Ben Van Dijck
Program Coordinator FMCG
Ben started at Verhaert in 2012 as a mechanical designer on AB
InBev projects and has since then become the program coordinator of FMCG solutions. By managing multiple innovation projects for AB InBev, he has become an expert in dispensing and appliance-device-related projects for beer and soda.
Know-how that he later transferred to coffee and water-related projects for Nestlé, including consulting and management on QC and QA of China production. This solid FMCG methodology and know-how led to a strong base to coordinate many more projects for a variety of customers, from appliances-
device-related issues to audits, QC and QA of lab environments
or manufacturing set-ups.
Ben is a mechanical engineer who’s passion for the field is almost as old as he is. As a child he was already completing his first inventions with Lego. After studying robotics and mechatronics in Leuven, he went on to pursue a PhD in soft robotics, where the building blocks aren’t plastic bricks but balloons. In 2023, he traded the balloons for steel wire, as he joined Verhaert Consulting for the engineering team of Bekaert.
Tell us, what does your job as
program coordinator involve?
My role is twofold. I coordinate multiple projects and resources within Verhaert, and I’m also the sparring partner of my projectmanagers. However, that is more in terms of the execution of more complex questions and addressing the NEEDS of our customers.Understanding their needs is understanding the added value we can bring and how best to consult them. My role is becoming more critical in that part, especially as the world is changing from technology-driven innovation (R&D)to innovation driven by market and user needs. A methodology that Verhaert has been preaching for quite some years now, and that seems to take hold (out of wisdom or necessity) with customers. My interest in the process from A to Z powers my continuous evolution as a manager.
Understanding the customers’ needs is understanding the added value we can bring.
What are specific skills that are important for success in this role?
The challenging part of my job is the importance of understanding customers’ true needs and pain points, even when they might not explicitly express them. As a Verhaert consultant, it’s crucial that you can read between the lines and connect the dots. Having open conversations with customers can help, especially when you have allies at different levels within their management structure. It’s great to hear that everyone at Verhaert is growing in this area—it bodes well for the future!
What's the most interesting aspect of your job?
I find it invigorating to build teams around an approach grounded in expertise and methodology, seamlessly integrating with the customer’s team. However, adapting to the ever-changing landscape of innovation and acceleration can indeed be challenging, especially considering shifts within customer R&D teams. Reflecting on the past 12 years, I really do feel we are experts at what we do. Perhaps a slight enhancement in self-promotion wouldn’t hurt—after all, showcasing our strengths is essential!
Interested in becoming a program coordinator or working at Verhaert like Ben?