Kris Van de Ven

COO | Industrial Manufacturing | Operations & Engineering Leadership | Sustainable growth | Consultant

Ravels, Flemish Region, Belgium

About

With over 20+ years of experience in international industrial manufacturing, including roles as Plant Manager and currently COO at a SME manufacturing company, I specialize in optimizing complex operations. My expertise lies in structuring production, purchasing, (sales)engineering, projectmanagement and aftersales, while driving operational performance and governance across diverse sites. I focus on sustainable improvements by transforming engineering complexity into efficient, performance-driven frameworks. By working collaboratively with teams and management, I ensure impactful, long-lasting solutions to challenges in scalability, profitability, and operational clarity. Our people can make the difference. Open to interim or fractional mandates in industrial environments.

Experience

  • Head of Operations at CVR nv
    Apr 2026 - Present · 3 mos

    Verantwoordelijk voor operations en dispatching ter ondersteuning van de projectleiding Structuur brengen in de dagelijkse operaties Operational excellence Preventief en curatief onderhoud van installaties en machines Nieuwe projecten initiëren en opvolgen Optimalisatie voorraadbeheer HR-beleid verder uitbouwen Aankoopbeleid optimaliseren

  • Chief Operating Officer at Blommaert Aluminium Constructions
    Feb 2024 - Mar 2026 · 2 yrs 2 mos

    I led operational initiatives at Blommaert Aluminium Constructions, focusing on enhancing efficiency and governance. • Managed operations for both Wijnegem and Rotterdam sites, ensuring optimal performance. • Developed structured approaches in production, engineering, and aftersales to improve service quality. • Championed operational performance improvements, fostering a culture of excellence within the organization.

  • Dovre (13 yrs 1 mo)
    • Plant Manager
      Jul 2020 - Jan 2024 · 3 yrs 7 mos

      I successfully managed operational performance and governance at Dovre's plant in Belgium, focusing on compliance and efficiency. • Oversaw operations for both Dovre and DHT in Poland, ensuring seamless integration and performance. • Led change management initiatives that significantly enhanced organizational performance and efficiency. • Developed and implemented HSEQ protocols, promoting a culture of safety within the workplace.

    • Engineering Manager
      2011 - Jul 2020 · 9 yrs 7 mos

      • Engineering management • Make or buy strategy • Change management • OEM context • International projects

  • Project Manager at Dovre NV/SA
    2006 - 2010 · 4 yrs

    • Projectmanagement OEM Europe/USA • Purchasing engineering services/tooling • QC - QA

  • Project Engineer at Dovre NV/SA
    2000 - 2005 · 5 yrs

    • Product & process engineering OEM • Automationprojects machining and robotics