From complex planning process to streamlined organization
Mondelez Herentals, better known as the LU cookie factory, is one of the largest production sites in Belgium, with more than 1,000 employees working in a 24/7 environment. To support further growth and structurally embed the planning process, Mondelez turned to Stroom. Stroom provided the right interim manager with the expertise, neutrality, and decisiveness to make a difference.
“When Mondelez Herentals was looking for an interim manager to optimize its planning process, we were put in touch with Dennis Fredrickx through Stroom—an expert who offered exactly what we needed: impartiality, experience, and the ability to reconcile complex interests.”
– Annick Beeke, Continuous Improvement Manager at Mondelez Herentals
The challenge: a planning process that had to grow with you
The planning process at Mondelez Herentals covered a wide range of areas: production, workforce planning, training, and recruitment. It was traditionally managed by a team of experienced planners, but the complexity was increasing. The organization needed a fresh, neutral perspective to future-proof the process without jeopardizing factory continuity.
Stroom’s approach: structure, peace and cooperation
Stroom appointed Dennis Fredrickx as interim planning manager. Through a thorough analysis, targeted workshops with all stakeholders and a step-by-step reconstruction of the sub-processes, Dennis provided clarity at every level:
- Roles and responsibilities were sharply delineated
- Transfer moments were recorded and standardized
- The planning rhythm was completely optimized
- An integrated, less person-dependent system was built out
Measurable results: less overtime, more efficiency
The impact of the interim management assignment at Mondelēz Herentals is concrete and measurable. The results speak for themselves:
- Significantly less overtime
- Clear decrease in absenteeism
- More A-teams available in critical periods
- Higher effectiveness throughout the year
- Structural cost reduction thanks to more efficient plans
Moreover, the business case for new planning software became crystal clear: an ROI of 167% over three years and a payback period of less than 18 months.
Why choose Stroom as an interim management partner?
Stroom specializes in matching organizations with the right interim managers. Profiles that bring not only technical expertise, but also the soft skills to lead change. Whether it is about supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, engineering, procurement or process optimization: Stroom finds the match that really makes an impact.
“Stroom not only brought the right person on board, but also provided a match that really made an impact on our organization.”
– Annick Beeke, Continuous Improvement Manager at Mondelez Herentals
Looking for an interim manager for your planning process?
Contact Stroom and discover how we can strengthen your organization with the right interim management expertise. From manufacturing environments to HR planning. We make the match.
