Your Manufacturing Business Is Leaving Capacity and Profit on the Table.
You don't need a full-time operations manager. You need the same result, improved capacity, stronger margins, and a business that runs on systems, not key people, at a fraction of the cost.
Practical. Results that outlast the engagement.
I'm Drew Robins, a Fractional COO based on the Gold Coast, working with manufacturers and B2B businesses across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and nationally. I've spent 30 years in operational and commercial leadership roles across Australia, the UK, and Europe.
Your Manufacturing Business Is Carrying Problems That Hard Work Alone Won’t Fix.
Most manufacturing owners reach a point where the business they built starts working against them. Output is growing, but so is the pressure. You’re closer to the operation than ever, but it doesn’t feel like progress.
You might recognise one of these:
- Your capacity is constrained but you can’t pinpoint exactly where the bottleneck is
- Lead times are longer than they should be and it’s costing you customers
- Margins are tighter than the revenue suggests they should be
- The business runs on key people and institutional knowledge, not documented systems
If any of these feel familiar, this is exactly where focused operational improvement makes the difference.
Built for Founders and Directors Ready to Do Something Significant
Manufacturers
You run a complex operation with real lead times, real capacity constraints, and real consequences when things go wrong. I’ve spent years working inside manufacturing businesses — I understand the operational levers that actually matter.
B2B Business Owners ($2M–$40M)
Your business is established and growing. The challenge isn’t winning work — it’s delivering it consistently and building the infrastructure to support the next stage without everything depending on you.
Founders Preparing for What’s Next
Whether you’re scaling, raising, or preparing to exit, the operational foundation of your business determines what’s possible. Getting that right now changes everything that comes after.
What This Looks Like in Practice
A Queensland manufacturer was carrying a 20-week lead time. Customer relationships were strained, quoting was inconsistent, and the director was spending his time managing operational chaos rather than growing the business.
Within a 90-day engagement, we rebuilt the operational workflow from the ground up. Lead time dropped from 20 weeks to 11 days. A reduction of over 95%.
The director got his time back. The team had a system they could own. And the business had the operational foundation it needed to grow.
That’s not a one-off result. It’s what happens when operational problems get the focused attention they deserve.
95% reduction in lead time. 20 weeks → 11 days.
A clear path, with no long-term commitment required upfront
Step 1 — 30-Minute Conversation (Complimentary) I start with a no-obligation conversation to understand where your business is and what’s getting in the way. No pitch, no proposal. If there’s a fit, I’ll tell you. If there isn’t, I’ll tell you that too.
Step 2 — 1-Day Operational Diagnostic (from $2,000) Before any engagement begins, I run a structured diagnostic inside your business. In a single day I identify your biggest constraints, prioritise what needs to change first, and give you a clear roadmap, whether you engage me to deliver it or not.
Step 3 — 90-Day Fractional COO Engagement I embed with your team to implement the changes your business needs. You get the output of a senior COO without the overhead of a full-time hire. Ongoing advisory is available after the engagement if needed.
What people usually ask before getting in touch
How is this different from hiring a consultant?
Most consultants advise from the outside and produce a report. I work inside your business alongside your team until the changes are built and stick. There’s a significant difference between a recommendations document and someone who’s accountable for the outcome.
Will I become dependent on you long-term?
The 90-day engagement is designed with a specific outcome in mind, to solve the operational problem, build the systems and processes to support it, and leave your team with the capability and documentation to run it without external support. The engagement ends with your business stronger and more self-sufficient, not reliant on ongoing involvement.
How much of my time does this require?
Less than you’d expect, and that’s by design. The goal is to reduce your involvement in day-to-day operations, not add to it. We agree a weekly cadence that works for your schedule.
Do I have to commit to 90 days upfront?
No. The 30-minute conversation and the 1-Day Diagnostic are separate decisions. The 90-day engagement only proceeds if we’re both confident it’s the right fit.
What industries do you work with?
My primary focus is manufacturers and B2B businesses in the $2M–$40M range. I have deep experience in building products, industrial supply, and trade-facing businesses, but the operational principles transfer broadly.
Ready to find out?
Looking for manufacturing improvement support in a specific city? I work regularly with businesses in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. Visit the relevant page for local availability and details.
Ready to Talk?
If your manufacturing business has capacity it isn’t using and margin it isn’t capturing, the first step is a 30-minute conversation. No obligation, no long proposal to sit through.
Or call Drew directly: 0468 794 040