Nick has been with Cartec for almost five years and, over the past few years, has been at the heart of a major change, the move to the new premises. Production, warehousing and logistics now all come together under one roof. This gives Cartec the space to continue building on everything that has been prepared in recent years.

“We have been working towards this for a long time,” Nick explains. “Now we can take the next steps.”

Meet Nick from Operations

Nick is 39 years old and lives in Alphen aan den Rijn with his wife and two children. During breaks, he can often be found at the table tennis table in the new canteen.

“Everyone is now afraid of my razor-sharp backhand,” he says with a laugh. “I can’t wait for the first Cartec ping pong competition!”

His background is in Supply Chain Management. After studying Logistics & Economics, he spent seven years at L’Oréal in various roles. He then helped a fast-growing scale-up relocate and professionalise its production and warehouse organisation, preparing it for further growth.

When he started looking for a job closer to home, Cartec came his way.

Why choose to work at Cartec?

Two things in the Cartec vacancy immediately stood out to Nick.

“It said that an interest in cars would be a plus. It also mentioned the opportunity to contribute ideas for the new premises that were going to be built. That combination appealed to me straight away.”

What makes Cartec special to Nick is that the company does virtually everything itself. From raw materials to finished product, the process largely takes place in-house.

“At many companies, products are purchased and resold. At Cartec, we develop and produce all our products ourselves. That makes the process much more interesting. I sometimes say it is like L’Oréal on a smaller scale, but in car care.”

What does Operations do at Cartec?

As Manager Operations, Nick is involved in the entire process behind the scenes. From planning and production to warehousing, facilities and transport.

“An order comes in and needs to move through the entire chain as agreed. From components and raw materials to the finished product and shipment. My role is to make sure this process runs as smoothly as possible.”

Within Operations, Nick works closely with the team leaders for planning, production, warehousing and facilities. Together with their teams, they form a group of around twenty people.

“The teams work closely together, but they are also independent. And that is exactly how it should be. They need to be able to manage without me. That gives me time to look ahead and focus on process improvements.”

The new premises as a new beginning

For Nick and his team, the past few years were largely focused on the move to the new premises. This required a great deal of preparation, especially as the old locations offered less and less space.

“We spent a lot of time putting out fires,” Nick explains. “But we also used that time to prepare for what was coming. We certainly didn’t stand still.”

Now that everything has come together in the new premises, it feels like a new beginning.

“We now have the facilities in place to help Cartec continue developing in a smart way. Production, warehousing and logistics are much closer together. As a result, we can work together much more effectively and improve faster.”

Working smarter with fewer steps

An important goal within Operations is to work smarter. Not by working harder, but by setting up processes in such a way that unnecessary steps are reduced.

“We want an order picker to arrive at a fully stocked shelf. Product locations need to be correct. The production department should have the right components on time. Achieving the same result in less time, that is the essence of Operations for me.”

Systems are also playing an increasingly important role in this. Cartec works with smart systems such as AFAS, Slimstock and Boxwise.

“We are moving in the right direction and there is still so much more we can get out of this. Getting systems to communicate properly with each other is quite complex, but that is exactly what I enjoy.”

At the same time, Nick likes to stay close to daily practice.

“Sometimes I pick orders myself. That allows you to see on the shop floor what can be improved. You can think of a lot of things from behind a desk, but it is only on the floor that you really see how things work.”

Working with customers

According to Nick, there is also a lot to be gained from working closely with customers. The better Cartec understands how customers order and plan, the smarter the operational process can be set up.

“If customers have good control over their own stock and are open to sharing their information, we can think along with them more effectively. We can then understand why someone orders in a certain way and work together to anticipate that as well as possible.”

Sometimes this comes down to small, practical choices. For example, when a customer regularly orders the same large containers.

“If we can deliver four large containers at once and place them on a pallet, that is much more efficient than processing four separate orders for the same customer. It reduces the number of steps, makes the work less physically demanding and creates smarter transport.”

For Nick, that is exactly what good cooperation is all about.

“The process becomes clearer for the customer and operationally better for us. A win win, if you ask me.”

Safe working at Cartec Operations

In addition to productivity, Nick sees the physical wellbeing of employees as one of his most important responsibilities.

“We look at how we can reduce heavy work, alternate tasks and work safely. Doing the work smarter, dividing it more effectively and, where possible, even preventing certain tasks altogether, that is important.”

Development also plays a role in this. Not everyone has to follow the same path.

“Some people prefer to keep doing what they have always done. Others are keen to keep learning. Both are fine. I think it is important that people can develop in their own way.”

Now that everything is under one roof, Nick sees opportunities to train employees more broadly.

“We can allow people to rotate more between production and the warehouse. Specialists will always be needed, but more variety makes the work more enjoyable and less physically demanding.”

What are you proud of?

Nick does not have to think about that for long.

“The building, and the fact that we made it happen. I was brought in at the time with the new-build project in mind. I experienced it from the drawings right through to the key handover. That is quite special.”

He is also proud of the team.

“The teams communicate, take things on themselves and are working together better and better. The way the warehouse and production have come together is especially great to see. That is going really well.”

Working atmosphere at Cartec: hard work and room for humour

Nick describes the atmosphere within Operations as positive and practical.

“People work hard, but there is also room for a joke.”

For him, what makes working at Cartec enjoyable is the combination of freedom, responsibility and the link with cars.

“I am given the freedom to make choices and contribute ideas for the company’s next steps. The automotive world also remains exciting. We see some beautiful cars and visit events such as the Porsche Cup.”

The activities within Cartec also contribute to the team spirit.

“The 80s party in honour of the 40th anniversary was a real highlight, with everything you could wish for.”

Why work at Cartec?

For Nick, it is clear what the coming period is all about.

“We have built a lot over the past few years and the results are becoming more and more visible. With the new premises, we also have the space and facilities to continue improving our processes. The foundation is in place, the people are here and the systems are becoming smarter. Now we can take the next steps together.”

Curious about the ins and outs of the warehouse? Read more here.