CONSILIUM FOR
ENGINEERING INTRAPRENEURS
MES deployment
A major aerospace industry player required assistance for the deployment of a new MES, balancing the challenges of large-scale industrial transformation with the delivery of measurable gains in automation, operational efficiency, and operator value creation.
Digital Transformation
A major player in the energy sector required assistance to drive a large-scale organizational change linked to the deployment of new digital tools for their Engineering office, ensuring employee engagement and effective change communication.
Industrialization subcontracting
A major aerospace manufacturer required assistance to manufacture a next-generation low-emission aircraft with composite structures, leading the industrialization phase to ensure on-time, high-quality delivery.
OT Cybersecurity
A major chemical industry player required assistance to achieve compliance with European NIS2 cybersecurity regulations, upgrading his industrial OT infrastructures across worldwide production sites.
EPCM expeditings
A major defense manufacturing player required assistance to handle expeditings during a large EPCM scale-up program of its production site, ensuring smooth procurement and financial execution to keep the project on track.
OUR MISSIONS:
D E V E L O P C O M P A N I E S T O...
B U I L D P R O J E C T S W I T H
A L I G N E D R E S O U R C E S,
C O N T R O L L E D W O R K F L O W S,
R O B U S T S OL U T I O N S.
C A T A L Y Z E I N T R A P R E N E U R I A L
L E A D E R SH I P A S T H E
K E Y S T O N E O F S U C C E S S.
E M P O W E R E N G I N E E R S T O
D R I V E E N T R E P R E N E U R I A L
A M B I T I O N S.
Our long story short:
Founded by Ir. Sebastien Requier, AETHER's entrepreneurial vision for engineers took birth on the benches of Université de Liège and HEC-Entrepreneurs.
Sebastien started his career as Business Unit Manager for a french consulting group that wanted to settle in Belgium.
In 2014 he became founder & CEO of his first privately-funded consultancy company, focusing on engineers.
In 2017, he founded a second company, AETHER, to focus on intrapreneurial projects, with as main mission the scale-up of his first startup into an international group of 500 engineers, until an exit in 2023.
In 2024, AETHER joined the Brussels-based entrepreneurial network EEBIC to grow its ambitions and develop new services, methods, and tools that will better empower engineering intrapreneurs, and develop an entrepreneurial mindset among engineers.
Who we are
AETHER is the only independent project sourcing company in Belgium focusing on Intrapreneurship.
Department Teams
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PMO Consultants
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QHSE Consultants
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Data/IT/SI Consultants
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Manufacturing Consultants
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Engineering & Field work Consultants
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R&D & Industrialization Consultants
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Maintenance & Facilities Consultants
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Procurement & Supply Consultants
Get in touch
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0800 89 510 (virtual assistant)
Follow us
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We help you accelerate impact through online education
Driving Digitalization of Business Processes
Our consultants support Intrapreneurs in Digitalization departments:
Digital Tools Setup
We benchmark Artificial Intelligence, RPA, IIoT and select ERP, MES, CMMS, PLM that fit objectives. We map data flows for seamless integration, configure systems with evolving processes, and provide support, training, and secure access.
Data & Business Intelligence
We build governed pipelines from ERP/MES/SCADA, clean and validate data, and set taxonomies and access. We co-define OKRs/KPIs, deliver intuitive dashboards, run variance and root-cause analysis, and provide predictive insights for decisions.
Driving Organizational Excellence
Our consultants support Intrapreneurs in PMO departments:
Project Governance & Standardization
Our consultants provides support to define governance, lifecycle, roles/RACI, and approval gates to keep every project consistent and auditable. Methods, tools, and templates are harmonized (PMBOK, PRINCE2, Agile). Compliance checks and maturity reviews reduce risk.
Planning, Budget, Risk, Reporting
We build the master schedule, manage critical paths, and align capacity. We run estimates, EAC/ETC, EVM, and variance analyses to forecast outcomes. Risks and opportunities are registered and mitigated. Quality, HSE, and data integrity frame a clear reporting cadence.
Performance & Continuous Improvement
We track PM performance, run audits, and feed lessons learned into a living knowledge base. Practices are refined continuously to drive operational excellence.
Change Management — Process & Tools
We capture and assess change requests with Agile/Scrum/Lean. We map 360° impacts across processes, org, people, data, tech, and compliance. Risks are flagged early with mitigation in place.
Execution covers workflow updates, system configuration, data integrity, roles and communications. We structure adoption with ADKAR and steer with KPI dashboards (adoption, cycle time, errors, SLA hit rate...)
Driving Engineering Ambitions
Our consultants support Intrapreneurs in Engineering departments:
Construction Engineering
We guide building and network infrastructure projects from conceptual and basic design through detailed design, specifications, and work preparation. Our role is to evaluate constraints, define layouts, develop drawings and specifications, plan logistics, sequence works, and ensure compliance with safety and site protocols.
Utilities and equipment integration
We lead feasibility studies, assess costs and risks, define technical options, and perform front-end engineering design. We size and specify equipment, prepare preliminary layouts and diagrams, and review safety and operability.
Site work scheduling and I&C management
We oversee scheduling, installation, and commissioning. We coordinate contractors, ensure quality, manage HSE compliance, and control budgets, timelines, and documentation.
Equipment qualification
From defining strategies and regulatory requirements to executing installation qualification, site acceptance testing, and operational qualification, ensuring systems perform as required and receive client sign-off.
We lead feasibility studies, assess costs and risks, define technical options, and perform front-end engineering design. We size and specify equipment, prepare preliminary layouts and diagrams, and review safety and operability.
We oversee scheduling, installation, and commissioning. We coordinate contractors, ensure quality, manage HSE compliance, and control budgets, timelines, and documentation.
From defining strategies and regulatory requirements to executing installation qualification, site acceptance testing, and operational qualification, ensuring systems perform as required and receive client sign-off.
Driving Asset Reliability & Performance
Our consultants support Intrapreneurs in Maintenance departments:
Preventive Maintenance MethodsAETHER provides consulting in maintenance strategy and reliability engineering.We design and implement preventive and corrective maintenance plans, diagnose faults, analyze breakdowns, and apply root cause solutions. We manage spare parts and critical inventory, promote continuous improvement and TPM initiatives, and ensure KPI tracking, reporting, and audit preparation.
Fiabilistic & Predictive analyses
Our fiabilistic and predictive analysis services help clients implement digital tools such as CMMS and IoT systems, perform statistical analysis, and apply reliability metrics to support informed decision-making.
Fiabilistic & Predictive analyses
Driving Compliance, Safety & Quality Excellence
Our consultants support Intrapreneurs in QHSE departments:
Regulatory & QMSWe help ensure conformity with ISO 9001, GMP, and sector-specific standards, monitoring regulatory changes and translating them into practical procedures. We prepare and coordinate audits, act as liaison with certification bodies, and maintain readiness for unannounced inspections. Our consultants deliver targeted training on ISO/GMP, implement CAPA and risk management systems, and drive QMS optimization for sustained compliance and performance.
HSE (Health, Safety, Environment)We help organizations adhere to legal and corporate HSE standards by developing and enforcing safety and environmental policies. Our services include risk assessments, hazard analysis, and safety/environmental audits. We design and deliver HSE training, promote a safety-first culture, and integrate HSE objectives into engineering projects, process improvements, and operational changes. We also support the implementation and validation of engineering controls to improve safety and sustainability.
Quality Assurance (Customer, Project, Product)We develop and implement QA policies, procedures, and Quality Assurance Plans (QAP), acting as the quality interface for all stakeholders. Our experts provide technical guidance throughout project lifecycles, conduct audits, and inspect products and processes to detect deviations. We track KPIs, manage CAPA, and facilitate lessons learned to improve performance and consistency.
Operational Quality & SubcontractorsWe manage non-conformities from detection to resolution, investigating root causes and implementing corrective/preventive actions. We oversee subcontractor qualification and performance monitoring, analyze quality data for trends, and lead initiatives to improve products and processes. Training programs ensure that all personnel and partners maintain a strong quality mindset.
Quality Control & Process ValidationWe define and maintain product specifications, perform analytical and physical testing, and ensure compliance before release. Testing capabilities include dimensional, functional, non-destructive, chemical, electrical, software, and environmental/stress methods, supported by accredited laboratories when required. We investigate out-of-specification results, prepare detailed QC reports, and execute validation protocols to ensure manufacturing processes consistently meet requirements, mitigating process-related risks.
Regulatory & QMS
Driving Manufacturing Excellence
Our consultants support Intrapreneurs in Production departments:
Production Line Setup, Revamping & TransferWe audit existing infrastructure, processes, and technology, conducting gap analyses to identify automation or equipment needs. We assess technical and economic feasibility, define scope, budgets, schedules, and success factors. Our consultants coordinate equipment procurement, implementation, and commissioning, define layouts and tooling for new product introduction, and manage subcontractors.
We lead change management, communicate project impacts, organize training on new systems, and set up maintenance plans.
Industry 4.0 Process DigitalizationWe define objectives, KPIs, and ROI for digitalization projects, map current versus target processes, and select tools such as MES, IoT, and dashboards. We design tailored solutions, pilot deployments, and coordinate with IT/automation teams. We train users, manage adoption, and phase rollouts. Once in place, we monitor KPIs like OEE and downtime, drive continuous improvement, scale proven solutions, and distribute digital SOPs to support operator adoption.
Manufacturing Methods & Process SupportWe support industrialization studies, document manufacturing processes for new products, and coordinate ramp-up activities for smooth transitions to full-scale production. We develop and validate process flows, work instructions, and quality controls, optimize parameters for yield and efficiency, troubleshoot bottlenecks, and lead PFMECA investigations to address process failures.
Preventive measures are implemented alongside technician training to ensure process consistency.
Lean Six-Sigma Continuous ImprovementWe boost productivity by mapping value streams (VSM), optimizing flows, reducing cycle times, and improving equipment utilization. We lead Kaizen workshops, standardize work methods, and apply visual management. For quality enhancement, we deploy Six-Sigma DMAIC to reduce defects and variability, using data analytics for root cause resolution and performance monitoring. Waste reduction efforts target non-value-added activities via Lean tools such as 5S and SMED, cutting material, time, and energy waste.
We foster a culture of continuous improvement through data-driven prioritization and sustainable practices.
We lead change management, communicate project impacts, organize training on new systems, and set up maintenance plans.
Preventive measures are implemented alongside technician training to ensure process consistency.
We foster a culture of continuous improvement through data-driven prioritization and sustainable practices.
Driving Technological Innovation & Industrialization
Our consultants support Intrapreneurs in R&D departments:
DesignWe perform requirements analysis to define functional and performance needs, considering technical and regulatory constraints. Our teams create concept models, schematics, or formulation schemes, selecting materials, components, and processes. We validate concepts through simulations, lab-scale trials, and design/formulation reviews, integrating logistics support planning (ILS) to manage resources throughout the product lifecycle.
Development & PrototypingWe finalize technical details, produce drawings or formulation documents, bills of materials, and process parameters. Our consultants oversee prototype or pilot fabrication, including assembly, tooling setup, and initial performance testing. We conduct RAMS studies—reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety—to ensure lifecycle robustness.
Testing & QualificationWe define detailed test protocols, measurement methods, and acceptance criteria in compliance with regulations. Functional and performance tests are conducted in laboratories, on-site, or at pilot scale to verify specifications. We analyze results, address non-conformities, and validate readiness for industrialization.
Industrialization & Scale-UpWe translate designs into manufacturing process flowcharts, control plans, and PFMEAs, defining and optimizing routings, SOPs, and work instructions. We specify, qualify, and commission equipment and tooling, implementing process validation protocols (IQ/OQ/PQ) to meet regulatory standards. For production launch, we lead pre-series and pilot runs, monitor process capability, and fine-tune parameters. We coordinate operator training, ensure process documentation is complete, and maintain technical files for ongoing compliance and operational excellence.
Driving Strategic Procurement & Supply Performance
Our consultants support Intrapreneurs in Supply departments:
Sourcing & Supplier Management
We develop sourcing strategies, identify qualified suppliers, and run competitive bidding processes (RFQ/RFP). Our consultants assess supplier capabilities, negotiate contracts, and establish performance expectations. We maintain supplier databases and qualification records, ensuring compliance with regulatory, quality, and sustainability requirements.
Procurement Operations
We manage the full procurement cycle—purchase requisitions, orders, expediting, and delivery tracking—ensuring timely and cost-effective supply. Our procurement consultants coordinate with engineering, production, and logistics to align procurement with project schedules. We implement procurement KPIs (cost savings, on-time delivery, supplier performance) and drive process optimization.
Contract & Risk Management
We draft, review, and manage procurement contracts, ensuring clear terms on scope, delivery, quality, and penalties. We assess and mitigate supply risks, develop contingency plans, and ensure compliance with trade regulations and ethical sourcing standards.
Inventory & Materials Management
We define stocking policies, manage safety stock, and optimize warehouse operations. We track materials, control obsolescence, and reduce inventory costs without compromising availability. We implement MRP/ERP systems for accurate forecasting and replenishment.
Continuous Improvement & Digital Procurement
We introduce digital tools for e-procurement, supplier portals, and spend analytics. Our approach leverages data to identify savings opportunities, consolidate suppliers, and streamline processes. We lead initiatives to enhance supplier collaboration, sustainability, and long-term value creation.
