The basic principles of project management apply to every project

Dries de Beleir (32) is from Zeeuws-Vlaanderen and pursued a technical education in mechanical engineering. The years in Singapore at Vanderlande may be where he learned the most as a project manager so far. There, he discovered that no matter which company, industry, or culture you work in, there are certain aspects that are universal in every project. By handling these well, you become versatile as a project manager, a skill that provides him with a lot of flexibility.

Thinking more freely in a broader sense.

In February 2023, Dries started working with Frencken Group through GHYSELS, an international technology company specializing in providing integrated precision machining and assembly solutions. Dries mentioned, 'I had just decided to continue as a freelancer when I received a message from Bart via LinkedIn. He introduced me to Frencken, a company in the high-tech industry. Until now, I had been primarily active in automation.'

Switching companies, industries, and possibly even countries, that is precisely the type of variety and freedom that Dries is looking for. Dries stated, 'Organizing your own time and projects is very appealing to me. You are not bound by the context of the company you work for but can think more freely. The disadvantage of being a freelancer is that your safety net may be a bit smaller. However, by being in contact with specialized recruiters like Bart, the chances of business continuity are much greater. Recruiters like Bart naturally have a much broader network than you can have on your own. Plus, with the tight labor market, as an international and technical project manager, I also have quite a few options.'

Producing on the edge of feasibility.

Dries is currently introducing new products at Frencken Group and is also localizing a new production line in China in the role of NPI Project Manager. Dries says, 'For various clients of Frencken Group, including ASML & Philips, I am assisting in the large-scale production of a specific product. Currently, we are working on the launch of a linear motor. We have to produce this with precision up to a thousandth of a millimeter, pushing the boundaries of feasibility. It involves highly complex components, requiring specialized knowledge and machinery.'

It's a matter of developing the right tools, hiring and deploying specialized professionals, selecting and conducting the right tests, Dries explains. 'Currently, we are in the final phase, where the linear motor is going into production. During this phase, the prototype is perfected to minimize the risks of errors.'

Not losing yourself in technical details.

For a previous employer, Dries managed a project in Singapore for 1.5 years. Managing international projects is undoubtedly a challenge, even for Dries. 'Cultural differences run deep,' he says. 'Even though you understand them and can act accordingly, truly feeling and dealing with them is a different story.' It ensures that he has the right experience to relocate a product line from Eindhoven to China for Frencken Group. Dries says, 'While I may not have Asian roots, I understand the Asian culture well by now. Moreover, many basic principles within project management are universal. That means you can use them to quickly roll out a project without having extremely detailed knowledge of the content.'

How do you do that, then, rolling out a project quickly without in-depth knowledge, using the universal principles of project management? Dries explains, 'The most important thing is to ensure that the right people are involved and take responsibility. I am technically trained, so I have enough substantive knowledge to steer projects well and quickly understand certain things. However, that's not necessarily a must. If you give substantive specialists a lot of responsibility, it will work! It's a pitfall for a project manager to want to know everything. It's better to stay away from technical details and focus on the process.'"

Driving the team towards delivery.

Talking to Dries makes it clear that in project management, everything revolves around managing people. Dries says, 'I provide order and structure within a project, and oversee the bigger picture. I delegate as much responsibility to the team as possible and create the best possible working conditions for them. I structure meetings, ensure that the right people are involved and take responsibility, build the team, and manage the scope.'

Every project is different, and what energizes Dries is building something across all disciplines and delivering it together, with all the tension and crisis moments that come with it. Dries says, 'Driving the team towards delivery and keeping management well-informed, that's what gives me energy.'

The power of a specialized consultancy firm.

In short, Dries is pleased with the assignment he is carrying out at Frencken Group through GHYSELS. He also recommends other (high-tech) project managers to connect through a specialized consultancy firm. Dries says, 'Bart has a deep understanding of our profession, which allowed him to accurately assess that this aligns perfectly with what I am looking for. Other recruitment consultants often offer me too broad roles, making it not quite what I want.'

Do you, like Dries de Beleir, want to be surprised with an assignment that truly challenges you and allows you to grow as a project manager? Come by or get in touch. Read here the stories of other project managers we have assisted in finding new challenges and how they have experienced working with GHYSELS.