Antoine portret

From the first construction day to team leader: connecting, switching, and collaborating

Today, Antoine is team leader logistics in the distribution center in Maasdam. A role in which no day is the same, and that is exactly what drives him. Switching between inbound and outbound, production, technology, and safety, and guiding his team. That dynamic gives him energy. “You are always in motion and busy with different things at the same time. That makes the work so great,” Antoine says.

Within FrieslandCampina Maasdam, Antoine has been active for many years. He started as a logistics coordinator, where he was responsible for both incoming and outgoing logistics processes. Later in that period, he also became closely involved in the development of the new distribution center.

Long before the opening of the distribution center, he was part of the project team that helped think about the setup and layout of the location. From the start of construction in December 2014, he was regularly present at the construction site to follow progress and to bring colleagues along in developments in Maasdam.

Antoine met collega cropped

A team leader among the people

As one of four team leaders in the distribution center, Antoine leads his team mainly on trust and independence. “The people are all round and know their tasks, they do the work just as well during my absence,” Antoine explains.

According to Antoine, good leadership is mainly about being present on the work floor and knowing what is going on within the team. That is why he regularly helps in the operation. “If needed, I step on the reach truck and help on the floor,” Antoine says.

This involvement creates trust within the team, according to him. “You must motivate people, compliment them, and give them space, then you get a lot back,” Antoine summarizes.

Antoine met collega's Maasdam

Different cultures, one team

What makes the team in Maasdam special according to Antoine is the diversity on the work floor. Colleagues with different cultural backgrounds work together daily and learn a lot from each other. “Regularly we eat together something colleagues have brought or made, you are simply sitting at the table with different cultures and having fun together,” Antoine says.

In addition, Antoine finds it important that everyone feels welcome within the team. “I actually think there are still too few women working with us, they are very welcome within our distribution center,” Antoine says.

Also outside of work, Antoine finds connection important. For many years he has been active within the staff association of Maasdam, where he, together with other board members, organizes activities for colleagues. “When colleagues have fun together, I enjoy that as well,” Antoine says.

Antoine Teamleider Maasdam

Versatile work with a future perspective

Within the distribution center of FrieslandCampina, they continuously look at new developments and automation. Because of this, the work remains innovative and challenging according to Antoine. “You keep learning and developing,” Antoine says. What also makes working in the distribution center attractive for him is the versatility of the work and the cooperation on the work floor. “No day is the same, and as long as you work together and have fun together, it remains great work,” Antoine summarizes.

o you want to work where logistics, production, and teamwork come together?

Ontdek locatie Maasdam