The Leica Turnaround How a Camera Maker Defied Digital Disruption

In the premiere episode of The Operations Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into one of the most surprising operational comebacks in recent business history: Leica Camera AG. By 2015, the legendary German brand was bleeding cash, losing to smartphones, and on the brink of collapse. But by 2025, Leica posted record revenue of €485 million. How? Not with marketing gimmicks—but with a radical overhaul of its supply chain, a move to vertical integration of sensor manufacturing, and a factory redesign that cut lead times by 40%. Lucas walks through the specific numbers: the €50 million investment in a new Wetzlar plant, the shift from batch production to flow lines, and the bet on the Leica SL system. Luna pushes back on whether this is replicable for other premium manufacturers. The conversation sets the tone for a show that goes beyond theory—drilling into the concrete decisions that make operations profitable or break them. Expect real cases, real numbers, and no fluff. #Leica #OperationsManagement #SupplyChain #VerticalIntegration #Manufacturing #Turnaround #PremiumBrands #Business #ProcessImprovement #LeanManufacturing #Wetzlar #CameraIndustry #OperationalExcellence #LucasAndLuna #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheOperationsPodcast #ProcessPeopleProfit Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo