Business Process Owner, Digital Manufacturing
Van Cleef & Arpels — Business Process Owner, Digital Manufacturing in Lyon. Lead digitalisation of manufacturing processes and MES/PLM integration.
Overview
Van Cleef & Arpels is a storied French maison renowned for high jewellery and watchmaking craftsmanship. As part of the Richemont group, the brand combines artisanal savoir‑faire with selective innovation, operating ateliers and boutiques that emphasize meticulous handcraft, quality and discreet luxury.
Role & Responsibilities
- Define, document and govern end‑to‑end manufacturing processes in alignment with the digital transformation roadmap.
- Translate business requirements from ateliers and production into specifications for MES/PLM/ERP and digital factory solutions.
- Lead cross‑functional projects to deploy digital manufacturing solutions, ensuring on‑time delivery, budget control and adoption.
- Act as single point of accountability for process performance: establish KPIs, monitor metrics, and implement continuous improvement cycles.
- Coordinate change management, including stakeholder engagement, training programs and operational handover to production teams.
- Ensure data integrity and interoperability between shop‑floor systems and enterprise platforms; drive standardization of master data and process flows.
- Collaborate with IT, external vendors and manufacturing partners to validate technical designs, acceptance tests and roll‑out plans.
- Identify automation and Industry 4.0 opportunities (traceability, digital quality, production scheduling) and prioritise roadmaps based on ROI and risk.
Qualifications
- Degree in engineering, industrial engineering, manufacturing, information systems or equivalent technical qualification.
- Proven experience leading manufacturing process definition and digitalisation projects; familiarity with luxury goods, watchmaking or precision manufacturing preferred.
- Strong stakeholder management and change management capabilities; demonstrated ability to engage production teams and senior leadership.
- Practical knowledge of MES, PLM and ERP integration concepts and shop‑floor data flows.
- Analytical mindset with experience defining KPIs, performing root‑cause analysis and implementing continuous improvement (Lean/Six Sigma experience advantageous).
- Professional communication skills; ability to author clear process documentation, specifications and test scripts.
Skills
Experience
Minimum 5+ years of hands‑on experience managing manufacturing process definition and digitalisation initiatives, with direct involvement in MES/PLM/ERP projects and cross‑functional deployments. Experience in luxury goods, watchmaking, jewellery or high‑precision manufacturing is strongly preferred.
Education
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Information Systems or comparable discipline.
Culture
The workplace reflects Van Cleef & Arpels’ commitment to artisanal excellence, creativity and technical precision. Employees operate at the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and selective technological innovation, with a collaborative atmosphere that values meticulous quality and respect for heritage.