Sell-Side Operations Assessment Validates Scalability and Identifies 5%–9% EBITDA Upside

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The Challenge

A global manufacturer of engineered industrial protection products was preparing for a potential sale and wanted to demonstrate both the strength of its existing operating platform and the upside available to a future owner.

The business operated across multiple manufacturing sites in a complex, high-mix engineer- and build-to-order environment. To support the sale process, leadership needed an independent assessment of operational scalability, efficiency, and maturity, along with a quantified view of where additional value could be created after the transaction.

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Our Approach

TriVista conducted a sell-side Quality of Operations™ assessment across facilities representing approximately 93% of company revenue, creating a broad view of the company’s operating performance and growth readiness.

The review covered manufacturing, SIOP and scheduling, sourcing and procurement, engineering, quality, order-to-cash, and procure-to-pay processes. Through site visits, management interviews, operational benchmarking, process reviews, and detailed data analysis, TriVista examined capacity, KPIs, labor productivity, material flow, continuous improvement practices, supplier spend, quoting, order entry, and engineering workflows.

Rather than focusing solely on risk, TriVista also evaluated where the operating model could create additional value. The highest-priority opportunities were concentrated in direct labor productivity, strategic sourcing, and automation of quoting, order entry, and design activities. These initiatives were then organized into a phased implementation roadmap based on expected impact and execution effort.

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The Results

The assessment validated a strong, scalable operating platform supported by capable site leadership, disciplined capacity planning, effective operational governance, and greater than 94% on-time delivery in a demanding engineer- and build-to-order environment.

At the same time, TriVista quantified a meaningful value-creation opportunity, identifying approximately 5%–9% potential EBITDA expansion through labor productivity improvements, commercial and engineering process automation, and strategic sourcing.

Additional opportunities included stronger pipeline management, daily shop-floor management, improved material flow, better machine utilization tracking, and targeted manufacturing automation. By combining an independent validation of current operational strength with a quantified roadmap for future improvement, TriVista helped position the business with a clearer growth story and a more compelling value-creation case for prospective buyers.