How we add value to the supply chain
CEO Foreword
Dear <<First Name>>,
Oldenburger|Fritom has integrated the QHSE management system – the acronym of Quality, Health, Safety, Environment – into its business operations. By doing so, we want to add value in global supply chains. Certification according to international and sector-specific standards is part of this. In this context, Oldenburger|Fritom has been GDP-API registered for customers in the healthcare industry since last month.
We are now authorized to store and distribute Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) worldwide. This is subject to strict regulations. Our Continuous Improvement Manager Pieter de Jong and our QHSE Manager Pieter Booi are responsible for our compliance with these regulations. Both men joined our company this year. We conducted an interview with them for this newsletter.
In our recurring feature “The world around us”, you can read more about AI in logistics. What are the possibilities of artificial intelligence for the logistics industry? Liesbeth Brügemann, program manager at TKI Dinalog, was interviewed on this subject by TLN, the Dutch Association for Transport and Logistics. According to Brügemann, AI plays a facilitating role in the future of logistics.
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Lastly, the year-end is rapidly approaching. Oldenburger|Fritom believes it is important to demonstrate its social commitment during this period. This led us to a special initiative in cooperation with the foundation of football club FC Emmen. We gave away 400 free tickets to football fans for whom it is not self-evident to watch a match in the stadium.
I wish you much reading pleasure.
Sincerely,
René Dale |
Adding value in Healthcare Logistics
With sector-specific standards, we want our logistic solutions to seamlessly connect to the supply chain of our customers. In this context, Oldenburger|Fritom has been GDP-API registered since last month. We are now authorized to store and distribute Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) worldwide.
 To add value to the supply chain of our customers, Oldenburger|Fritom has integrated the QHSE management system into its business operations. Certification according to international and sector-specific standards is part of QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety, Environment). An example of this is our ISO 13485 certification for medical devices. After the global outbreak of COVID-19 we were frequently approached by various companies in the healthcare industry. In particular, the demand for air freight of medical devices increased sharply. In line with our focus on continuous improvement we immediately obtained the ISO 13485 certificate.
GDP-API registered
Our focus on continuous improvement is part of the Lean Six Sigma method. This method also allows us to respond flexibly and rapidly to new customer requests. For example, one of our customers has expanded its services with the import of active ingredients for medicines from Asia. This customer asked us to take care of warehousing, value added services and distribution of these substances. This requires an API registration.
The active substance in medicines is called Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API). To ensure that the quality of APIs is maintained throughout the supply chain, importers and distributors must be GDP-API registered. This demonstrates that they meet the requirements of the GDP (Good Distribution Practice) guidelines. In the Netherlands, these EU guidelines fall under the supervision of the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ).
Adding value
Without registration, it is not legal to trade in medicines in the European Economic Area (EEA). Oldenburger|Fritom is the first logistics service provider in the Northern Netherlands to be GDP-API registered. In this way, together with our ISO 13485 certificate, we want to add value to our Healthcare Logistics solutions.
Introducing Pieter de Jong and Pieter Booi
It is mandatory for GDP-API registered companies to appoint a Responsible Person (RP). This person must have completed a specific training course and is responsible for the compliance with the strict regulations. Oldenburger|Fritom has appointed Continuous Improvement Manager Pieter de Jong and QHSE Manager Pieter Booi as Responsible Persons. Both men joined our company this year.
Pieter de Jong (left) and Pieter Booi
Pieter de Jong is not a stranger to our organization. Before joining us, he devoted 16 years of his career to teaching logistics at NHL Stenden University. This is a regional educational institution with which Oldenburger|Fritom cooperates intensively. Many of our employees have completed their studies here or are following training here in addition to their work. About his motivation to make the transition from education to business, De Jong says: “Oldenburger|Fritom is known as a good employer and strives to be the best by offering high-quality services. I would like to contribute to that with this team.”
Realizing ambitions
De Jong also appreciates the fact that Oldenburger|Fritom strongly invests in employee development. “Our employees largely determine the success of our organization.” Pieter Booi has the same opinion. “The opportunity to continuously develop yourself was an important reason for me to choose Oldenburger|Fritom. Although I had a nice and instructive time at my previous employer, I could not take the next career step I wanted.”
When our CEO René Dale approached him via LinkedIn, Booi quickly noticed that this is possible within our organization. Booi: “To this day I realize that I did exactly the right thing by choosing Oldenburger|Fritom. I am given every opportunity to realize my ambitions. Together with pleasant colleagues, I focus every day on offering high-quality logistic solutions.”
Lean Six Sigma
In his role as Continuous Improvement Manager, De Jong is responsible, among other things, for managing all our projects. These are designed according to the Lean Six Sigma method. De Jong: “With Lean Six Sigma you make decisions based on data and less, or preferably not, on feelings. However, Lean Six Sigma is not only important in my role, but also in the role of my colleagues. When the ideas of Lean Six Sigma are embedded, you create commitment. This allows you to assign responsibilities as low as possible in your organization. In this way, quality becomes everyone's responsibility.”
Booi also fully agrees with this. In addition, he says: “Continuous improvement is also an important part of the standards according to which Oldenburger|Fritom is certified. Within these standards, this is achieved through the application of the PDCA cycle (Plan, Do, Check, Act). Lean Six Sigma offers tools to implement this cycle. For this reason, Lean Six Sigma is closely intertwined with my responsibilities as a QHSE manager.”
Trendsetter
When we asked how both of them want to give substance to the distinctive character of Oldenburger|Fritom in their roles, Booi answers: “As a QHSE manager, I can influence the choices made with regard to quality, innovation and sustainability. I use the knowledge and experience I gained during my business administration studies and at previous employers.” Furthermore, Booi is eager to learn and ambitious, which means he also indirectly contributes to our distinctive character.
De Jong emphasizes that it is important to be aware of the latest developments in logistics. Including in the field of value-added logistics. “Only in this way can we realize our collective ambition to be a trendsetter.” In addition to the extensive knowledge that De Jong has acquired, his network also contributes to our distinctive character. “Educational cooperation is essential to be innovative,” concludes De Jong. “In the field of logistics services, but also in the realization of sustainability goals.”
Pieter de Jong
Role: Continuous Improvement Manager
Age: 49 years
Civil status: living together with Marieke de Boer
Children: Melle (12 years) and Maren (9 years)
Spare time: reading, cycling, running, building LEGO robots at home and (trying to) program them
Pieter Booi
Role: QHSE Manager
Age: 31 years
Civil status: married to Angelique
Children: Vida (2 years)
Spare time: running, hiking, boot camp, mountain biking, skating, snowboarding, reading, playing board games, listening to music, visiting concerts and festivals
 The world around us
AI in logistics
“Artificial intelligence is an important technology to facilitate the future of logistics,” said Liesbeth Brügemann in a recent interview with TLN, the Dutch Association for Transport and Logistics. Brügemann is program manager at TKI Dinalog, the Dutch Institute for Advanced Logistics. TKI Dinalog drives joint knowledge development for the logistics of the future in the Netherlands.
An example of an application of AI in logistics is a route planning system, where AI analyzes traffic information and adjusts transport routes. In addition, many employees involved with transport planning still enter all kinds of data into MS Excel. An AI system can collect this information and assist these employees in thinking about a solution. When using an AI system, it is important to ask the right questions. These are called prompts.
“Collecting adequate data is essential, as without them you won’t get appropriate solutions,” says Brügemann. She also emphasizes that it is always important to check the information provided by the AI system. Furthermore, the program manager states that customer contact is becoming increasingly important within logistics. “You can use AI to analyze data and install a chatbot. But talking to the customer remains a people business.”
“A great experience for all those present”
While pursuing sustainable business operations, Oldenburger|Fritom takes on the responsibility for our company’s impact on society. Especially now, during the Christmas period, we consider it important to show our social involvement. This recently led us to a special initiative in cooperation with the foundation of football club FC Emmen, “FC Emmen Naoberschap”.
It is not self-evident for every football fan to watch a match in the stadium. There are various reasons for this, as is also the case for several FC Emmen fans. That is why Oldenburger|Fritom gave them a free ticket to attend the football match between FC Emmen and Jong PSV. More than 400 FC Emmen fans saw an exciting football match that ended 1-0. Afterwards there were many enthusiastic reactions, including: “It was a great experience for all those present.”
Regional partnership
Oldenburger|Fritom is a business partner of FC Emmen and a social partner of the FC Emmen Naoberschap foundation. With this foundation, FC Emmen wants to show its social commitment in the south-eastern part of the province of Drenthe. Together with its partners, the foundation initiates a wide range of projects. Examples of these are activities for the elderly and the encouragement of sports participation amongst young people. The foundation also helps people with disabilities and people who have a distance to the labor market. |
