Etienne - Strategic Purchaser

“As Purchaser, you know all the ins and outs of price, delivery time and quality.”

All the materials and services that are needed within the various projects under my supervision are my responsibility as purchaser. I purchase the materials at various levels for the machines we build. We are currently focusing on the complete outsourcing of the system component manufacture as far as possible. A purchaser coordinates all this. However, not all machines are built to order by our suppliers. Some complex machines are still in the prototype phase and we build them up in our own factory. We are always looking for new suppliers who can respond well to our innovations.

Five years ago, I started here as a Project Purchaser in the Purchasing/Logistics department. At a company like Houdijk Holland, it is important to first learn all the basics and to discover how the existing systems and processes work and were conceived. Besides the purchasing tasks, we are also responsible for maintaining an overview in our contact with the suppliers. Our suppliers always have a fixed contact person within Houdijk Holland. I also have a visible role internally as I have extensive contact with colleagues in Engineering and Assembly.

As a purchaser, it is important to have a good helicopter view of all the projects you are working on. It is my job to ensure that all actions are tackled in good time and that solutions and answers are found to problems and questions. As a purchaser, you know all the ins and outs of price, delivery time and quality. You keep trying to optimise this combination.

Houdijk Holland is a relatively small company that carries out assignments for large customers worldwide. The corporate image appeals to me, as the company makes a very positive impression. There is an accessible atmosphere and people on all levels are considered important.