Robin Van Acker

Head of Industrialization Fiber Cement

Brussels Metropolitan Area

About

Transforming Manufacturing Through Strategy, Technology & People | Senior Leader in Operations & Industrialization | Ready for Global Impact. Senior Operations & Industrialization Leader with 20 years of experience driving transformation in complex manufacturing environments across Europe. I specialize in aligning technical depth with strategic leadership to deliver sustainable value, process excellence, and industrial mastery. Throughout my career, I’ve led multidisciplinary teams, built new departments from the ground up and delivered impactful results in various manufacturing domains. My work has consistently led to measurable improvements in efficiency, quality, and cost through process optimization. I thrive in both corporate structures and greenfield/start-up contexts, with proven impact at both divisional and local level. I’m passionate about building scalable systems, empowering teams, and shaping the future of manufacturing through innovation and standardization. Ready for opportunities where I can contribute at a strategic level, with international scope, visibility, and long-term impact.

Experience

  • Etex (Full-time · 4 yrs 7 mos)
    • Head of industrialization Fiber Cement
      May 2025 - Present · 1 yr 3 mos

      I lead the global industrialization of fiber cement manufacturing focused on surface finishing, transforming complex processes into scalable, standardized systems across all our factories. By aligning product development, operations, and engineering, I ensure every site delivers consistent quality, efficiency, and innovation. My focus: building a global foundation for sustainable growth through process excellence and industrial mastery.

    • Head of Manufacturing Processes
      Sep 2024 - Apr 2025 · 8 mos

      As Manufacturing Processes Manager, I led a dynamic and multidisciplinary team focused on elevating operational excellence across our biggest manufacturing site. Our department integrates training, engineering, process technology, digitalization, and Continuous Improvement to drive sustainable performance and innovation. We are proud to have: - Won the Etex CI Award for outstanding improvement initiatives - Received the Belgium HRTech Award for our forward-thinking approach to workforce development - Been selected as the global pilot for digitalization, setting the benchmark for smart manufacturing across the group My mission is to empower teams, optimize processes, and leverage technology to shape the future of manufacturing

    • Head Of Operations
      Jan 2022 - Aug 2024 · 2 yrs 8 mos

  • Lantmännen Unibake (4 yrs 11 mos)
    • Operations Manager
      Sep 2018 - Mar 2022 · 3 yrs 7 mos

      start up new State of the art production and packaging lines integrating production, maintenance and QA as well as introduction of a working Management system. Performing FAT and SAT for all equipment

    • Maintenance & Facilities Manager
      May 2017 - Mar 2022 · 4 yrs 11 mos

  • AkzoNobel Decorative Coatings (4 yrs 5 mos)
    • Cluster operationel excellence Manager
      Jan 2013 - May 2017 · 4 yrs 5 mos

      improvements on base site as Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Support 6 cluster sites in training and projects (Practical Problem Solving Toyota and Six Sigma).

    • Manager internal Logistics a.i.
      Apr 2014 - Jan 2015 · 10 mos

      functional split of production department in order to improve material flow and decrease WIP on site. designing/start-up and manage new organization.

    • Continuous Improvement Manager
      Jan 2013 - Jan 2015 · 2 yrs 1 mo

  • Lantmännen Unibake (2 yrs 1 mo)
    • Plant Manager
      Jun 2012 - Jan 2013 · 8 mos

    • Production Manager
      Jan 2011 - Jan 2013 · 2 yrs 1 mo

  • Promat International NV (3 yrs 1 mo)
    • ProjectLeader Energy
      Sep 2008 - Dec 2010 · 2 yrs 4 mos

      In addition to my task as Production Engineer: Find opportunities concerning energy savings. Define projects: improving existing apparatus (steam, gas,elektricity) work out new/alternative equipement (drying ovens)

    • Production engineer
      Dec 2007 - Dec 2010 · 3 yrs 1 mo

      starting and Improving new department in new marketsegment. expand ISO-9001 and ISO-14001 into this department introducing OSHAS 18001 except improving efficienty working on cost reduction programs and businessdevelopement

    • Manager Workshop HTI
      Jan 2009 - Dec 2009 · 1 yr