Operations leadership that bridges enterprise rigor and startup agility. Helping seed and Series A hardware companies avoid the 6-month VP hiring cycle with proven manufacturing and supply chain expertise that scales from prototype to production.
Available now · No 6-month hiring cycle · Immediate results
Thomas Lee · Founder, Thomas Lee Advisory
6 wks
Typical Timeline
25-40%
Cost Reduction
96%
On-Time Delivery
Trusted by operators and leaders from
Blast MotionImpinjCalixzSpaceOccam Networks
20+ yrsHardware Ops Experience
$168MAnnual Spend Managed
76→98%First-Pass Yield Improvement
$34MQualified Pipeline Supported
30K/moPeak Production Volume Achieved
96%On-Time Delivery Achieved
What I Do
What you get — at a glance
Prototype → Production scale-up infrastructure
25–40% cost reduction via negotiation & consolidation
CM selection, contracts & Asia supplier strategy
NetSuite · Arena PLM · 3PL systems integration
Vendor risk mapping & dual-source qualification
Fractional operations leadership — no 6-month ramp
Advisory built for early-stage hardware
Emerging consumer electronics companies face the same challenge: they need executive-level operations leadership before they can afford to hire it full-time. I provide the strategic clarity and hands-on execution to bridge that gap.
Every engagement is structured around measurable outcomes — cost reduction, faster scale-up, stronger supplier leverage, and lower operational risk.
01
Prototype Build Schedule
Plan material flow across the EV, EVT, DVT, and PV build phases so each prototype gate has the right components on the right day — compressing development time without expedite costs or schedule slips.
EV → EVT → DVT → PV material planning
Long-lead component lock-down
Build gate readiness
02
Prototype to Production Scale-Up
Build the procurement infrastructure to move from prototype quantities into volume production without losing control of cost, quality, or schedule.
Supplier selection and qualification
BOM cost optimization
CM transition planning
03
Contract Negotiation
Commercial terms advisory for supplier contracts, CM agreements, and long-term supply arrangements — negotiating from a position of operational credibility.
MSA and pricing structures
Volume commitment strategy
IP and liability terms
04
Vendor Strategy & Risk Mitigation
Build executive-level relationships with Tier 1 and Tier 2 partners while addressing concentration risk, single-source dependencies, and geopolitical exposure — combining commercial leverage with supply chain resilience.
Vendor relationship management & roadmapping
Dual-source qualification & risk mapping
Asia manufacturing partnerships
05
Cost Reduction for Volume Production
Systematic review of material costs, contract terms, and production economics to drive down unit cost while protecting quality and on-time delivery.
Should-cost modeling
Resourcing and dual-sourcing
Commercial terms renegotiation
06
Manufacturing Readiness
Assess tooling, test processes, yield, and vendor accountability before committing to volume ramps. Prevent costly mistakes before they happen.
CTB analysis
Test process design
DFM/DFT review
Who I Work With
Seed and Series A hardware companies
I work with companies that have:
Small supply chain teams (1–3 people)
Early-stage manufacturing (prototype to early production)
Need for enterprise-level operational discipline
Pressure to scale without the 6-month VP hiring cycle
Thomas builds high-level vendor relationships that help small companies access stronger support, better responsiveness, improved commercial leverage, and more scalable manufacturing execution.
— Core Differentiator, Thomas Lee Advisory
Ideal clients are seed and Series A consumer electronics companies with small supply chain teams moving from prototype or early production toward volume manufacturing — including teams managing global and Asia-based supplier footprints.
Proof of Work
Selected engagements
Expertise spanning
Hardware from concept to production — built and scaled consumer electronics from early development through volume contract manufacturing
Chipset and strategic supplier relationships — developed key partnerships with silicon and component suppliers that unlock faster access and better terms
PLM and operations systems — implemented Arena PLM, NetSuite, and 3PL integrations to build scalable, auditable production backbones
Manufacturing yield and test — improved first-pass yield from 76% to 98% through test process redesign and CM execution improvement
Full workstream management — mechanical, silicon, plastics, tooling, and assembly across Asia and global supplier networks
01
Concept to Production
Sports Sensor: Prototype to Contract Manufacturing
Built the full procurement and manufacturing infrastructure for a consumer sports sensor — from initial supplier relationships and PLM/BOM discipline through prototype assembly and full CM scale-up.
Built supplier relationships → PLM → CM volume production
02
Cost Reduction
Negotiation-Led Cost Reduction Across a Device Portfolio
Drove multi-year cost reduction across a consumer device portfolio through commercial negotiation, supplier consolidation, and contract restructuring — balancing next-gen requirements with operational and supply chain tradeoffs without sacrificing performance.
Driving Product Quality Through Manufacturing Discipline
Partnered with engineering and CM teams to improve product quality at scale — through test process redesign, manufacturing execution discipline, and tighter accountability across supplier partners. Lower scrap, fewer rework cycles, and meaningfully reduced production risk.
Test redesign + CM discipline → step-change in quality
NetSuiteERP
ArenaPLM
3PLLogistics
Integrated Operations Stack
04
Operations Infrastructure
Procurement Backbone via NetSuite, Arena PLM & 3PL
Built the procurement and operations backbone for a scaling hardware company using NetSuite ERP, Arena PLM, and 3PL integrations — creating the systems infrastructure needed for repeatable, auditable production.
NetSuite + Arena PLM + 3PL fully integrated
05
Spend Management
$168M in Annual Spend. Run with Discipline.
Owned the procurement engine behind a hardware portfolio at scale — $168M in annual supply chain spend, hundreds of suppliers, and the on-time delivery discipline to keep production moving. Enterprise-grade execution, hands on every dollar.
$168M spend managed · 96% on-time delivery
Engagement Types
Ready to scope your engagement?
Diagnostic sprints, project-based engagements, and ongoing fractional advisory — structured to match where you are and what you need to solve.
Thomas Lee Advisory helps seed and Series A consumer electronics companies scale procurement and manufacturing with the supplier strategy, cost discipline, and operational rigor that early-stage teams often can't build on their own.
The firm combines executive-level advisory — shaping sourcing strategy, supplier relationships, and commercial approach — with working-level execution support for the teams doing the day-to-day work. That combination is rare, and it's where the most value is created.
The work draws on a career built inside complex hardware programs: from chipset relationships and PLM systems to contract manufacturing transitions, manufacturing test redesign, and full supply chain operations at scale.
How We Engage
01
Diagnostic Sprint
Starts with a discussion · 2–4 weeks
A focused assessment of your procurement infrastructure, manufacturing readiness, and supplier strategy — delivered as a clear action plan with prioritized recommendations.
02
Project-Based Engagement
Starts with a discussion · scoped to outcome
Defined scope around a specific outcome — a CM transition, cost reduction program, supplier strategy, or manufacturing readiness initiative. Clear deliverables, timeline, and expected results. This is the primary engagement model.
03
Ongoing Advisory / Fractional Support
Starts with a discussion · monthly retainer
Continued executive guidance for companies that need consistent operations leadership without a full-time hire. Structured around regular cadence and defined decision support.
Why companies choose me over full-time hires
Immediate access to executive supplier relationships
Enterprise KPI discipline without the 6-month ramp-up
Startup-speed execution with proven methodologies
Measurable outcomes in weeks, not months
Flexible engagement models that match your needs
Recommendations
What leaders say
"
Thomas brought a rare combination of strategic thinking and operational credibility. He shaped our supplier approach at a level that changed how we thought about the whole program — and then stayed in it to make sure the execution matched the strategy.
Donovan ProstrolloVP of Marketing, Calix
"
We were stuck on a cost problem that our team couldn't break open. Thomas came in, understood the commercial and operational dynamics quickly, and gave us the leverage and the path to actually solve it. His CM relationships made a real difference.
Bhaskar BoseVP of Engineering · Blast Motion
"
Thomas helped us reduce manufacturing costs by 25% in 6 weeks while simultaneously building our supplier relationships. His ability to execute while providing strategic guidance is rare — we've been able to scale without the 6-month VP hiring cycle.
Roger WeingarthCOO · Blast Motion
"
I had the pleasure of recruiting Thomas at Occam Networks and then got to watch him leverage his energy, passion and smarts to become a leader in the Supply Chain and Procurement space. Thomas works hard on behalf of his company and also for his vendors and partners to maintain the health and integrity of the Supply Chain. He's an asset to any organization.
Darren ArchboldSales Leader, Occam Networks
"
Thomas is an energetic, results-oriented individual who has successfully managed a global supply chain. At Occam Networks, he was given aggressive cost reduction goals — he identified the commodities to target and executed the plan with key suppliers to exceed those targets.
Stan LimVP, Supply Chain & Manufacturing Operations · zSpace
"
Thomas is an outstanding supplier program manager. During his tenure with Occam, he was successful in negotiating OEM product agreements across both China and Taiwan based suppliers. His hands-on involvement was the primary reason Occam was able to deliver and support multiple product platforms — he was tireless in working with our partners.
Dave MasonFormer Senior Vice President · NetApp
"
Thomas stepped into his production management role at Impinj with both feet. His self-starter attitude made him perfect to manage subcontractors located all over the world. He negotiated supply contracts and price reductions successfully while managing upside output from multiple factories across the US and Asia.
John QuistVP Operations · Impinj (Retired)
"
Thomas is truly a global operations and supply chain professional. He understands the global supply chain market and is well connected with key suppliers. His problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence have earned him respect from the supplier community and long-term strategic partnerships.
Bill FuGlobal Supply Chain & Manufacturing Operations · Lam Research
"
I worked closely with Thomas for four years and would highly recommend him for any supply chain position. He's extremely driven with a strong get-it-done attitude. His execution skills have always been tremendous, and his growth into shaping strategy, influencing relationships, and conducting business globally at higher management levels has been impressive.
Shelly WeberDirector, Sourcing Supply Chain · Microsoft
"
Thomas and I worked together on developing PCB cost reduction strategies. He's highly motivated, knowledgeable, and quick on the uptake — a self-starter with effective communication skills that let him work smoothly with all our partners and at every level of the organization.
Rick NarvesonAdvanced Manufacturing Engineer · Google
Executive and operator references available upon request
Case Study
From prototype chaos to 30,000 units/month
2017 MLB World Series
Blast Motion · Sports Wearables
How I scaled a sports wearable startup from prototype chaos to a manufacturing operation ready for volume — in time for its product to land in the hands of the athletes who won the 2017 MLB World Series.
Brought in as a consultant. Stayed on as Director of Operations. The story of how the operational foundation actually got built — what was broken, the three-pillar approach I deployed, and the numbers that came out the other side.
Most engagements begin with a free 30-minute conversation to understand your stage, your manufacturing and supply chain pressures, and what you're trying to scale.
If there's a fit, I'll come back with a focused scope — diagnostic sprint, project engagement, or fractional advisory — built around the outcome you actually need.
