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Founder & CEO · Lighthouse Consultings

Nico Röpnack

Over 20 years in the industry · Lean since the very first project · Stuttgart

Author of three Forbes articles (2024) ENGAGE 2025 Speaker DHBW Lecturer Bachelor of Engineering (FH) in Production Engineering
Nico Röpnack, Founder and CEO of Lighthouse Consultings
NR
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0
Years in the Industry
0
Years of experience leading engineering teams
€1.5 billion
CAPEX Planning
0
Greenfield Launches

From the Engineering
on AI in Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

I have a background in engineering. For over 20 years, I’ve been streamlining processes, from a Kanban pilot project at BMW to leading global engineering teams. AI is the next lever, following the same logic: first the process, then the tool.

I have overseen four greenfield launches and three plant relocations, and I know where companies really fail: not because of their strategy, but because of their execution.

Lighthouse Consultings integrates Claude and AI agents into your processes through training, consulting, and implementation. As a Registered Partner in the Claude Partner Network and a Smartsheet Premier Solution Partner, we bring both together: proven methodology and the right tools.

Since 2022
Founder & CEO, Lighthouse Consultings
Claude onboarding, AI training, and process consulting for small and medium-sized businesses in the DACH region. Registered Partner in the Claude Partner Network, Smartsheet Premier Solution Partner.
2020–2022
Head of Manufacturing Engineering & Logistics, JoysonQuin Automotive
Manufacturing Engineering was established as a separate team, reporting directly to the CEO.
2012–2019
Global Senior Manager / Director of Manufacturing Engineering, GETRAG / Magna
Global team of manufacturing engineering specialists: footprint and capacity planning, launch excellence process, and cost engineering for production lines with €1.5 billion in CAPEX.
around 2012
Plant Manager, Sodecia Powertrain China
Shift forks and parking brakes for VW. Transition from functional teams to value stream teams.
2006–2007–2011
Plant Manager, VOSS Automotive China
Built the plant from scratch to a staff of over 400, with a consistent Lean-based organizational structure across all departments: production, quality, logistics, engineering, and purchasing.
approx. 2005–2006
Production Specialist, BMW Group
Kanban Pilot: After four weeks, value stream and process analyses were completed, followed by participation in the rollout.
Parallel
Instructor, DHBW
Digital Transformation and Business Information Systems. There, 25 students worked with Claude to develop six functional applications for various departments.
expertise

Deep knowledge.
Broad impact.

01
Smartsheet Consulting
12+ years of implementation experience. Premier Solution Partner. From the initial proposal to a company-wide rollout strategy.
02
Digital transformation
Process automation with n8n, AI agents, and Claude; data analysis with KNIME; dashboard development with Power BI. Technology that people use.
03
Operational excellence
Lean manufacturing, cost engineering, supply chain. Experience from global manufacturing operations transferred directly into consulting.
04
project management
CAPEX planning up to €1.5 billion, greenfield launches, plant relocations. Structured approach to complex transformation projects.
05
Change management
Managed teams of over 400 people. Adoption, not implementation: Technology only works when people understand and embrace it.
06
Academy & Training
DHBW lecturer, online academy, webinar formats. Transfer knowledge, build expertise, become internally independent.
Awards & Certifications


Proven experience.

◈
Three Forbes Articles (2024)
Articles on team effectiveness, change management, and leadership impact.
◈
Smartsheet Premier Solution Partner
Over 12 years of hands-on experience with Smartsheet as a user, trainer, and consultant.
◈
ENGAGE 2025 Speaker
Speaker at the Smartsheet Annual Conference in Seattle, alongside FEW Automotive: “One Standard Across Three Continents.”
◈
Bachelor of Engineering (FH) in Production Engineering
Engineering degree with a focus on production engineering. SAP Digital Supply Chain, Certified Process Manager.
◈
Five Anthropic Course Certificates
Certificates of Completion: Claude Code, Claude API, Model Context Protocol, Agent Skills, and Claude Cowork.
effect
“

We are not external consultants who simply make recommendations and leave. We are guides who stay with you until structure, clarity, and impact become tangible.

Nico Röpnack, Lighthouse Consultings

The difference between consulting and results lies in implementation. Our goal: to empower companies so that, eventually, they no longer need us.

Ready to close the execution gap
in your company?

The first consultation is free and non-binding. In 30 minutes, I’ll show you where the biggest opportunities for improvement lie within your organization.

Schedule a meeting To the website
Smartsheet Premier Solution Partner – Lighthouse Consultings on the Smartsheet Marketplace