The Broekman Logistics warehouse facility in Born, Limburg, is celebrating its 45th anniversary. This milestone is not only an opportunity to recount the activities of this site but to highlight how it succeeds in maintaining long-term relationships with both clients and employees. In a series of articles, employees share their experiences. Ralph Adams, who has been the General Manager at Broekman Logistics Limburg for over a year, kicks off the series by discussing the strengths of its team and operations.
“One aspect that drew me to the role of General Manager here at Broekman Logistics was the opportunity to be part of an organisation with a strong culture and a clear vision. The atmosphere within the company felt familiar and familial, which is very important to me. I am keen to work in an environment where collaboration can turn a vision into reality.” says Ralph Adams.
“At Broekman Logistics, we strongly believe in the power of long-term partnerships with our clients. And not just with clients, but especially with our employees too. Many employees have been here for decades. That’s a strong signal. People enjoy working here.
Thus, this close bond is not just a strategic choice but a philosophy that we apply in our day-to-day work. We aim to be more than just a provider of traditional logistic services; we want to be a partner who literally adds value to our customers’ activities. This means that we not only offer products and services but also actively engage with our clients to enhance their processes. And this ultimately makes our employees’ work much more interesting. They are all specialists in their field and trusted advisors to the customer.”
“A significant opportunity and challenge arose when I started here: developing a new regional distribution centre for Liebherr Logistics. The task was to set up a new organisation and logistics operating model that would deliver top-notch performance daily for our new customer.
For Liebherr Logistics, this was their first outsourcing project aimed at delivering maximum performance in the region. Ensuring this performance from day one was a complex process. We had to develop new processes while ensuring that the organisation continued to function well for all our clients. This required extensive collaboration across various teams. It’s important to note, all regular operations for our customers had to continue without interruption. The HR and recruitment departments were particularly crucial in this process, as they were tasked with attracting the right people to staff and strengthen the new organisation.”
“The challenge was not only in finding suitable candidates but also in creating a team that could work well together. Therefore, we formed a broad yet dedicated team focused on filling the required positions. It was crucial to create the right culture where everyone felt valued—a culture that contributes to Broekman Logistics’ mission and vision.
One of the most beautiful aspects of my current role is the culture of appreciation we have managed to foster within our team. By continuously and openly communicating and setting shared goals, we have ensured that everyone is on the same page. This has led to a strong team spirit and a sense of community and accountability.
I mention this for a reason. It is crucial for me that team members feel supported and that there is an atmosphere of open communication. This not only promotes collaboration but also innovation. When people feel safe to share ideas, valuable insights often emerge that help improve our service offerings. And innovation includes experimenting. This can only be successful in an environment where employees feel safe and valued.”
“With the strong foundation we have laid, I look forward with confidence to the future of Broekman Logistics here in Born. We are determined to further develop our long-term partnerships and continually strive to better serve our customers. This requires us to constantly reflect on our performance, to keep innovating and improving our offerings, in close consultation with our clients.
The logistics sector is constantly evolving, and it’s important to stay abreast of the latest trends and developments. We achieve this by guiding and training our staff, allowing the company to adapt to the changing demands of the market. This also offers us opportunities to make our processes more sustainable and minimize our environmental impact. But also to remain a valuable partner for clients, and to bind both them and our employees to us for the long term.”
This is the first article in a series of Broekman Logistics Limburg Born’s 45th anniversary. Stay tuned for more inspirational stories from our employees!