Built a successful manufacturing business… but can’t step away?

Turn daily operational pressure into a self-sustaining,
legacy-ready company — without risking your family’s future.

I partner with manufacturing business owners to strengthen their operations, develop confident next-generation leaders, and transition ownership with clarity so the business thrives without constant founder involvement.

Björn Vikard

Take the First Step Toward Growth Without the Chaos

Not sure where your succession stands? The Eye-Opener Diagnostic maps it in ten minutes.

Your Business Doesn't Need Another Consultant

It needs a partner who has run one.

You’ve built something real. Decades of work, a reputation earned on the shop floor, customers who trust you, veterans who have been with you since the beginning. And every serious decision still runs through you.

That's not dedication. That's risk.

I’ve sat in your chair.

Over two decades in aerospace manufacturing, from a CNC machine on the shop floor to the Managing Director’s chair, across six countries. As COO and Managing Director I built greenfield plant from an empty building, took on turnarounds nobody else wanted, and carried AS9100 and ISO 9001 from first implementation through the audit. I’ve carried the P&L and made payroll in a hard month.

Today I partner with family-owned manufacturers to build the systems, the leaders and the succession structure that let the business run without the founder. And without me. A consultant gets paid to stay. I get paid to make myself unnecessary. Not someday. Not in theory. On the floor, with your people.

Over two decades in aerospace manufacturing  ·  Volvo Aero  -  JAS 39 Gripen program  ·  CNC operator to Managing Director  ·  COO and MD roles in four countries  ·  AS9100 / ISO 9001 certification implementations

Author of Leading with Character Across Cultures (Amazon Best Seller) and Don’t Exit Wrong

If your business can't survive thirty days without you making decisions, that's where we start.

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Core Focus Areas

1. Succession Planning

Transitioning leadership is more than a legal process.

It’s about trust, clarity, and continuity.

I design structured succession plans that protect your legacy, support family dynamics, and ensure the next generation is ready — operationally and emotionally.

2. Operational Excellence in Manufacturing

Strong leadership needs strong systems.

I improve workflows, processes, and performance structures so your business runs smoothly without constant founder intervention.

3. Next-Generation Leadership Development

Successors must earn respect — not just inherit authority.

I build leadership capability through real-world responsibility, mentorship, and accountability.

4. Reducing Owner Dependence

Your business should function even when you’re not there.

I create systems, roles, and decision frameworks that free you from daily firefighting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Family Manufacturing Succession Coaching?

It helps business owners transition leadership smoothly, strengthen operations, and prepare the next generation while protecting the family legacy.

Is this right for me?

This is ideal for owners of 50–200 employee family-run manufacturing businesses who worry about succession, leadership readiness, and long-term stability.

How is the program structured?

The Legacy Succession System™ is a 12–18 month partnership built on six succession domains, with a minimum commitment of six months, practical tools and personal support.

What do you specialize in?

Family-run manufacturing businesses focused on leadership transition, operational excellence, and succession planning.

What makes your approach different?

It combines manufacturing experience, leadership development, and practical systems — not generic coaching.

What happens on the call?

I review your situation, identify key risks, and outline clear next steps.

Build a Business That Runs Without You.

Let’s clarify your succession path, strengthen your leadership team, and secure your legacy with structure, not stress.

For readers of the paperback

Your readers' bonus

If you found this page, you have one of my books in your hands. Thank you for reading it.

The ebook from my website comes with a few extra tools that aren't sold anywhere else. Paperback readers get the same tools here, free. No email, no sign-up. Pick your book and download.

Don't Exit Wrong

Don't Exit Wrong

Three tools to see where your succession really stands, and what to do first.

  • Founder Independence Scorecard10 questions that reveal how dependent your business really is on you, across operations, leadership, relationships and knowledge.
  • Succession Red Flags Checklist15 warning signs across five categories that tell you whether your exit plan is missing, broken or on track.
  • Eye-Opener Action MapTakes your Succession Readiness Eye-Opener results and turns them into prioritised actions, with timelines and chapter references. The bridge between knowing the problem and doing something about it.
Download the bonus bundle

The templates the book refers to are on the Toolkits page ›

Leading with Character Across Cultures

Leading with Character Across Cultures

Two tools for the moments when the same leadership doesn't land the same way.

  • Cultural Leadership Self-Check10 questions that score your cross-cultural leadership effectiveness and direct you to the chapters that matter most for your situation.
  • The 5-Question Conflict DecoderA field guide for diagnosing cross-cultural disagreements before you step in. Built from real manufacturing floor experience across four continents.
Download the bonus bundle

The templates the book refers to are on the Toolkits page ›

The Multiplying Mentor

The Multiplying Mentor

The BRIDGE Quick-Start Bundle: three tools to get a mentoring pair started and keep it moving.

  • Mentor Readiness SnapshotA short self-check that tells you whether you, or your chosen mentor, actually have the time and standing to make this work, before you start.
  • The 90-Day Match PlanA simple week-by-week plan for the first three months of a new mentoring pair, so it doesn't stall the way most do.
  • The Legacy Chain TrackerA one-page way to see whether your mentees are becoming mentors themselves, or whether the knowledge is stopping with them.
Download the bonus bundle

The templates the book refers to are on the Toolkits page ›

Using the tools on a real business?

If the scores worry you, or the plan stalls, I'd like to hear about it. No pitch. Just a conversation about where you stand.

Book a call