When Paul Kreuger joined Lekkerkerker Dairy & Food Equipment last year as Operations Manager, one thing stood out immediately: the enormous potential. “All the ingredients for success are here. We just need to organise them better.” With 31 years of experience at FrieslandCampina, in roles ranging from maintenance to project management, he knows where to find opportunities. Since his arrival, Paul has been leading the workshops, engineering, procurement and warehouse departments with one clear objective: a stronger, more efficient operation.
According to Paul, improving an organisation starts with people and processes. “I always say: I cannot do anything by myself. But I can create the conditions for people to collaborate effectively.” This approach translates into an open work environment where colleagues easily find each other. “At the beginning, people were constantly in my office. I took that as a good sign. People felt free to share things, and that is where real improvement begins.” This approach is clearly working. “An average employee satisfaction score of 7.8 says a lot about how we treat each other.”
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Next to collaboration, service is a key focus in Paul’s vision. Not as a final step, but as an essential part of every project. “When we sell a machine, service comes with it. That is not a luxury, it is the foundation for trust and long-term relationships.” Service technicians are also valuable sources of information. “They see where projects start and where machines become available. These are chances you might otherwise miss.” Paul believes the time has come to invest further in service. More people on the road, better systems and digital solutions that provide immediate support.
While service strengthens the customer relationship, safety plays a crucial role internally. Paul sees safety not as a checklist but as a mindset. “It has to become second nature. When people hold the handrail at home, that is when you know it has really sunk in.” Although many initiatives are already in place, Paul believes further steps are needed. “We must set the standard, regardless of the country we are working in. Whether it is the Netherlands or Ivory Coast.” Investing in safety is always worthwhile, according to Paul. “A safe factory performs better. It brings structure, order and clarity.”
This focus on safety fits perfectly with the culture at Lekkerkerker. “There is a strong sense of belonging here. People want to do a good job, sometimes even too good,” Paul says with a smile. That level of motivation makes leadership easier. “It is much better to slow someone down than to keep pushing.” You can also see it in the way people work together. “Having a beer together on Friday afternoon is just as important as a well-running production line. Both help people stay and spread the word about us.”
Looking ahead, Paul sees great potential for innovation, especially in the field of new machine construction. “We refurbish so many different brands that we know exactly where they fall short. We use that knowledge to create better solutions ourselves.” This allows Lekkerkerker to offer more than just refurbishment. “Building machines based on hands-on experience is the path we are taking now.” According to Paul, new construction should become a bigger part of the business.
What drives Paul every day is the energy of the team. “When I see people looking back on the week with satisfaction on Friday, I know we are doing the right things.” This is essential in a market where technical talent is scarce. “People often choose a job based on how it feels. If someone tells their friends on a Saturday night how excited they are about working at Lekkerkerker, that does more than any job posting ever could.”
Paul’s ambition for the coming years is clear. “I want to help shape an organisation that works safely, collaborates well and makes a technical difference. A place where people enjoy their work, customers trust our knowledge and we continue to improve every day.” All the ingredients are there. Now it is a matter of combining them well, listening to each other and getting just a little bit better every day.
Do you face challenges in your dairy production, or would you like to discuss how we can support your business with the purchase, sale, refurbishment or dismantling of machines? Get in touch with us. We are happy to explore the possibilities together.