For brokers, M&A advisors & fractional leaders

Find the deal-killers before the buyer does.

Patrick Dietz is a Fractional COO for owner-led manufacturers ($2M–$50M) in aerospace and defense, and shops expanding into A&D. Through LineShift, he finds the ops issues buyers discount and fixes them, so your deals close cleaner, faster, and closer to full price.

Make an introduction →

Five areas
What buyers and primes look at

1People & owner dependence

2Customers & contracts

3Operational performance

4Financial & systems

5Compliance, certifications & transferability

Including ITAR and cybersecurity readiness where it applies.

What buyers look at

For your clients

Why bring Patrick in

Protect the timeline.

Ops issues found in diligence stall closings and cut price. We find them first.

Support the asking price.

Documented, owner-independent operations command a premium. We build the evidence before you list.

Independent ops read.

If you represent a buyer, get an operations read on the business before LOI.

Signals

When to call

The owner hasn’t taken real time off in years.
Key processes live in the owner’s head, not on paper.
The shop needs a real ops seat but isn’t ready for a full-time COO.
Your client wants a credible path into aerospace and defense work.
An offer came back with a price cut tied to operational findings.
You represent a buyer and want an independent ops read before LOI.

Offers

Ways we help your clients

Valuation Readiness Diagnostic.

About 2–3 weeks. A Buyer Risk Score (an operational readiness view, not a valuation), the top value discounts, and a 90-day readiness plan. Credited in full toward a Fractional COO engagement signed within 30 days.

Best for: early seller conversations, before listing, or when a deal is under threat.

Fractional COO

This is for an owner who needs to fix what the read turned up before going to market. Patrick works inside the business part-time and runs 90-day cycles until the gaps close.

Path into defense work.

A clear, high-level view of the systems and sub-tier gates that matter when expanding into aerospace and defense work.

Best for: owners who see A&D as their next growth step.

Partnering

How partnering works

Make an introduction.

A short email or call. Patrick handles discovery and scoping.

We deliver, you stay in the loop.

Hands-on work, with updates throughout.