processes miss defects until customers complain. Each quality issue damages your reputation.
The Solution: Real-time defect detection and automated quality control systems.
Real Example: Manufacturing client reduced customer complaints by 80% with AI quality control implementation.
Production Chaos & Inefficiency?
The Problem: Poor scheduling causes unnecessary equipment cleanups, wasted materials, and frustrated workers.
The Solution: Smart production sequencing that accounts for your specific requirements (allergens, equipment changeovers, setup times).
Real Example: Food manufacturer eliminated costly allergen cleanups between production runs - ROI achieved in 4 months.
Each lighthouse project pays for itself in 3-12 months.
Proven. Practical. Profitable.
How Do I Work?
01: Strategic Review Session (Free - 60 Minutes)
What We Do:
Review your current operations, challenges, and opportunities
Identify level of AI usage in your organisation
Score the openness of the organisation to AI
Provide manufacturing-specific insights, not generic recommendations
Determine if we're a good fit to work together
What You Get:
Clear understanding of your best AI starting point
Adaptations needed to your organisation to start AI
No obligation assessment of AI implementation complexity
02: Organisation Assessment (1-2 Weeks, not full time)
What We Do Together:
Based on your Vision, Strategy, Opportunities and Threats we define your Strengths and Weaknesses
We identify the needed improvement opportunities and prioritise, resulting in clear objectives
We define success metrics and an ROI measurement framework
Create detailed implementation roadmap you can execute
What You Control:
Project scope and timeline decisions
Resource allocation and team involvement
Go/no-go decision based on clear ROI projections
03: Lighthouse Implementation Based On Objectives(3-12 Months)
Your Role:
Lead the project and make key decisions
Manage internal team and change management
Execute implementation with my guidance and support
My Role:
Provide technical expertise and industry best practices
Support process improvements before AI implementation
Troubleshoot challenges and optimise approaches
Support scaling to additional use cases
Benefits
Fast Start: From first meeting to implementation in 3-4 weeks
Controlled Investment: Clear costs and ROI at each stage
Knowledge Transfer: Your team learns and owns the solution
Scalable Success: Proven lighthouse becomes template for expansion
Guido De Gols,
Your Partner in AI-Powered Manufacturing.
Professional Background
My focus is simple: turn your operational challenges into real growth opportunities. I do this with practical, data-driven strategies and a commitment to ethical AI, giving you a clear roadmap for success.
My foundation is built on decades of hands-on international management experience across Finance, Supply Chain, Warehousing, Production Planning, Sourcing, and Assembly. I've led complex operational improvement projects ranging from ERP (D365), to Analytics and Reporting, and Lean Manufacturing.
Manufacturing-Specific Expertise
Having managed complex supply chains, production planning, and quality systems across multiple industries, I understand exactly where AI creates real value in manufacturing - and where it doesn't.
I've seen the inside of manufacturing operations from the factory floor to the C-suite. This isn't theoretical knowledge - it's practical experience dealing with the daily challenges of:
Supply chain disruptions and supplier management
Production scheduling with complex constraints
Quality control in high-volume manufacturing
Seasonal demand fluctuations and capacity planning
Cost pressure and efficiency optimization.
Methodology & Approach
As a Lean specialist and Six Sigma Black Belt, my approach is always rooted in proven, data-driven methodologies, delivering tangible, measurable results.
My highly analytical and logical approach ensures clarity, precision, and a focus on data-driven facts, cutting through noise to deliver straightforward, actionable insights.
I believe in keeping solutions as simple as possible, but no simpler – ensuring practical application without unnecessary complexity.
No theoretical frameworks. No expensive investigations. Just practical solutions that work in real manufacturing environments.
What are the Top 5 Biggest False Believes on AI for SMEs?
1. AI is Only for Big Tech Companies
Many small and midsize companies believe that AI is a technology reserved for large tech giants or multinational corporations with massive budgets, but...
AI solutions are increasingly accessible and scalable for businesses of all sizes. Cloud-based AI services, open-source tools, and AI-as-a-Service platforms have democratized access to AI technologies, making it feasible and beneficial for smaller companies to implement AI strategies.
2. AI Requires a Complete Overhaul of Existing Systems
Companies often think that adopting AI means replacing all their current systems and processes, leading to massive disruption and cost, but...
AI can be implemented incrementally and integrated with existing systems. Many AI solutions are designed to complement and enhance current processes rather than replace them entirely. Gradual implementation can yield significant benefits while minimizing disruption.
3. AI Will Replace Human Workers
There's a widespread misconception that implementing AI will lead to widespread job losses and replacement of human workers, but...
While AI can automate certain tasks, it often leads to job transformation rather than elimination. AI typically augments human capabilities, allowing workers to focus on higher-value tasks that require creativity, emotional intelligence, and complex decision-making. In many cases, AI creates new job roles and opportunities.
4. AI Requires a Team of Data Scientists and AI Experts
Companies believe they need to hire a large team of AI specialists and data scientists to implement and manage AI solutions, but...
While expertise is valuable, many AI solutions are becoming more user-friendly and accessible to non-experts. With the right guidance and tools, existing staff can often be trained to work with AI systems. Additionally, partnering with AI consultants or using AI-as-a-Service platforms can provide necessary expertise without the need for a large in-house team.
5. AI Provides Instant, Magic Solutions to All Problems
Some companies expect AI to be a silver bullet that will instantly solve all their business challenges without effort or strategic planning, but...
AI is a powerful tool, but it requires careful planning, quality data, and ongoing management to be effective. It's not a magic solution but rather a technology that needs to be aligned with business goals, integrated thoughtfully into processes, and continuously monitored and adjusted. The benefits of AI often accrue over time as systems learn and improve.
Get Your Manufacturing AI Opportunity Assessment
60-minute review - discover your AI opportunities
What You'll Get:
✅ Identify your best AI starting point based on current operations and challenges
✅ See specific implementation roadmap with timeline and investment requirements
✅ Understand realistic ROI expectations with examples from similar manufacturers
✅ No generic consultants - manufacturing-focused solutions from someone who's managed real production operations