Yannick Schilly, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of ALTIX Consulting Inc
In the competitive world of industrial consulting, Yannick Schilly stands as a beacon of expertise and vision. As Co-Founder, President, and CEO of ALTIX Consulting Inc, Yannick brings a wealth of experience gained from over three decades of transformative leadership across Europe, Asia, and North America. His journey is a testament to the power of relentless learning, cultural adaptability, and a commitment to helping businesses thrive in an era of unprecedented change.
The Foundations of a Visionary Leader
Yannick’s illustrious career began 30 years ago in Germany with FESTO, a global leader in industrial automation. Immersing himself in the intricacies of manufacturing, Yannick mastered areas like metal fabrication, assembly, automation, and engineered-to-order solutions. His training followed the rigorous German apprenticeship model, culminating in certification as an “industrial master” and advanced degrees in Industrial Engineering and Business, as well as an MBA in General Management and Global Business.
These formative years provided Yannick with hands-on experience in high-stakes projects. From developing customized solutions for industries like automotive, food and beverage, agro-tech, and printing, to working on global collaborations with VIP clients, Yannick honed his technical and strategic skills. His fascination with advanced manufacturing grew during this period, inspiring a lifelong pursuit of excellence and innovation.
Climbing the Ranks at FESTO
Yannick’s rapid rise within FESTO saw him taking on roles that required strategic thinking, operational acumen, and cross-functional leadership. His early leadership achievements included transforming a strategic business center into a high-performing profit center and driving cultural and operational transformations. These successes led to his first major international assignment in 2009.
Pioneering Transformation in China
In 2009, Yannick was entrusted with leading operations at a newly acquired FESTO facility in Jinan, China. This post-M&A integration presented enormous challenges. Yannick’s mission was to transform a 1,000-employee site into a high-performance operation aligned with FESTO’s global standards. Over four years, Yannick spearheaded:
- Cultural Transformation: Transitioning the enterprise to a high-performance culture focused on innovation and efficiency.
- Digital Overhaul: Modernizing processes and systems through digital transformation.
- Lean Practices: Implementing robust Quality Management Systems (QMS) and lean methodologies.
- Industrial Modernization: Redesigning workflows, upgrading technology, and automating operations.
- Workforce Development: Reskilling employees and establishing FESTO’s first apprenticeship program outside Germany.
Yannick also led the development of a parallel business system that included R&D, sourcing, supply chain, and logistics a feat that required strong collaboration with local and regional sales teams. This transformative period was not just about achieving operational excellence; it was about fostering collaboration across cultures and building a sustainable growth model. Yannick credits the success of this initiative to teamwork, commitment, and the shared vision of his leadership team.
A Strategic Vision for FESTO
Following his success in China, Yannick returned to Germany to lead a high-stakes global strategy initiative. The goal was to combat commoditization by reducing costs and increasing competitiveness through standardization, modularization, and platforming. Yannick’s mission also focused on creating a strategy to reduce COGS by high double digits while maintaining the company’s competitiveness in global markets. This required navigating corporate resistance, aligning global teams, and embedding change at every organizational level. Yannick’s role as an in-house consultant required intellectual rigor, psychological resilience, and leadership finesse.
Transformative Leadership in the United States
In 2014, Yannick relocated to the United States to oversee the relocation of FESTO’s North American factory from New York to Ohio. This complex endeavor involved moving operations 600 miles while maintaining production continuity. Yannick and his team not only built a state-of-the-art facility but also managed the cultural and operational shifts required for success. This achievement marked a turning point, fueling Yannick’s entrepreneurial aspirations.
The relocation project included navigating challenges such as building a new workforce (90% of whom were new hires), maintaining customer satisfaction, and managing costs during the transition. Yannick’s ability to lead through such complexity demonstrated his skill in executing high-stakes industrial transformations.
This was also a time when Yannick began envisioning ALTIX Consulting, inspired by the growing reshoring movement and the need for a firm focused on small- and middle-market industrial champions. He realized the critical role of execution excellence in successful transformations.
Founding ALTIX Consulting: A Bold New Chapter
In 2018, Yannick co-founded ALTIX Consulting with Anne Cappel, blending their complementary expertise and shared passion for helping industrial champions. While Yannick brought deep operational insights, Anne contributed her extensive experience in market strategy, international business, and cross-cultural advisory roles. Together, they established ALTIX as a boutique consulting firm dedicated to amplifying the success of small and middle-market industrial companies.
ALTIX’s mission is to be an amplifier for industry champions, offering tailored solutions that bridge the gap between strategy and execution. “Many firms deliver high-level strategies,” Yannick explains. “We ensure those strategies are executed effectively, driving real transformation.”
Yannick and Anne’s shared vision was also inspired by the reshoring trends in U.S. manufacturing and a desire to help industrial companies adapt to global shifts. Their combined networks and expertise allowed them to create a firm uniquely positioned to address the challenges of industrial transformation.
Addressing Emerging Trends
Yannick identifies Industrial AI as a transformative force reshaping the industrial landscape. He highlights the importance of digital transformation, warning that companies failing to adopt new technologies risk obsolescence. “AI will revolutionize every aspect of business from R&D to supply chain management,” he asserts. ALTIX helps clients navigate these changes by combining education, strategic development, and hands-on execution.
Understanding the past is key to anticipating the future, Yannick notes, referencing the four industrial revolutions. As the sector moves into Industry 4.0 characterized by cyber-physical systems, connected devices, and industrial AI companies must adopt these technologies to remain competitive. The productivity and efficiency gaps will be insurmountable for late adopters.
Lessons in Leadership
For Yannick, the key to successful transformation lies in aligning people, processes, and systems. “More than 70% of transformations fail due to people-related challenges,” he notes. “Building a culture of trust, collaboration, and adaptability is critical.”
Yannick’s leadership philosophy is shaped by lifelong learning and mentorship. An avid reader, he draws inspiration from literature, philosophy, and business theory. He also pays tribute to his late business partner, Liam Cassidy, whose mastery of cross-cultural leadership continues to inspire ALTIX’s mission.
Yannick credits the diversity of ideas, cultures, and talent in his international experiences as a source of unparalleled innovation potential. He emphasizes that a company’s success in global markets depends on embracing this diversity and evolving to leverage it fully.
Scaling ALTIX: The Road Ahead
ALTIX Consulting’s long-term vision is to expand its global footprint while maintaining its personalized, high-touch approach. Yannick and his team are committed to helping clients succeed in an increasingly interconnected world. “Our clients’ success is our North Star,” Yannick affirms. “We’re here to help them transform, scale, and win.”
From orchestrating factory relocations and integrating cross-cultural teams to leading global strategy initiatives, Yannick Schilly’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of vision, resilience, and collaboration. Through ALTIX Consulting, he continues to shape the future of industry, one champion at a time.
To learn more about ALTIX Consulting and their services, visit their website and discover their podcast, The Industrialist.
QUOTES:
“At ALTIX, we don’t just focus on strategy; we excel in execution, where the rubber truly hits the road.”
“Our mission is to be an amplifier for industry champions, helping them scale and transform with a competitive edge in a fast-evolving global landscape.”
“Cultural change is at the heart of any major industrial transformation without the right people on board, even the best strategies will fail.”
“The most important factor in global expansion is aligning your vision, mission, and strategy with the right people who will champion your efforts in new markets.”
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