Director of Smart Factory (m/f/d)
Emerson
Debrecen, Hungary · Hajdú-Bihar, Hungary
The Director of Smart Factory is a senior global leader responsible for setting and executing the enterprise smart factory strategy across a multi-site manufacturing network. This leader will define the vision, roadmap, and execution of manufacturing transformation initiatives that deliver measurable business value, operational excellence, and scalable capabilities.
The role leads cross‑functional teams in executing organizational change management and digital transformation initiatives, including Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM), automation, industrial data and analytics, and selected Industry 4.0 capabilities. Success requires strong manufacturing depth, executive presence, and the ability to lead across regions and functions without relying on formal authority alone.
Key Responsibilities
Smart Factory Strategy, Roadmap and Business Value
Define and lead the global smart factory strategy, aligned to business and manufacturing priorities across the enterprise.
Assess current-state capabilities and future-state needs across factories, warehousing, and service operations, then translate those findings into a multi-year roadmap.
Build and maintain value-based business cases, with clear financial, operational, and capability targets for each major initiative.
Establish governance to track benefits, risks, maturity, and progress against stated transformation objectives.
Digital Transformation & Systems
Lead the strategy, deployment, and continuous improvement of core smart factory platforms, including MES, MOM, WMS, automation, and connected production systems across multiple sites.
Set standards for solution architecture, interoperability, and data models to support scalable deployment and easier integration across the manufacturing network.
Partner with IT, operations, engineering, and external solution providers to deliver practical, scalable solutions that improve plant performance and support long-term flexibility.
Translate emerging technologies such as IIoT, AI, analytics, and digital thread capabilities into prioritized use cases with clear business relevance.
Data, Analytics & Operational Performance
Define the manufacturing data and analytics strategy across production, warehousing, quality, maintenance, and related functions.
Enable real‑time operational visibility and data‑driven decision making through standardized reporting and analytics.
Partner with operations and planning leaders to strengthen capacity planning, S&OP inputs, cost models, and headcount planning through better digital insight.
Use data and digital tools to improve productivity, throughput, capacity, quality, asset performance, and labor efficiency.
Global Leadership & Change Management
Lead the organizational change management required to adopt new systems, processes, and ways of working across a global manufacturing network.
Align manufacturing, supply chain, IT, engineering, finance, quality, and operations leaders around a common digital transformation agenda.
Create a culture of disciplined execution, continuous improvement, and cross-site learning.
Foster a collaborative, high‑performance, and innovation‑driven culture across global teams.
Drive alignment and results through influence rather than formal authority.
Provide leadership across manufacturing regions in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, balancing global standards with local operational needs.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Operations, or a related field.
15+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing, operations, industrial engineering, supply chain, digital transformation, or a closely related field.
Proven track record leading large-scale smart factory, MES, MOM, WMS, automation, or related manufacturing system deployments across multiple factories or regions.
Strong experience leading cross-functional, geographically distributed teams and influencing outcomes in a matrixed global organization.
Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, Lean principles, process standardization, and factory performance improvement.
Experience building business cases, prioritizing investments, and linking operational initiatives to measurable business value.
Demonstrated ability to drive change and influence outcomes without direct authority.
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Strong communication and leadership skills across cultures and functions.
Preferred
Experience establishing architecture, data, training, or adoption standards across a manufacturing network.
Experience leading global smart factory programs in high-tech or complex discrete manufacturing environments.
Our Commitment to Our People
At Emerson, we are motivated by a spirit of collaboration that helps our diverse, multicultural teams across the world drive innovation that makes the world healthier, safer, smarter, and more sustainable. And we want you to join us in our bold aspiration.
We have built an engaged community of inquisitive, dedicated people who thrive knowing they are welcomed, trusted, celebrated, and empowered to solve the world’s most complex problems — for our customers, our communities, and the planet. You’ll contribute to this vital work while further developing your skills through our award-winning employee development programs. We are a proud corporate citizen in every city where we operate and are committed to our people, our communities, and the world at large. We take this responsibility seriously and strive to make a positive impact through every endeavor.
At Emerson, you’ll see firsthand that our people are at the center of everything we do. So, let’s go. Let’s think differently. Learn, collaborate, and grow. Seek opportunity. Push boundaries. Be empowered to make things better. Speed up to break through. Let’s go, together.
Accessibility Assistance or Accommodation
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Emerson is a global leader in automation technology and software. Through our deep domain expertise and legacy of flawless execution, Emerson helps customers in critical industries like life sciences, energy, power and renewables, chemical and advanced factory automation operate more sustainably while improving productivity, energy security and reliability.
With global operations and a comprehensive portfolio of software and technology, we are helping companies implement digital transformation to measurably improve their operations, conserve valuable resources and enhance their safety.
We offer equitable opportunities, celebrate diversity, and embrace challenges with confidence that, together, we can make an impact across a broad spectrum of countries and industries. Whether you’re an established professional looking for a career change, an undergraduate student exploring possibilities, or a recent graduate with an advanced degree, you’ll find your chance to make a difference with Emerson. Join our team – let’s go!
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The Director of Smart Factory is a senior global leader responsible for setting and executing the enterprise smart factory strategy across a multi-site manufacturing network. This leader will define the vision, roadmap, and execution of manufacturing transformation initiatives that deliver measurable business value, operational excellence, and scalable capabilities. The role leads cross‑functional teams in executing organizational change management and digital transformation initiatives, including Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM), automation, industrial data and analytics, and selected Industry 4.0 capabilities. Success requires strong manufacturing depth, executive presence, and the ability to lead across regions and functions without relying on formal authority alone.