Case Study: Bort Craftex – Establishing a Foundation for Growth in Vietnam
Situation
Bort GmbH, a German market leader with 40 years of experience in orthopedic aids, was undertaking the strategic task of establishing a new local manufacturing plant in Vietnam. As the operation entered its crucial start-up and ramp-up phase, the company faced the immediate challenge of efficiently building the core local team, setting up all operational and compliance structures, and ensuring effective leadership oversight for the German headquarters.
Task
Optimal Xchange Advisors (OXA) was engaged to serve as the company’s “Eyes in Vietnam” by providing practical, hands-on Interim Management for the local manufacturing plant. The core mandate included:
- Providing interim leadership to lead, build, and develop the initial local team.
- Ensuring the necessary organizational structure and processes were in place for the ramp-up phase.
- Handling all essential local people–related topics, including signing critical contractual documents like labor contracts.
- Establishing governance and intercultural management to bridge communication between the local plant and the German headquarters.
Action
OXA implemented a practical, hands-on business management consulting approach, focusing on establishing a robust foundational framework for the new enterprise:
- Interim Management: Provided direct and essential leadership, stepping into the Interim Factory Director role to lead the initial team, manage daily operations, and execute legal necessities, including the signing of labor contracts.
- Organizational Development: Created and implemented the foundational organizational structure required for the manufacturing plant to move from start-up to a fully operational ramp-up phase.
- Intercultural Management: Managed all critical people–related topics, fostering cultural awareness and effective communication to align the local team with the expectations of the German headquarters.
- Compliance Management: Established and reinforced strict compliance and governance protocols, ensuring the new entity operated in full accordance with Vietnamese labor laws and regulatory requirements.
- Training Management: Initiated and oversaw Training Management programs to quickly equip the newly hired local workforce with the requisite skills and operational standards for quality manufacturing.
Result
By successfully executing the Interim Management mandate, OXA ensured a compliant, stable, and strategically aligned launch of the Bort manufacturing plant in Vietnam. The company established a strong, functional local team with professional training and clear operational structures. The consistent weekly management reporting and strict compliance protocols minimized start-up risks, successfully positioning the new Vietnamese facility for long-term stable production and growth.
