LF CONSULT

What LF CONSULT does

LF CONSULT GmbH is a Stuttgart-based, privately held (GmbH) consulting and software firm that originated in 2002 as a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Society. The company serves primarily mid-sized manufacturing enterprises in the DACH region — with select international engagements in Central Europe and Southeast Asia — by selling a holistic operating system called PIT® (Produzieren im Takt / Make Production Work). Its core offering combines the proprietary PIT® methodology (a four-pillar excellence model covering Target, Process, Behavioral, and Management Excellence) with PIT® Software (formerly 3Liter-PPS), a production planning and control platform whose kernel element is cycle-oriented planning (Taktorientierte Planung), and a Digital Shopfloor Management dashboard layer for real-time KPI visibility. The company explicitly positions itself as the inventor of PIT® and its cycle-oriented planning methodology, and the offering is now being augmented with embedded AI capabilities including LLM-based natural language control, summarization and data-mining agents, chatbot interfaces, and AI-assisted capacity planning.

The business model mixes three revenue streams: (1) project-based on-site consulting for PIT® implementation and continuous improvement, delivered through a field sales motion with senior consultants embedded at client sites; (2) PIT® Software licensing and implementation as a recurring revenue stream; and (3) PIT® Academy training, including the proprietary PIT® simulation game (Planspiel) and practice seminars that double as a lead-generation channel. Pricing is project-based and not publicly disclosed; customer engagement is direct via the website, phone, and email. The reference portfolio spans at least 18 named enterprise customers including Robert Bosch (Musterbau Bamberg), BGH Edelstahlwerke, Lock Antriebstechnik, BMG, Schinko, Ceotronics, Faun, Knoll, Kral, Lauffer, Partzsch, Reku, Scherzinger, Stadler, TESAT, Wecubex, Wiha, and Zahnradwerk Pritzwalk. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales with an event-driven funnel (Best Practice Days, simulation games, industry exhibitions like AMB) supported by organic digital channels (website, LinkedIn, Instagram). Management comprises Managing Directors Ulrich Färber and Pit Löllmann.

Name

LF CONSULT

Legal name

LF CONSULT GmbH

Website

https://lfconsult.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LF CONSULT GmbH is a Stuttgart-based, Fraunhofer spin-off consulting and software firm selling proprietary PIT® production planning methodology, software, and training to manufacturing enterprises primarily in the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Operations Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Process Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Manufacturing ERP (Discrete, Process, Batch) (HDAEAEAB)

Keywords

• Production planning software
• Manufacturing consulting
• Cycle-oriented planning
• Shopfloor management
• Lean production optimization

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: On-site consulting services for implementation of PIT®-Produzieren im Takt production system, including project management, process analysis, and continuous improvement processes. Consultants support digital transformation and enable organizations on the path to smart factory.
2. PIT® Software Licensing and Implementation: Proprietary software solution for production planning and control, including implementation, software presentations, and workshops. The software is complemented by consulting services.
3. PIT® Academy and Training: Simulation game seminars (Planspiel) and practice seminars that teach the PIT® methodology through hands-on experience in a model company setting.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

LF CONSULT GmbH sells and implements its proprietary PIT®-Produzieren im Takt (PIT® Make Production Work) production system, combining the PIT® Software (3Liter-PPS) for cycle-oriented production planning and control with on-site consulting services and Academy-based training. The offering is targeted at industrial manufacturers seeking to optimize capacity planning, reduce throughput times, and achieve delivery reliability through a four-pillar excellence methodology (Target, Process, Behavioral, Management Excellence) and digital shopfloor management.

Product overview

LF CONSULT offers a holistic approach combining proprietary PIT® Software (3Liter-PPS) for production planning and control with consulting services, training seminars, and simulation games. The core PIT® Software provides cycle-oriented planning, real-time transparency, and digital shop floor management, supported by consulting for implementation and the PIT® Academy for methodology training. The company positions itself as a spin-off of Fraunhofer Society and the inventor of PIT®-Produzieren im Takt (Produce in Takt) and its core element: cycle-oriented planning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PIT® Software: The company's proprietary production planning and control software solution enabling real-time transparency, planning, and control in manufacturing environments.
• PIT® Academy
• PIT®-Produzieren im Takt

Products and services

• PIT® Software (3Liter-PPS) Proprietary production planning and control (PPS) software providing cycle-oriented planning (Taktorientierte Planung), real-time transparency, capacity planning, and digital shopfloor management for industrial manufacturers. The core platform enables efficient order management and scheduling, with digital dashboards surfacing target values and key figures for quality, costs, and time.
• PIT® Consulting On-site consulting services for implementing the PIT®-Produzieren im Takt production system, covering project management, process analysis, target and process excellence, behavioral and management excellence, and continuous improvement. Supports digital transformation toward smart factory for industrial manufacturers.
• PIT® Simulation Game (Planspiel) Gamified simulation game where participants produce finished products under realistic conditions to learn logistics concepts including production cycles, stock-limited order release, and production flexibility regulation. Used in seminars and at customer events to demonstrate PIT® methodology.
• PIT® Academy Training seminars and practice seminars providing an overview of the PIT® methodology and its application, including the background knowledge required for implementing the methods. Comprises the company's structured professional education offering for manufacturing professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduction of circulating stocks in production within months of PIT® introduction
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• DataCo GmbH (Data Protection Officer)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDataCo GmbH provides data protection officer services. The company also partnered with DataGuard for privacy policy creation support.
• papa tom GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign and realization partner responsible for website design and implementation.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Dassault Systèmes DELMIA: Dassault DELMIA is a broad manufacturing operations and production planning platform targeting large industrial customers — adjacent to LF CONSULT's PPS niche as part of a much larger PLM/MES portfolio.
• SAP Digital Manufacturing Cloud: SAP DMC is an enterprise MES/planning suite for discrete and process manufacturers, integrating with S/4HANA — the dominant incumbent against which any standalone PPS like PIT® must compete for shopfloor planning mindshare.
• Siemens Opcenter / Insights Hub: Siemens Opcenter (formerly Camstar/Mendix) is a large-scale MES/manufactoring operations suite used by global manufacturers — competing with PIT® Software as an enterprise-wide alternative, though at a much broader scope.
• Körber (Supply Chain): Körber offers a broader MES/manufacturing IT portfolio (including partner-based MES suites) and operational excellence consulting for industrial customers — overlapping with LF CONSULT's PPS and shopfloor management but serving a wider software stack.

Direct peers

• ROI Management Consulting AG: ROI Management Consulting is a production and operations consulting firm targeting German and European manufacturers, with similar practice areas around shopfloor optimization, throughput, and operational excellence.
• FASTEC GmbH: FASTEC provides MES software and digital shopfloor solutions for manufacturers in the DACH market, with a similar emphasis on real-time production transparency and order-to-delivery optimization as PIT®.
• T.CON GmbH: T.CON is a German MES/PPS specialist focused on production planning, shop-floor control and digitalization — selling to discrete manufacturers in the same segment LF CONSULT targets, with comparable order-management and capacity-planning value propositions.
• MPDV (Hydra MES): MPDV provides the Hydra MES suite for manufacturing execution and production planning to mid-market and enterprise factories in DACH — overlapping with PIT® Software on shop-floor transparency, capacity planning, and order management.
• Forcam: Forcam is a German MES/PPS vendor for discrete manufacturers, offering shop-floor data acquisition and production planning software — directly comparable to PIT® as a production planning and control platform for industrial customers.
• Staufen AG: Staufen is a German consulting firm specializing in lean transformation and operational excellence for industrial clients — a directly comparable operational excellence/lean offering sold to the same Mittelstand manufacturing audience as LF CONSULT's PIT® consulting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lf-consult-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/lfconsult

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LF CONSULT