Sebastijan Nemeček

Ambitious and decisive Strategic Plant Director with an MBA and a multi-disciplinary background in IT and Law. Leveraging over 15 years of experience in the automotive industry and holding a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification, I specialize in production optimization with a strong focus on finance, cost management, and strategic development. My leadership style is defined by decisiveness and clear goal-setting, achieved through an inclusive approach, respect for the individual, and high emotional intelligence.

I am deeply committed to organizational values and actively engaging employees in continuous improvement processes.

Plant Manager & Procurist at Bourns d.o.o. (2023-01 – Present)

• Leading and representing a company of 200 employees, with comprehensive management of all key departments, including HR, Finance, Quality, Supply Chain, R&D, Engineering, Production, and Continuous Improvement.
• Defining and executing plant strategy while ensuring strict alignment with corporate goals and group directives.
• Participating in acquisitions and market analysis, including the development of economic feasibility models to evaluate strategic alternatives and monitoring international economic trends.
• Budgeting and CAPEX planning focused on long-term technological development and cost optimization.
• Collaborating with external partners for the development and manufacturing of specialized equipment and the execution of complex infrastructure projects.
• Managing supplier and customer relationships, involving strategic supply chain coordination and meeting market demands.
• Enhancing information flow and establishing effective delegation frameworks across the entire organization.
• Cost optimization and gross margin improvement with a focus on automation, digitalization (e.g., SAP S/4HANA), and carbon footprint reduction.
• Implementing the Shingo Model and "Employee Involvement" concepts to continuously elevate organizational culture and achieve operational excellence.

Technical Director at Bourns d.o.o. (2022-07 – 2023-01)

• Coordinating departments totaling 140 employees, encompassing Production, Engineering, R&D, Maintenance, and Facility Management.
• Mapping technological development in alignment with product lifecycles and strategically upgrading the machinery park to enhance profit margins.
• Restructuring the R&D and Engineering department to ensure greater responsiveness and improved support for production processes.
• Implementing Lean methodology and establishing a systematic approach to identifying and eliminating process deviations.
• Establishing robust frameworks for information flow through Tier meetings and implementing effective delegation methods.
• Optimizing cross-departmental dynamics by redefining roles and systematizing specific areas of operation.
• Implementing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across all managed areas, directly contributing to increased productivity.

Director of operations at Elvez d.o.o. (2021-07 – 2022-07)

• Leading and coordinating up to 130 employees across Production, Maintenance, Facility Management, Logistics (Warehousing and Planning), and Manufacturing Engineering.
• Optimizing warehouse space to improve material flow and increase available storage capacity.
• Implementing Lean and Six Sigma concepts to optimize work processes and enhance overall efficiency.
• Collaborating on cost estimation restructuring and upgrading calculation models to reflect the Total Cost of operations.
• Designing models to determine cost (in)efficiency for specific products and production lines.
• Establishing key communication pillars through Shop Floor Management (SFM) meetings.
• Introducing effective root cause analysis methods using PSCS tools and A3 reporting.
• Improving planning efficiency
• Leading continuous improvement initiatives and actively seeking solutions to increase overall plant efficiency in collaboration with support services.

Deputy Plant Manager at Hella Saturnus Slovenije d.o.o. (2017-06 – 2021-07)

Deputy Plant Manager with responsibility for leading and coordinating core management meetings, reporting to senior leadership, and aligning workflows between Logistics, Production, and R&D.

• Providing consultancy and spearheading dedicated process improvement projects in cases where Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) deviated from established targets.
• Leading task teams to rapidly remediate process gaps and restore stable operations across production areas.
• Managing Facility Management and Site Safety for a plant of 250 employees, including the coordination of external contractors for all technical interventions.
• Monitoring and coordinating activities during KPI variances, implementing corrective actions to maintain operational excellence.
• Coordinating the transfer of equipment and technological resources between different corporate production sites.

Production Area Manager at Hella Saturnus Slovenije d.o.o. (2016-07 – 2021-07)

• Leading and coordinating a group of up to 150 employees, including the monitoring and active management of variances in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Collaborating with Sales and the Planning department to define the production plan and perform operational adjustments to the micro-schedule.
• Executing process optimizations using organizational tools such as PDCA and PSCS to ensure lean manufacturing.
• Cross-departmental coordination and close collaboration with central logistics to ensure the seamless flow of materials and information.
• Leading meetings for direct and indirect staff and resolving operational and interpersonal conflicts within the group.
• Leading PDCA projects
• Ensuring the stability of production processes through systematic performance monitoring and the implementation of corrective actions.

Manufacturing Engineering Manager (Business Unit) at Hella Saturnus Slovenije d.o.o. (2014-06 – 2016-07)

• Leading and coordinating departmental engineers and providing professional oversight for operational technicians, including planning and executing their training programs.
• Active involvement in the design phase of new projects to ensure the transfer of technological know-how into industrialization and implementation processes.
• Validating design compatibility of new projects with existing technology and the company's production capacities.
• Implementing TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) with a focus on establishing preventive and predictive maintenance systems.
• Standardizing 5S protocols and providing technological support to achieve high levels of workplace organization and efficiency.
• Leading digitalization projects for production processes and technological documentation to improve traceability and data flow optimization.
• Executing technical improvements using PDCA, PSCS, and DMAIC methodologies to enhance process efficiency.
• Coordinating support services and external contractors during process deviations to ensure uninterrupted operations.
• Collaborating with R&D to monitor existing processes and manage the launch of new projects into production.

Department Technologist at Hella Saturnus Slovenije d.o.o. (2010-01 – 2014-06)

• Professional training of operational technicians in the fields of pneumatics, electronics, and advanced automation processes.
• Industrial robot programming, with a focus on ABB and Yaskawa systems, including their seamless integration into production lines.
• Computer Vision development and optimization, encompassing the configuration and programming of industry-leading equipment such as Cognex, Keyence, and Omron.
• Robot program development and modification during the launch of new projects to ensure high precision and reduced cycle times.
• Systematic analysis and elimination of process deviations using PSCS, DMAIC, and PDCA methodologies.
• Leading and coordinating support staff (Maintenance, R&D) to resolve complex technical challenges and process anomalies.
• External partner collaboration for technical hardware improvements and the implementation of advanced technological solutions.
• Active participation in Corrective Action Request (CAR) teams, focusing on technical failure analysis and the implementation of permanent corrective measures.

Production Technologist at Hella Saturnus Slovenije d.o.o. (2007-09 – 2010-01)

• Leading and coordinating a group of up to 25 operators, with responsibility for achieving daily operational targets and ensuring workplace discipline.
• Employee training on quality standards and performing regular monitoring and audits in accordance with automotive industry requirements (e.g., IATF 16949).
• Monitoring and regulating process parameters to ensure production stability and scrap prevention.
• Tracking and adjusting the production plan, including line utilization optimization and ensuring timely order fulfillment.
• Identifying and eliminating process anomalies and actively participating in root cause analysis to prevent recurring defects.
• Monitoring KPIs at the shift level (efficiency, quality, downtime) and reporting on achieved results to management.
• Conflict resolution within the group, fostering a positive work environment and ensuring effective communication among employees.
• Ensuring compliance with safety regulations and maintaining high standards of workplace cleanliness and organization (5S).

Associate Degree in Computer Science and Information Technologies – ICES – Education Centre of the Energy System (ICES, Izobraževalni center energetskega sistema) (2008 – 2012)

Bachelor in Organization and Management – University of Maribor, Faculty of Organizational Sciences (Univerza v Mariboru, Fakulteta za organizacijske vede) (2011 – 2014)

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in Law – New University, European Faculty of Law (Nova univerza, Evropska pravna fakulteta) (2013 – 2019)

Master in Organization and Management – University of Maribor, Faculty of Organizational Sciences (Univerza v Mariboru, Fakulteta za organizacijske vede) (2013 – 2021)

Master of Laws (LLM) in Law – New University, European Faculty of Law (Nova univerza, Evropska pravna fakulteta) (2018 – 2026)

Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Business Administration – University of Ljubljana, School of Economics and Business (Univerza v Ljubljani, Ekonomska fakulteta) (2024 – 2025)

Master of Science in Economics and Business – University of Ljubljana, School of Economics and Business (Univerza v Ljubljani, Ekonomska fakulteta) (2024 – 2026)