about me
“Clarity creates quality” is my motto. I really want things to be clear and easy to understand. To my opinion a Quality System can only be valuable when it is totally clear for all users what the “Ways of Working” are (and why). Creating clarity is an ongoing process! New people come in and things change all the time. Today's best practice is outdated tomorrow. So ownership and lively discussions about ways of working are essential.
I have 20 years of working experience in the Food Industry. I got my MSc degree in Food Technology at the Wageningen University in 1997. Since then I have worked for several multinational companies in Food and Infant Nutrition. I have not only worked in QA roles, but also in the R&D and technology department and in operational roles. I also gained valuable experience on the edge of Project Management and Quality Assurance, when working in large engineering projects within Friesland Campina.
I am not a fan of long unreadable procedures. It has taken me quite a while to get comfortable with the Quality Assurance discipline, and it’s natural tendency to generate tons of paperwork. In one plant where I worked QA was called “the ministry of delay”, and I understood completely why! For me it is important to find the right balance between the necessary speed of the operation and the required control actions.
By getting core processes clear, I succeed in helping food companies to make step changes in Quality Assurance. Frustration begins where knowledge ends. When definitions or processes are unclear to the stakeholders, it is impossible to work effectively without mistakes. When all stakeholders agree on what is done in a certain process, who is responsible, and why it is necessary, there is clarity! The quality of that process will always improve in such a case, and people feel more free to take ownership.
Making knowledge understandable and available is my driver. During my time as a QA manager I searched for practical information many times. But it was hard, or impossible to find it via Google on the internet. In those years I already promised myself, that one day I would make practical QA knowledge available. With the Qreate Academy this has become reality.
I still work part time as a QA specialist, because I get my inspiration from the plants.
It gives me the chance to refine and optimize my tools and techniques. For me it’s very valuable that all the knowledge that I share in eg. my online courses is proven to be effective in “real life”. In my opinion, every trainer or consultant should go “back in the mud” sometimes.
And then: I love to expand the group of people that I connect with to share QA knowledge and best practices, there are so many good ideas out there in the field, that are never shared.
Are you interested in working together?
Do you want my QA expertise in your organization? This is possible in various ways. You can join my online courses, or get live support, consultancy or training at your plant.