Industry 4.0 expert Sébastien Laurent joins Kepler as senior advisor

International consultancy Kepler has strengthened its team in home market France with Sébastien Laurent, who has been appointed a Senior Advisor.

Sébastien Laurent brings more than 20 years of working experience to the firm, all of which he gained in industry roles.

Most recently serving as CEO of Fives Intralogistics for over three years, Laurent previously held (leadership) roles in procurement, production and project management in the gas, automotive, electronics, and rail sectors.

In addition to the positions he held, Laurent has been involved in the ‘La Ruche Industrielle’ association, of which he is currently the President. This association enables manufacturers but also engineering schools, partners and institutions to work together in a collaborative way to support and accelerate the fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0.

In particular, Laurent led a large program aimed at creating a centre of excellence for the maintenance of railway parts and equipment. The 40 000 m2 site (owned by SNCF) today showcases the latest technological solution in the domain, such as robotics and the internet of things.

At Kepler, a consulting firm specialised in operational excellence, Laurent will focus on helping the firm’s industrial clients (automotive, railway, aeronautics, consumer goods) with improving the efficiency and agility of their operations. He will advise clients directly, and support Kepler teams from across its offices in Paris, Chennai, Shanghai, and Chicago.

“I am happy that Sébastien is joining us,” said Lionel Muller, President at Kepler. “I have known him for almost 20 years. I had the opportunity to work with him on numerous occasions. Beyond his human qualities, Sébastien has a unique experience in the factory of the future and on the automation of warehouses. His vision, both grounded and pragmatic, will enable us to better serve our customers.”