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Who are the people behind ARV Group? Two colleagues talk about their work and collaboration. This time: Gjalt Liebrand (senior consultant at ARV Consulting) and Dieter Witjes (consultant at XTR Operations).
1. What is your first memory of starting at ARV Group?
Gjalt: ‘That takes us back quite a few years. I had studied industrial engineering and management and worked as a consultant at Akzo Nobel. I was involved in the implementation of ERP systems. That’s how I knew Ted Abrahamsen, one of the founders. Consultancy appealed to me, and ARV Group felt like a great company. I saw it as an opportunity and seized it. I’ve never regretted it for a moment.’
Dieter: ‘I came into contact with ARV Group through Bartelt Blankenberg. There was an immediate click, both personally and professionally. At the time, I had already held various supporting and managerial roles in the ceramics industry and plastic recycling. What immediately appealed to me was the variety of companies you work for and the diversity of assignments. I’ve now been working at XTR Operations for over a year with great pleasure.’
2. Why did you choose to roll up your sleeves at ARV Group?
Gjalt: ‘With my background in industrial engineering, I had always been focused on production processes. ICT projects, such as ERP, do touch the “core” of companies, but they are not the “core” themselves. At ARV Group, I saw opportunities to work directly on those core matters, across the full breadth of operations. Analysing problems, identifying and capitalising on opportunities for continuous improvement. Quickly finding the crux, getting to the heart of the matter and creating focus. And then taking swift, decisive steps together with the client. So that everyone sees and experiences that it works and that support and drive are created.’
Dieter: ‘In my previous roles, I spent a lot of time dealing mainly with the day-to-day issues in production companies. Meetings, adjustments, firefighting. At XTR Operations, we have that great combination of an outside perspective and at the same time very hands-on work. Whether it’s, for example, logistics management or LEAN manufacturing. That role suits me well. In addition, within ARV Group I was given much more room for my own professional growth.’
3. Do you ever work together?
Gjalt: ‘Absolutely. Recently, for example, at a client in the food industry. Dieter was already working there from XTR Operations, supporting the operation. There then turned out to be a need for expertise and advice in the areas of production capacity, new construction, production relocation and continuous improvement. I then started at the same client by conducting an operational “scan”. It was logical for Dieter, with his already established knowledge of the organisation, to join in.’
Dieter: ‘It’s a great example of how we can operate at all levels of a business from the different labels. Gjalt at a strategic level with the executive board and management team, and me close to the practical operation and the desired progress on the shop floor. Naturally in cooperation with team leaders and shift leaders, ultimately to transfer ownership to the people in the organisation. Together we made the step from scan and strategy to implementation and execution. It resulted in a structural process change and a mindset of continuous improvement.’
4. What sets ARV Group apart in the market?
Gjalt: ‘Our labels ARV Consulting, Ontwikkelingspartners, XTR Operations and i4o – our interim label – together form a strong combination of diverse expertise that we can offer companies. We all have our own specific knowledge and experience and are also able to collaborate closely. As colleagues among ourselves and with the people who together form our client’s organisation. And also important: we don’t believe in standard solutions, because every question and situation is unique.’
Dieter: ‘That broad expertise is indeed our distinguishing strength. We also hear that back from clients. We feel strongly connected with them, partly because of our personal way of working. Because we are not distant outsiders, quite the opposite.’
5. How do you see the future?
Gjalt: ‘We are a passionate group of people, with several generations on board. From seasoned professionals to young talents. That works inspiringly both ways. We want to maintain that balance, so we actively recruit in the labour market. So that the new generation joins and colleagues can continue to grow. Furthermore, we remain flexible, as we always have. So that we keep moving with developments and our clients’ questions, trends like AI, for example.’
Dieter: ‘That adaptability also ensures that we will remain relevant. Perhaps AI will take over parts of the analyses that we still do ourselves today in the future. But then we will still be relevant. Because we have unique expertise in addressing all the follow-up questions and challenges that arise from that. Including implementing new processes and getting people in the operation on board, and so on. In that sense, we also resemble our clients. Technological developments will indeed change our work, but ultimately we will remain in control ourselves and make the difference with our knowledge, experience, approach and personal way of working.’