Ryan S. Howard, Ph.D.
Fractional Operating Partner
Seventeen years at John Deere across final assembly, strategic sourcing, cost
management, and global supplier development. I've been the person accountable when a line stops
and when a supplier fails.
I've also built the systems side — designing a production-readiness standard now used at over
a thousand supplier sites, and training auditors worldwide to run it.
Most people selling AI automation have never owned a cost line or explained to a plant manager why
the new system broke their shift. That's the difference you're buying.
131-personFinal assembly department led
$1.2BCost forecast, 300+ suppliers
6 factoriesResourced in under 90 days
1,000+Supplier sites on my standard
Recent engagement: a $60M manufacturer with chronic fulfillment constraints.
15 days out of lead time, 25% more production flexibility. No AI involved — which is rather the point.