About
Nicolas MARIE.
Lean Management Consultant & Trainer. 25 years transforming industrial organisations, then service ones, then care ones. Based in Geneva.
I come from the factory. My first bosses taught me to watch a line for two hours before opening my mouth. To listen to an operator before drawing a standard. To distrust an indicator that never goes down on the floor.
Twenty-five years later, I consult, teach, and write. I’ve deployed Lean in automotive, in connectors, in aluminium, then in Swiss watchmaking, then in care homes. Each time, the same finding: classical Lean tools work — but seven times out of ten, momentum fades after a year.
Denovation was born from these returns. An approach that starts from what already works, prunes before adding, gives itself the time to last. Inspired by Daisugi, TPS, and degrowth.
Today I apply it with a few clients, document it publicly (newsletter, journal, demos), and train a new generation of practitioners.
Path
From an assembly line to a Swiss workshop.
- 1998
Faurecia
First steps in automotive production. Learning lean flow, operational standards, and waste hunting — in teams, on the line.
- 2003
Wagon Automotive
Continuous-improvement lead. First plant-wide Lean rollout. Lesson: a Hoshin without Gemba doesn’t outlast six months.
- 2008
FCI Connectors
Black Belt in training, Six Sigma DMAIC projects on high-capability processes. Statistical rigour enters daily practice.
- 2014
Constellium
Lean Manager Europe. Multi-site rollout, internal coach training. Learning the art of transfer: doing without yourself.
- 2020
Apilean Switzerland
Senior Consultant. Swiss industry, watchmaking, care homes. Gradual emergence of the Denovation method, formalised from observed terrains.
- Today
Denovation
Independent structure, in parallel with Apilean, to carry the method, the interactive demos, and the newsletter.
Values
Four compasses.
Respect
For people, know-how, contexts. No transformation lasts if it crushes what it replaces.
Reality
The floor beats theory. Always. Gemba walk before meeting room.
Continuity
Reinvent what works, rather than start over. Daisugi, not clear-cutting.
Pragmatism
Useful tools, indicators actually read, rituals actually held. The rest is decoration.
Certifications
Anchors and continuous learning.
- Lean Green Belt — Certified
- Toyota Production System — Expert
- Six Sigma DMAIC
- Hoshin Kanri
- Gemba & A3 coach
Let’s talk about your transformation.
30 minutes to understand your context and see what Denovation can bring.
Book a call