A well-known multinational in the food sector faced a critical leadership challenge at one of its manufacturing plants in Spain. The site plays an important role in the group’s production chain, processing raw materials from the primary sector into ingredients used by other group facilities for retail and HoReCa products.
The plant had a strong operational history and a solid market reputation, but the context was demanding. Production ran 24/7 in weekly shifts, stopping only during the Christmas maintenance period. Its manufacturing technologies combined continuous processing with batch operations, creating an environment in which quality, safety, maintenance, planning and customer service had to be closely aligned.
At the same time, the plant faced several important challenges. An ambitious investment plan had to be delivered on time and to specification. Quality and safety performance needed to improve. A new maintenance organisation had to be consolidated. Customer service levels had to be raised. And the current Plant Director needed short-term support before leaving the role.
The company could not afford a leadership gap. But it also did not want to rush the appointment of a permanent successor.
The dilemma
Company leadership needed to act quickly, but carefully. The plant required immediate senior leadership to address operational weaknesses, restore rhythm and keep performance under control. At the same time, the permanent role required a highly specialised Plant Director with relevant sector experience. Finding the right candidate through an international search would take time.
A rushed permanent appointment would have created risk. Waiting too long would have created a different risk: loss of momentum, unresolved issues and increasing pressure on plant performance.
Through QMT, IMW’s partner in Spain, the company appointed an interim Plant Manager with extensive experience in plant operations and industrial project leadership. The assignment was clear: support the current Plant Director, take over within a few weeks, stabilise the plant and prepare the organisation for a strong handover once the permanent successor had been selected.
The response
The interim Plant Manager began with a rapid but thorough assessment of the plant’s situation. Instead of treating the assignment as a temporary holding role, he translated his findings into a practical improvement plan focused on the most urgent and highest-impact priorities.
A first priority was to restore management rhythm and cross-functional alignment. Weekly Management and Technical Committees were introduced to bring the leadership team together, surface critical open issues and create a structured way of working around decisions, follow-up and accountability.
The interim manager also strengthened the plant’s technical and quality capabilities by adding specialist profiles to the Technical and Quality teams. Quality, safety and industrial hygiene became visible priorities. A 5S campaign was launched, reinforcing cleanliness, order, microbiological control and hygiene protocols across the plant. In a food manufacturing environment, this was not merely about appearance. Operational discipline has a direct impact on quality, safety and customer confidence.
The execution of the CAPEX plan was also brought under tighter control. Weekly tracking was introduced using defined KPIs, creating greater transparency around progress, risks and delays. Several system and customer audits were brought forward and prepared thoroughly, with specific follow-up on open non-conformities.
In parallel, a training programme was started to increase workforce versatility and improve process flexibility. Collaboration with Commercial and R&D teams was strengthened, helping connect customer expectations, product development and manufacturing realities more effectively.
Maintenance was another important focus area. The plant had recently created a new maintenance organisation, but this needed to be consolidated. The interim manager improved maintenance organisation and management processes, helping the team move towards a more reliable operating model. Continuous improvement routines were reinforced with support from an operational excellence consultant, while environmental management activities were restarted and strengthened.
The outcome
After six months, significant progress had been achieved. Several critical situations had been managed successfully, and the plant had moved forward on quality, safety, hygiene, maintenance, CAPEX control, customer service and internal collaboration.
Company leadership saw that the interim assignment had created more value than simply bridging the gap between two permanent Plant Directors. The interim manager had helped address chronic issues, strengthen first-line management and improve the way the plant was led and coordinated.
The impact was visible in stronger teamwork, better communication, improved leadership capability within the first-line management team and greater order, cleanliness and industrial discipline. The 5S campaign had a tangible effect on microbiological indicators and hygiene protocols, while weekly KPI-based tracking improved control over CAPEX execution.
Because of the progress achieved, the company extended the assignment by one additional month. This allowed the interim Plant Manager to spend the final three weeks on a detailed handover of open projects, key risks and priority topics to the newly appointed Plant Director.
The interim manager did not only stabilise the plant during a transitional period. He helped ensure that the permanent successor could start with clarity, context and momentum.
IMW perspective
This case shows how effective interim leadership can protect operational continuity while creating the conditions for long-term improvement. In a 24/7 food manufacturing environment, there is little room for delay: quality, safety, hygiene, maintenance, investment execution and customer service all require immediate and experienced leadership.
By working with trusted local thought partners such as Javier Moreno from QMT in Spain, IMW helps organisations respond quickly to critical leadership gaps while giving them the time and confidence to make the right permanent appointment.
Looking for interim leaders who can stabilise complex operations, strengthen management teams and create lasting impact? Click here to find an IMW partner near you.