Dr. Torsten Heitmann

Together with a partner I patented a revolutionary reactor concept to serve the current mega trend batch-to-continuous in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. We are supported by the AIF and started a scientific cooperation with the TU Braunschweig. I joined Wilk-Graphite to lead the engineering of continuous processes around our new technology. I am responsible for the research and development of the reactor concept, production and supply chain.

I am offering a generic –and proven- program to improve cash performance. This pragmatic program is enabled and sponsored by the clients executive committee. The holistic approach starts with segmentation of products and customers, focuses on certain performing-below-average groups and conducts the change process with global workshops.

The Cash Performance Team is responsible to secure achievements of Net Working Capital (NWC) targets by monitoring trends and global key performance indicators. Cash Performance is predicting monthly, quarterly, and year-end NWC levels through simulations. This allows early initiation of counter measures. Cash Performance also developed analyses and initiatives to improve NWC sustainably in many fields, predominantly receivables and payables.

The Cash Now! group was founded shortly before the full impact of the financial crisis. This group was responsible to manage and to coordinate actions to generate cash especially during the crisis. After initiating ad hoc measures like encouraging stops in production until there was demand again and supporting cancellation of purchase orders, the Cash Now! group introduced tools and reports to support the sustainable improvement of Inventories, Receivables and Payables.

Business Support is the bridge between production and sales. I was globally responsible for supply chain management, production planning, demand planning, customer service, quality control, reporting and exports. In this period many new logistic processes were established and surcharges (e.g. demurrage, minimum order size, broken pallets, etc.) were introduced.

I was in charge of Procurement & Logistics for the US facilties of Wacker Chemie AG, specifically for systematic cost reduction and continuous improvement, global sourcing, imports from Europe and exports to Asia and management of distribution centers, receiving goods, transportation, warehousing and shipping. We turned logistics into a customer-oriented, just-in-time service.

I was responsible for analyzing and optimizing Procurement and Logistics processes. I developed a shipping forecast tool to improve resource planning. We launched a Strategic Procurement program with a significant reduction of supplier portfolio.

I was responsible for engineering and improving manufacturing processes, process equipments and special projects in the BU Polymers. I designed and constructed a deep-temperature reactor, cooled with liquid nitrogen. I also developed a patented continuous production process.

I was responsible for the design of chemical process equipment, simulation of thermodynamics and purchasing of heat exchangers, including design of safety devices and finite elements modeling.

Biotechnology