A small company in the metalworking sector which was on the brink of bankruptcy. Dependent on just a few larger contractors, who set higher and higher demands on the level of service and who worked with very long payment terms. The company ran into problems when the main client did not pay for several large orders on account of problems with the quality and delivery. Plus an associate disappeared after dipping their hand into the finances.
The owner of the company had sought help from i.e. the Institute for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (IMK) and the Innovatiecentrum (Innovation Centre). At the end of my studies in business administration, I was given the challenging graduation assignment to design a new business plan based on my business administration and technical knowledge. The aim of this was to protect a company from bankruptcy and to offer a new vision for the future. After my graduation I was given the opportunity to implement the business plan I developed as an interim general manager. Where the owner took a step back and handed the overall management over to me.
My vision was that the company should focus on its core competency ( the bending of metal fasteners), broaden its customer base, scale down its own wholesale of equipment and tools, and distinguish itself by working with other materials and with a small group of core suppliers.
As a result of this approach, the company did not go bankrupt. The employees there all kept their jobs, all creditors were paid in full, a new customer group was established, and turnover grew steadily (up by 50% +) mainly due to the use of other materials. In just over 1½ years, the company had become viable again with a healthy future and room for growth.
site by Daan & Wim van opwolken.com