Manufacturing Business Operator

Pre-Interview Application & Diagnostic

Applicable to: Discrete, Process, Job Shop, Contract, Assembly, Food & Bev, Industrial, Metal Fabrication, Plastics, Packaging & more

Non-Disclosure Agreement

Please review and accept our Non-Disclosure Agreement before proceeding.

Legal Business Name

DBA / Trade Name

Owner / Applicant Full Name

Your Title / Role

Email Address

Best Phone Number

Business Website

Year Founded

City & State

Number of Locations / Facilities

What does your business manufacture?

Primary Manufacturing Sector

If Other, describe:

Ownership Structure

Are there other owners or partners?

If yes, briefly describe ownership split and alignment:

Current Annual Revenue

Revenue Trend (last 3 years)

Gross Margin % (approximate)

Net Profit Margin % (EBITDA)

Largest Single Customer Revenue %

Number of Active Customers

Top 3 Customers = __% of Revenue

Customer Concentration Risk

Cash Flow & Working Capital

Current Debt & Obligations (check all that apply)

Approximate Total Debt Outstanding

Annual Debt Service (principal + interest)

Do you have current, accurate financial statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow)?

Total Plant / Facility Size (sq ft)

Number of Shifts Currently Running

Total Employees (full-time)

Contract / Temp Workers

Direct Labor Headcount

Indirect / Admin / Management

Current Capacity Utilization

Primary Production Constraint Right Now (check top 1–2) *

Describe your biggest recurring operational headache:

Equipment & Capital Assets — general condition (check one)

Modern, well-maintained, <5 yrs avg age Mixed — some new, some aging Aging but functional — deferred maintenance Significant capex needed in near term

Do you have a formal preventive maintenance (PM) program?

Yes — documented, consistently executed Partial — some machines on PM Reactive only — fix when it breaks No formal program

Current On-Time Delivery (OTD) performance to customers

Current Internal Scrap / Rework Rate (approximate)

Do you have documented work instructions or SOPs on the production floor?

Quality Certifications held (check all that apply)

Who are the key leaders/managers in place?

Key Person Dependency Risk

How dependent is production on a small number of key operators or technicians?

Average employee tenure (production floor)

Current Annualized Employee Turnover Rate (hourly/production)

Talent Acquisition — how hard is it to hire skilled production workers right now?

Do you have a formal workforce development or skills training program?

Yes — structured apprenticeship / skills ladder Informal on-the-job training No formal program Outsourced to community college / trade school

How would you describe your supply chain stability? *

Stable — multi-sourced, minimal disruption risk Moderate — 1–2 critical single-source suppliers Fragile — supply disruptions are a recurring problem Currently experiencing significant supply chain issues

How are your prices set? (check one)

Customer Relationship Type (primary model — check one)

Long-term contracts (>1yr) Annual blanket POs Spot / project work Mixed (both LT and spot)

Do customers have significant leverage to push your prices down?

Yes — we regularly compete on price alone Somewhat — periodic re-bids No — we are differentiated / sticky We set prices based on value

What is your primary competitive differentiator? (check top 2)

Price / cost leadership Technical complexity / precision Speed / responsiveness Quality certifications Proprietary process or IP Long customer relationships / trust Vertical integration Specialty materials or niche expertise

Describe your #1 and #2 customers — industry, relationship length, revenue %, and what keeps them with you:

ERP / MRP System currently in use

ERP / Production System — how would you rate its effectiveness?

Works well — data trusted by team Underutilized — people bypass it Poorly implemented — causes confusion Being replaced / upgraded soon

Shop Floor Data Collection (check all that apply)

Real-time machine monitoring (OEE) Barcode / RFID work-order tracking Manual paper-based shop travelers Digital job tracking in ERP No formal shop floor data collection

Do you have real-time visibility into WIP (Work-in-Process) status?

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) — which do you actively track and review?

How often do you formally review operational KPIs with your leadership team?

Daily (daily huddles) Weekly Monthly Quarterly or less Not formally reviewed

Current Sales & Business Development Approach (check all that apply)

What is holding back faster revenue growth RIGHT NOW? (check top 2–3)

Not enough capacity / equipment Limited sales & BD effort Customer concentration (can't grow diversification fast enough) Operational quality / delivery issues No clear strategy Can't find / keep skilled labor Lack of capital Owner bandwidth / management depth Pricing pressure / margins too thin

Describe the single biggest untapped opportunity in your business right now:

Your primary goal over the next 3–5 years (check one)

Scale aggressively — maximize enterprise value for eventual exit Transition to passive ownership — professionalize management Pass to family or key employee Not sure — need strategic clarity Grow steadily — optimize lifestyle and cash flow Sell or exit within 3 years Merge with or acquire another company

Do you have a documented exit or succession plan?

Yes — written, reviewed with advisors, actively managed Thinking about it but nothing concrete General plan — not formally documented No plan — this is a gap

Do you know your business's current approximate market value?

Yes — formal valuation in last 2 years General idea but not validated Informal estimate based on EBITDA multiple No — I don't know what it would sell for

Approximate EBITDA (last 12 months)

Your Estimated Business Value (if known)

Capital Needs — are you currently planning any significant capital deployment?

Major equipment purchase / capex Facility expansion or acquisition Acquisition of another company Working capital to fund growth Refinancing existing debt No major capital needs in near term

Capital Sources being considered (check all that apply)

Environmental Compliance — does your operation generate regulated waste, emissions, or discharges?

Yes — significant — active EPA/state permits Yes — minor — standard facility permits No environmental regulatory exposure Unsure / not fully assessed

OSHA / Workplace Safety — how would you characterize your safety program?

Formal, documented — low TRIR, safety culture embedded Adequate — no major violations but not a competitive strength Reactive — we respond to incidents but no proactive program Safety is a real risk — injuries, citations, or open items

TRIR (Total Recordable Incident Rate) — last 12 months

Customer Audits & Compliance Requirements (check all that apply)

Regular customer quality audits Government / defense contractor compliance Food safety audits (FSMA, SQF, BRC) Automotive PPAP / APQP requirements Aerospace FAI / FAIR requirements No external audit requirements

Are there any current or pending legal, regulatory, or contractual disputes?

No Yes — minor / in resolution Yes — material and unresolved Prefer to discuss verbally

If you had to name the single constraint most limiting your business right now, what is it? *

What have you already tried to solve it, and why didn't it work?

What does success look like for you personally in 5 years? *

Why are you seeking outside perspective or coaching NOW — what triggered this?

What would need to be true after working together for you to say 'that was worth it'?

Preferred days/times for a phone call

Mon–Fri mornings (8–12 ET) Mon–Fri afternoons (12–5 ET) Evenings Flexible — you choose

Best Phone Number to Call *

Best Email for Confirmation *

Is there anything else you want us to know before the call that isn't captured above?

By submitting this form, I confirm that all information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand this information will be used solely to prepare for an initial diagnostic conversation and will be kept strictly confidential.

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AOS

AOS

Manufacturing Business Operator

Pre-Interview Application & Diagnostic

Non-Disclosure Agreement