Professional Profile
 

Rubén Arias Lee is an international executive, engineer, and management consultant with more than 24 years of global experience leading operations, supply chain, and digital transformation programs across the manufacturing, automotive, electronics, food, and energy sectors.
 

He is the Founder & CEO of Arias Kaikaku Consulting, a boutique executive advisory firm specialized in AI-enabled operational and supply chain transformation, uniting advanced analytics, digital intelligence, and the discipline of Japanese Kaizen and Kaikaku to deliver measurable and sustainable business impact.
 

Rubén has lived and worked in London, New York, and Tokyo, leading complex transformation programs across Europe, North America, and Asia. His background bridges the strategic rigor of The Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Company, two of the world’s most elite consulting firms, with real-world leadership experience managing multinational industrial operations.
 

Career Experience
 

Arias Kaikaku Consulting | Founder & CEO | Mexico / Global (25 – Present)

As Founder & CEO of Arias Kaikaku Consulting, Rubén Arias Lee leads a boutique executive advisory firm that specializes in AI-driven operational and supply chain transformation, merging the strategic rigor of top-tier consulting with the discipline, precision, and continuous-improvement mindset of the Japanese Kaizen and Kaikakuphilosophies.

Under his leadership, the firm partners with Fortune 500 corporations, investment funds, and industrial leaders across the automotive, electronics, food & beverage, energy, and manufacturing sectors — helping them bridge human intelligence, artificial intelligence, and operational excellence to achieve measurable, sustainable results.

Rubén conceptualized and implemented the proprietary AI-Driven Kaikaku™ Methodology, a hybrid model that combines data intelligence, digital transformation, and Kaizen discipline to accelerate decision-making, strengthen resilience, and optimize financial outcomes. This approach has delivered +18% production throughput, +22% OEE improvement, –28% waste reduction, and +17–20% EBITDA growth across multinational clients.

Through his guidance, Arias Kaikaku Consulting has evolved into a trusted transformation partner for global organizations seeking to move beyond incremental improvement toward enterprise reinvention — empowering leadership teams to adopt advanced analytics, automation, and continuous learning as engines for long-term value creation.

Today, the firm’s mission is clear:
 

“To unite artificial intelligence, human capability, and operational excellence — transforming organizations into adaptive, data-fluent, and financially resilient enterprises.”

 

Danone S.A. | Plant Manager | Food Processing Manufacturing | HQ France | (23 – 25)

As Plant Manager for Danone’s Latin American operations, Rubén led one of the company’s most ambitious industrial transformation initiatives — integrating artificial intelligence, Lean management, and the Kaizen philosophy to achieve measurable improvements in operational efficiency, sustainability, and profitability.

He spearheaded the digital reinvention of multi-plant production systems, developing a smart-manufacturing platform that combined advanced analytics, predictive maintenance, and real-time performance dashboards. This initiative elevated Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) by 22%, reduced energy consumption and material waste by 18%, and generated a 20% EBITDA uplift within the first full operational cycle.

Rubén introduced a data-driven decision-making model enabling operators and managers to respond proactively to quality deviations, maintenance needs, and production imbalances. By connecting equipment sensors, production KPIs, and AI algorithms, he created a transparent and agile environment where digital intelligence and human expertise worked in harmony.

In parallel, he led the deployment of a sustainability and continuous-improvement roadmap that embedded precision, accountability, and Kaizen discipline into daily operations. This roadmap not only enhanced production reliability and cost efficiency but also aligned the plant with Danone’s global ESG and carbon-reduction objectives.

Under his leadership, the facility became a benchmark within Danone’s Global Industrial Excellence Program, recognized for its fusion of AI-driven operational control, Lean execution, and human-centric continuous improvement — setting a new regional standard for intelligent, sustainable manufacturing.

Continental AG | Supply Chain Operations Manager | Management Consulting | HQ Germany | (22 – 23)

At Continental AG, Rubén led the transformation of global supply chain operations through advanced planning systems and digital process integration. He introduced predictive analytics and optimization models that improved forecast accuracy by 35% and reduced lead times by 21% across regional and international networks.

He directed the deployment of end-to-end visibility platforms enabling real-time monitoring of supplier performance and logistics flow, increasing reliability by 25% and cutting variability by 18%. Under his leadership, Continental achieved a 16% improvement in working capital efficiency and enhanced global coordination between sourcing, production, and distribution.

His work established Continental’s first foundation for data-driven supply chain synchronization, merging advanced planning tools with Lean logistics and organizational discipline — positioning the division as a reference point for operational excellence across the automotive sector.

Sanmina Corporation | Supply Chain Manager | Electronics Industry  | HQ USA | (20 – 22)

At Sanmina, Rubén spearheaded a comprehensive digital supply chain transformation across electronics manufacturing operations in North America and Asia. He implemented predictive demand forecasting, traceability, and supplier analytics that reduced inventory levels by 26% and improved on-time delivery performance by 15%.

Rubén developed a supplier-collaboration platform leveraging analytics for procurement and capacity planning, which improved cost control and ensured agility during pandemic disruptions. His leadership delivered a 15% improvement in EBITDA and built a resilient, real-time supply chain infrastructure aligned with Sanmina’s global Industry 4.0 vision.

He also cultivated a culture of precision, transparency, and Kaizen discipline, transforming operational planning into a competitive advantage amid global component shortages.

Boston Consulting Group  | Supply Chain & Manufacturing Consultant | HQ USA | (16 – 20)

During his tenure at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in London, Rubén Arias Lee played a key role in designing and executing large-scale transformation programs for Fortune 500 and multinational industrial clients across Europe and the Middle East, in sectors including aerospace, automotive, energy, healthcare, financial services, and consumer goods.

He led global operational and supply chain transformation programs that achieved 12–28% EBITDA improvement, driving efficiency and agility through Lean–Kaizen integration, advanced analytics, and cost-transformation frameworks. Rubén’s analytical precision and field execution bridged the gap between boardroom strategy and factory-floor implementation — a hallmark of his leadership style.

Between 2017 and 2019, he co-developed one of BCG’s early AI and data-intelligence applications for industrial operations, applying machine learning to predictive maintenance and production planning. This initiative improved equipment uptime by 20%, enhanced production scheduling accuracy by 18%, and laid the foundation for the firm’s future Industry 4.0 practice in Europe.

Rubén also authored the “Digital Kaizen Roadmap”, a strategic framework adopted by multinational manufacturers to merge continuous improvement (Kaizen/TPM) with AI-based decision intelligence. This framework elevated supply chain visibility, resilience, and decision maturity, setting a precedent for scalable, data-driven transformation within BCG’s global operations practice.

 

Benchmark Electronics Inc. | Supply Chain Manager | Electronics Manufacturing Services | HQ USA | (14 – 16)

At Benchmark, Rubén directed the integration of supply, procurement, and production systems across multiple manufacturing sites. He implemented Lean–Kaizen operational programs that increased productivity by 17% and reduced material costs by 20%.

He led the digitization of procurement and logistics processes, deploying supplier scorecards and automation workflows that cut inbound variability by 25% and improved delivery accuracy. Rubén’s efforts reduced procurement cycle times by 30% and elevated supplier performance visibility across Benchmark’s global network.

His strategic sourcing approach and disciplined operational leadership positioned Benchmark among the EMS industry’s leaders in cost efficiency and production reliability.
 

Honda Motor Co. | Demand Planning Manager | Automotive Industry | HQ Japan | (12 – 14)

During his tenure at Honda Motor Co. in Tokyo, Rubén led regional demand and production planning for the Asia–Pacific automotive division, a role that required deep synchronization between engineering precision, production rhythm, and market forecasting under the Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement.

He designed and implemented an advanced statistical forecasting and optimization model — an early precursor to AI-based predictive systems — integrating demand history, regional seasonality, and supply constraints. This innovation improved forecast accuracy by 30%, reduced excess inventory by 25%, and established a foundational data-driven approach later scaled across multiple APAC markets.

Rubén also reengineered Honda’s cross-functional Sales–Production–Logistics planning framework, introducing collaborative synchronization routines that increased capacity utilization by 12%, minimized idle time, and improved part-flow visibility across Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Through process analytics, disciplined performance reviews, and standardization of visual management tools, he enhanced on-time vehicle delivery by 10% and achieved a 5% operating-margin improvement. His balanced integration of engineering rigor, Kaizen discipline, and data-driven insight became a benchmark of planning excellence within Honda’s regional operations.

Bain & Company | Business Management Consultant | HQ USA | (08 – 12)

Based in New York City, Rubén worked within Bain & Company’s global performance improvement and industrial practice — advising leading corporations, investment funds, and multinationals across the Americas and Europe. His consulting work spanned automotive, energy, healthcare, financial services, retail, logistics, and consumer goods, enabling him to develop a truly cross-sector transformation perspective.

Rubén led multi-country performance and profitability programs that delivered double-digit EBITDA growth and accelerated strategic alignment across complex corporate structures. He specialized in post-merger integrations, operational excellence redesigns, and working-capital optimization, helping clients translate strategic vision into measurable, sustainable impact.

As part of Bain’s elite consulting cohort, Rubén developed data-driven operating models and early-stage digital frameworks — precursors to the AI-based methodologies he would later refine. His ability to unite analytical rigor with hands-on execution made him a trusted advisor to both C-suite leaders and plant-level teams, bridging organizational silos and ensuring tangible results.

His years at Bain established the core consulting discipline, structured problem-solving, and transformation logicthat later became the DNA of Arias Kaikaku Consulting: precision in diagnosis, discipline in execution, and a relentless pursuit of sustainable, measurable improvement.

Indorama Corporation | Procurement Manager | Petroleum Industry | HQ Thailand | (06 – 08)

While at Indorama, Rubén oversaw strategic procurement and global sourcing initiatives for petrochemical operations across Asia. He negotiated multi-year supplier contracts that delivered a 22% reduction in raw material costs and improved supplier reliability by 18%.

He designed and implemented an early business intelligence procurement dashboard, providing visibility into performance metrics, supplier risks, and cost fluctuations. This innovation reduced sourcing cycle time by 25% and enabled faster, data-informed decision-making.

Rubén also established a global supplier risk-assessment model that reduced disruptions by 30% during periods of high market volatility — setting the foundation for the company’s resilience and cost leadership in the region.

Pactiv Evergreen Inc. | Demand Planning Manager | Plastic Packaging Industry | HQ USA | (04 – 06)

At Pactiv Evergreen, Rubén managed demand planning and production scheduling across North American plants, leading the implementation of statistical forecasting and Lean scheduling systems. His work improved forecast accuracy by 28%, enhanced service levels by 27%, and increased inventory turnover by 19%.

He restructured regional Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes to align commercial, production, and logistics teams, strengthening cross-functional coordination and strategic responsiveness.

Through data analysis and continuous-improvement discipline, Rubén delivered a 12% increase in EBITDA margin, positioning the division as one of the most agile and reliable suppliers in the packaging industry.

Education

BCS – Bachelor of Computer Science  | Universidad de Guadalajara | 2004
MBA – Master of Business Administration | Universidad Panamericana | 2021
MSIE – Master of Science in Industrial Engineering | Georgia Institute of Technology | 2024
The Wharton Leadership Program in AI and Analytics | The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania | 2025

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Professional Certifications
 

CSCP® | Certified Supply Chain Professional (2020)

CPIM® | Certified in Planning & Inventory Management (2024)

CLTD® | Certified in Logistics, Transportation & Distribution (2024)

CTSC® | Certified in Transformation for Supply Chain (2024)

PMP® | Project Management Professional (2024)

ACP® | Agile Certified Practitioner (2024)

RPM® | Risk Management Professional (2024)

LSSI – BB® | Lean Six Sigma Institute Black Belt (2021)

Industries and Sectors Served
 

Aerospace & Defense | Automotive | Consumer Goods | Energy & Environment | Financial Institutions | Healthcare | Industrial Goods & Processes | Insurance | Media & Entertainment | Private Equity & Investors | Retail | Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) | Transportation & Logistics
 

Professional Philosophy
 

“Precision. Discipline. Transformation.”
 

Rubén Arias Lee combines strategic consulting discipline, engineering precision, and Kaizen executional rigor to bridge human intelligence, artificial intelligence, and operational excellence — enabling organizations to achieve measurable growth, resilience, and financial sustainability across global markets.