Robin is not the man of slick talks or PowerPoint presentations full of buzzwords. He is a consultant who would rather stand in a factory hall with his work boots on than sit at his desk. "The only way to really understand what's going on is to be there. Watching along, listening along, working along." And that is exactly what typifies him: practical, involved and astute.
As a consultant at Flowant, he switches effortlessly between the shop floor and the boardroom table. He understands what's going on on the production floor just as well as in the boardroom - and knows how to connect the two worlds. "Sometimes I'm sitting at the table with a director, an hour later I'm walking along the machine line with a mechanic. That variety is worth its weight in gold."
On paper, you might not expect it: Robin studied economics. Yet he found his calling in the manufacturing industry. "I once spoke to someone who was a consultant in this world. He said, 'In my work something really happens. It's not just advice, it's implementation.' That stuck. And he was right."
That mindset - doing instead of just thinking - still drives Robin.
Robin doesn't beat around the bush: "The Dutch manufacturing industry is struggling. High energy and labor costs, expensive raw materials, and increasingly strict laws and regulations are making life difficult for entrepreneurs." Especially in sectors such as steel, food and tank storage, the competitive pressure is increasing. "In some cases, companies are moving abroad. And although the regulations are often justified, it does create imbalances."
Still, Robin is not gloomy. "There is SO much strength in our industry. But we have to dare to innovate."
According to Robin, the future of the industry is in smarter processes: automation, robotization, predictive maintenance with sensors, AI-assisted KPI monitoring. "The first companies are already working on it. Think of sensors that measure vibrations to predict maintenance, or AI tools that can spot problems in production before they happen."
But he also cautions, "We should not only focus on innovation. Many companies forget the basics. They want to deploy the latest tools, but don't even have their standard processes in order. Then you hit the mark."
Robin is a big proponent of technology, but never loses sight of people. "We need to use people for what they are good at. Let AI do the administration, so technicians can focus on their real work."
He believes in harnessing talent and advocates better training, fair pay and, above all, listening. "If I were the boss of a big company for a day? Then I would start by walking around and asking questions. First understand where you stand, then steer."
Within Flowant's team, Robin is the one who asks the sharp questions. "Maybe I'm the conscience of Flowant," he says with a smile. "We don't have fixed structures or thick layers, everything goes organically. But I do make sure we keep thinking critically."
And about the future of Flowant? Whatever we do now "No office, no staff. We want to keep moving along, be with the customer, look outward instead of inward."
Robin is bothered by the negative sentiment surrounding the industry in the media. "There is so much beauty in the Netherlands. Look out the window in your car and count how many impressive factories you see. Every 'simple' product - a chair, a cup of coffee - comes about through dozens of processes. It seems expensive, but think about what's behind it all. Materials, people, machines..."
So his message is clear: "Cherish what we have here. And if we do it smarter and more efficiently, the Dutch manufacturing industry can last for a very long time to come."
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Want to know how Robin can take your organization to the next level? Or just spar with him about your production process? He drinks his coffee black - and loves to listen.