„Get a little better every day“
When new concepts are implemented and all processes mesh precisely in production operations, Guy Fickers is in his element. With his professionalism, his in-depth technical understanding and his passion for efficient production structures, he has set decisive benchmarks in his two decades as Technical Director of the Faymonville Group.
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IN A NUTSHELL!
Interview with Guy Fickers
Under his leadership, lean management principles have not only been introduced, but consistently developed. The result is a production structure with optimised added value, maximum productivity and high manufacturing quality. Shortly before entering into retirement – from March 2026 onwards, he will only be available for selected projects on a limited basis – he speaks about developments, experiences and about what spurred him on over all these years.
Can you tell us about the first memories you have in connection with the company?
Here I think back to the first meeting with Alain Faymonville in a brasserie in Hannut. We didn’t know each other up to that point. There soon developed a passionate discussion about how we could turn Faymonville from a regional, workshop-oriented production business into an international, industrial company. Suddenly we were the last people in the pub and the paper table cloth was full of scribbled ideas and visions.
And then the path continued – how would you summarise the development in a few words?
Customer-oriented flexibility is the fundamental basis, then comes a healthy dose of opportunism in order to grasp the emerging opportunities pragmatically and purposefully. This fast overall approach and the lean, efficient processes within the company structure allowed us to progress, and still do so today. The special attention to added value and productivity allowed us to catch the competition up from behind, so that today we are number one in our field.
The lean management introduced in all areas bears your signature. What was so critical in your view that made it so successful?
Faymonville is underpinned by a motivated team and employees, who constantly want to change and improve something. We look for pragmatic solutions that are implemented with common sense. In addition, we are permanently aiming at process optimisations in all areas – from job execution, design and production through to delivery. Always with the focus on increasing added value, reducing throughput times, optimises procedures, reducing complexity and keeping an eye on results. In line with the motto, get a little better every day.
In your opinion, where do the strengths of familymanaged companies lie these days?
Family-managed companies benefit from long-term thinking, a strong identification, managers largely from their own ranks and close, regional roots. They stand for financial stability, adding value in house and staying true to their own style.
Turn the clock forward a few years – how do you imagine the Faymonville Group then?
In the medium term, there will certainly be new fields to develop, which, besides the expansion of the services on offer, will be associated with data-based solutions as well as AI and knowledge management, for example. These are exciting areas where there is still plenty of potential. Generally speaking, there has always been a hunger for success at Faymonville. I would hope that this remains in place and that new challenges are readily tackled.
What was the best advice you were ever given – and which you would like to pass on?
I always found a line from Erich Kästner very fitting: „There is nothing good unless you do it.“ These words reflect the motto that has always stood by us at Faymonville: Just do it!
What are you personally most proud of when you think about your time here?
From placid eastern Belgium, we have managed to become a hidden champion. That is where we wanted to get to 20 years ago, that was our vision. The job now is to consolidate this and develop it further.
And finally: Faymonville in three words – for you that is ...
One word would be „powerhouse“, two „Just do“ and for three, I would say… „We are Faymily!“