Fractional CIO for Manufacturing Companies
Strategic IT Leadership Without the Full-Time Cost
Is your $20-200M manufacturing company facing an ERP decision, cybersecurity concerns, or digital transformation—but you don't need (or can't afford) a $200,000+ full-time Chief Information Officer (CIO)?
I provide fractional CIO services to manufacturing companies primarily in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and Northeast. You get experienced strategic IT leadership 2-3 days per month for a fraction of the cost of a full-time executive.
With 8 ERP implementations under my belt as Chief Information Officer/Vice President of IT—across heavy industrial manufacturing, marine manufacturing, industrial equipment, and retail sectors—I bring real-world experience, not just consulting theory. My current fractional CIO client has trusted me for 7 years.
Who I Work With
I specialize in serving:
$20M-$200M manufacturing companies who need strategic IT leadership but don't need a full-time CIO
PE-backed manufacturers navigating growth, M&A integration, or operational improvements
Companies facing critical ERP decisions—especially those using Epicor 9 or 10 who need to plan their Kinetic upgrade
Manufacturers who have an IT team or IT manager but lack C-level strategic oversight
Companies in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and Northeast (I travel to your location regularly)
Industries Where I Have Deep Experience:
Heavy Industrial Manufacturing
Marine manufacturing
Industrial equipment
Metal fabrication
Consumer goods manufacturing
Third Party Administration - Health Insurance
Retail operations
ERP Platforms I've Implemented:
Epicor (v8, 10, Kinetic)
NetSuite
Infor SyteLine
How Fractional CIO Services Work
Unlike traditional consultants who parachute in with generic advice, I work as your actual Chief Information Officer (CIO)—just on a part-time basis. I attend your leadership meetings, participate in strategic planning, manage vendor relationships, and own your IT roadmap. The only difference? You get me 2-4 days per month instead of full-time.
ADVISORY TIER
What You Get:
- 2 days per month (on-site or virtual)
- Strategic IT planning and roadmap development
- Technology vendor evaluation and contract negotiation
- Monthly executive briefing and status reports
- Ad-hoc phone and email consulting support
- Cybersecurity and compliance guidance
Best For:
Companies with stable IT operations who need strategic oversight and planning support.
EMBEDDED TIER
What You Get:
Everything in Advisory, plus:
- 3 days per month (flexible scheduling)
- Active project oversight (ERP, cybersecurity, infrastructure upgrades)
- Board and investor presentation support
- IT team mentoring and development
- Quarterly comprehensive IT assessments
- Budget planning and financial reporting
Best For:
Companies with active IT initiatives who need hands-on strategic leadership and project oversight.
TRANSFORMATION TIER
(Typically 6-12 month engagements)
What You Get:
Everything in Embedded, plus:
- 4-5 days per month
- Hands-on ERP implementation leadership
- M&A technology integration and due diligence
- Major transformation project management
- Interim full-time availability during critical phases (go-live, cutover, etc.)
Best For:
Companies undertaking major ERP implementations, acquisitions, or significant IT transformations.
Proven Results Across 8 ERP Implementations
I don't just advise on ERP implementations—I've led them as the accountable executive. As CIO or VP of IT at multiple manufacturing companies, I've been responsible for the full lifecycle: vendor selection, budget management, implementation leadership, team coordination, and go-live success.
8 ERP Implementations
Led end-to-end as CIO/VP IT
3 ERP Platforms
Epicor • NetSuite • Infor SyteLine
7 Years Current fractional
CIO client relationship
$20M - $200M
Typical client company size
Sample Engagements
ERP Upgrade Leadership
Led Epicor Kinetic upgrade for a heavy industrial manufacturing company in the wood products industry (150 employees). Managed $2M+ project from planning through go-live, delivered on time and on budget within 9-month timeline.
M&A Technology Integration
Implemented Infor Syteline ERP for marine enclosures manufacturer during private equity acquisition. Coordinated technology due diligence, system selection, and post-acquisition integration.
Multi-Site ERP Consolidation
Managed ERP consolidation project for industrial manufacturer with multiple production facilities. Standardized processes across locations and improved inventory visibility.
International Team Building
Established operations and built a team in Spain (with responsibility for UK and EU) to support international expansion for a marketing consumables company in the beverage industry. Managed remote team coordination and cross-border technology initiatives, including managing a worldwide sales, project management, manufacturing and IT teams.
Fractional CIO Partnership (Current)
7-year ongoing engagement as fractional CIO for manufacturing company. Oversee IT strategy, ERP management, cybersecurity program, vendor relationships, and digital transformation initiatives.
Why Fractional CIO Makes Sense?
FULL-TIME CIO
Annual Cost: High
(Salary + benefits + overhead)
Availability: Full-time (but often pulled into operational firefighting)
Commitment: Long-term hire, difficult to adjust if needs change
Risk: Takes 3-6 months to find the right person, costly if it's a bad fit
Best For: Companies with complex, constantly evolving IT needs requiring daily executive oversight
FRACTIONAL CIO
Annual Cost: A fraction of an FTE CIO
(Based on tier and engagement)
Availability: Strategic-level focus 2-4 days/month, plus on-call support for critical issues
Commitment: Flexible engagement, scale up or down based on project needs
Risk: Immediate start, proven track record, try before long-term commitment
Best For: Companies who need strategic IT leadership but don't require daily CIO presence—or who need intensive support during specific projects (ERP implementation, M&A, etc.)
The Reality for Most $20-200M Manufacturers:
You don't need a CIO in the office every day. What you need is someone who:
Develops your 3-year IT roadmap aligned with business strategy
Evaluates and negotiates with ERP vendors so you don't overpay or choose the wrong system
Provides strategic oversight during implementation so your project stays on track
Ensures your cybersecurity and compliance programs protect the business
Mentors your IT manager or team so they develop and grow
Presents IT strategy and performance to your board or investors
Makes high-level technology decisions aligned with business goals
That's what a fractional CIO delivers—and you pay for results, not just seat time.
Serving Companies in
the PNW, Midwest & Northeast
While I work with clients nationally, my primary focus is the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and Northeast corridor—the heart of American manufacturing.
I travel regularly to client sites for on-site strategy sessions, leadership meetings, project kickoffs, ERP go-lives, and other critical activities. Between visits, we stay connected via video calls, phone, and email.
Primary Regions:
Washington, British Columbia, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah (Pacific Northwest)
Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio (Midwest manufacturing belt)
Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey (Northeast corridor)
Open to other regions for the right fit
Why I Focus Here:
The PNW, Midwest and Northeast are home to thousands of mid-sized manufacturers—companies with $20M-$200M in revenue who are sophisticated enough to need strategic IT leadership but not large enough to justify a full-time CIO.
What Clients Say
“Even as a Fractional IT Director, Sanu has been available virtually 24/7 to help with our IT challenges. We feel like we are his most important client.”
CFO, Group Holding Company
“Senior level presence that integrates well with the entire organization. Very pragmatic in terms of how much technology can be utilized within the business, given the nature and structure of the business – [Sanu gets] that in order to do your job properly, first and foremost, you need to understand both what the business is about and doing.”
President, Multi-national Manufacturing Company
“[Sanu brings] security. Security in the literally sense of security of our systems and data but also security in knowing our IT needs are well thought out and be consistently managed for continued improvement and advancement as IT items change. Sanu is incredibly responsive to a wide variety of requests. [He] brings professionalism and high standards to our IT needs. Gives us confidence that our IT environment is using technologies that are current and most beneficial to our organization. Brings great value for review and implementation of process changes. Continues to look for ways to make our organization better, through technology - equipment, systems, and IT tools.”
Controller, Large Private REIT
“[Sanu helps] meld the technology side of the business with the business strategy in a complementary fashion so that senior leadership is not faced with a series of ‘either technology is optimized or business is optimized’ choices. [He brings] a fundamental understanding of business first to problem solving.”
CEO, Group Holding Company
As our Interim Head of IT, Sanu brought a sense of purpose, focus, and urgency to our entire team. He mentored the leaders into taking responsibility for their teams and deliverables while challenging the culture to move with greater clarity and pace.
Sanu proposed and set the foundation for a Project Management Office in our organization. He took a hands-on approach to turning around an extremely troubled enterprise project by working with internal resources and multiple third-party vendors simultaneously.
Sanu is incredibly adept at dealing with all levels of an organization and our entire team felt the effect of the changes he introduced. When you engage with Sanu, you get is someone committed to helping you build a high-performing, business focused technology organization. He engages with every leader in the organization to ensure that technology is a competitive advantage for the business.
President/CEO, Health Insurance Administrator
Let's Discuss Your IT Strategy
If you're a manufacturing company leader wondering whether fractional CIO services make sense for your situation, let's have a conversation.
I offer a free 30-minute consultation where we'll discuss:
Your current IT challenges and strategic priorities
Whether fractional CIO services are a good fit for your company
How the engagement model would work for your specific situation
Next steps if we decide to move forward
No pressure, no sales pitch—just a straightforward conversation about whether I can help.