I want to discover what else I can do, which is why NextGen suits me
Martijn works for Frencken Mechatronics as interim Logistic Engineer NPI. At this high-tech company in Eindhoven, high-precision systems are manufactured for OEMs around the world. These are used in the chip industry and the medical sector, among others. As an interim professional he has already worked on many large and small projects during the first year of the Next Level program. We visited him and asked him and his team leader Jos what it is like to work at a high-tech company like Frencken via NextGen.
From the very first moment there was a click
Martijn: I already knew NextGen by name, but during a cooking workshop in college I spoke to Marco for the first time. I could break an egg with one hand and he found that interesting, haha! With the egg the ice was also broken, because we started talking about my ambitions. First, I still wanted to travel, but then, of course, I had to get to work. I had several options, but because there was a click with NextGen from the very first moment, the choice was quickly made. The way they work suits me: the contact is very personal and I really felt that they didn't just want to put me somewhere. I was approached by a lot of fast guys, but 'Marco from Borne' appealed to me the most. No fuss, that suits me.
Jos: At Frencken, we were facing a capacity issue in the NPI department. We work with all the other project teams and make sure that we accompany a project from the first concept to industrialization, the real manufacturing process. We were understaffed, but thanks in part to NextGen, we will soon double in number. So we are experiencing tremendous growth.
'Within the rapidly changing NPI world, everything is needed sooner rather than later, you have to be able to stand that'
Martijn: Initially, I was also only supposed to be here for a short period of time. NextGen colleague Bart came in with the goal of replacing me after some time. But there were so many projects that seemed cool to me that my interim assignment was extended.
Jos: We were very happy with that. It is also nice that Martijn first worked on one big NPI project, and is now focusing on several small NPI projects and improvement projects. There the pressure is a little less, so you can also make your mark more. That is good for his development.
Martijn: I am therefore more directly involved in the logistics process. Our team ensures that the systems are properly set up and that the internal processes and supply chain are set up for production. In fact, we guide a new product from initial drawing to prototype to industrialization. That means you have to coordinate a lot with the internal and external stakeholders, and at this stage I then really enjoy supervising several small projects. Within the rapidly changing NPI world, everything is needed sooner rather than later, you have to be able to stand that. I have learned that you need each other in a project. Not only the Frencken colleagues, but we also work a lot with the customer and suppliers. You have to make sure you have everything under control internally first, so you can keep doing your thing to externals as well.
Jos: This is where NextGen's strength comes in. The personally tailored coaching and training Martijn can put to use immediately. In this case, we worked hard in the beginning on gaining people skills: understanding other people's points of view and being able to explain why someone reacts the way they do.
Martijn: I learn really good practical examples there, which is very nice. The guidance at Frencken is also very good, but it is very nice to pull the case out of the Frencken environment and discuss it on training days at NextGen. Then you also hear how fellow NextGen employees would solve certain problems. That zooming out works very well for me and is also what makes working at NextGen so valuable.
Jos: That is what makes the difference with other parties as far as we are concerned. And for guys like Martijn, it's also good to connect with people from other disciplines on days like that. Then you understand better why an engineer or a buyer looks at a certain problem differently than you do.
'You run into situations you didn't experience during your studies, it's very nice to discuss that with your coach'
Martijn: Especially in the beginning of your career it is very nice to be able to spar with trainers. And quite often you run into situations that you didn't experience during your studies, so it's very nice to discuss such a case with your coach. For me, that really adds value and I am really looking forward to continuing that in my second year at Frencken. I just have to get my Green Belt, but that will be fine. Together with Jos I am looking for a suitable project.
Jos: Martijn already knows very well how this work works. Then you can also achieve results quickly. As a person, he has already grown enormously in the past year. He has worked on huge projects, including for ASML, and then you really are under a magnifying glass. But he remains calm and constructive. That's very clever, so we are economical with people like him.
I want to discover what else I can do, which is why NextGen suits me
Martijn works for Frencken Mechatronics as interim Logistic Engineer NPI. At this high-tech company in Eindhoven, high-precision systems are manufactured for OEMs around the world. These are used in the chip industry and the medical sector, among others. As an interim professional he has already worked on many large and small projects during the first year of the Next Level program. We visited him and asked him and his team leader Jos what it is like to work at a high-tech company like Frencken via NextGen.
From the very first moment there was a click
Martijn: I already knew NextGen by name, but during a cooking workshop in college I spoke to Marco for the first time. I could break an egg with one hand and he found that interesting, haha! With the egg the ice was also broken, because we started talking about my ambitions. First, I still wanted to travel, but then, of course, I had to get to work. I had several options, but because there was a click with NextGen from the very first moment, the choice was quickly made. The way they work suits me: the contact is very personal and I really felt that they didn't just want to put me somewhere. I was approached by a lot of fast guys, but 'Marco from Borne' appealed to me the most. No fuss, that suits me.
Jos: At Frencken, we were facing a capacity issue in the NPI department. We work with all the other project teams and make sure that we accompany a project from the first concept to industrialization, the real manufacturing process. We were understaffed, but thanks in part to NextGen, we will soon double in number. So we are experiencing tremendous growth.
'Within the rapidly changing NPI world, everything is needed sooner rather than later, you have to be able to stand that'
Martijn: Initially, I was also only supposed to be here for a short period of time. NextGen colleague Bart came in with the goal of replacing me after some time. But there were so many projects that seemed cool to me that my interim assignment was extended.
Jos: We were very happy with that. It is also nice that Martijn first worked on one big NPI project, and is now focusing on several small NPI projects and improvement projects. There the pressure is a little less, so you can also make your mark more. That is good for his development.
Martijn: I am therefore more directly involved in the logistics process. Our team ensures that the systems are properly set up and that the internal processes and supply chain are set up for production. In fact, we guide a new product from initial drawing to prototype to industrialization. That means you have to coordinate a lot with the internal and external stakeholders, and at this stage I then really enjoy supervising several small projects. Within the rapidly changing NPI world, everything is needed sooner rather than later, you have to be able to stand that. I have learned that you need each other in a project. Not only the Frencken colleagues, but we also work a lot with the customer and suppliers. You have to make sure you have everything under control internally first, so you can keep doing your thing to externals as well.
Jos: This is where NextGen's strength comes in. The personally tailored coaching and training Martijn can put to use immediately. In this case, we worked hard in the beginning on gaining people skills: understanding other people's points of view and being able to explain why someone reacts the way they do.
Martijn: I learn really good practical examples there, which is very nice. The guidance at Frencken is also very good, but it is very nice to pull the case out of the Frencken environment and discuss it on training days at NextGen. Then you also hear how fellow NextGen employees would solve certain problems. That zooming out works very well for me and is also what makes working at NextGen so valuable.
Jos: That is what makes the difference with other parties as far as we are concerned. And for guys like Martijn, it's also good to connect with people from other disciplines on days like that. Then you understand better why an engineer or a buyer looks at a certain problem differently than you do.
'You run into situations you didn't experience during your studies, it's very nice to discuss that with your coach'
Martijn: Especially in the beginning of your career it is very nice to be able to spar with trainers. And quite often you run into situations that you didn't experience during your studies, so it's very nice to discuss such a case with your coach. For me, that really adds value and I am really looking forward to continuing that in my second year at Frencken. I just have to get my Green Belt, but that will be fine. Together with Jos I am looking for a suitable project.
Jos: Martijn already knows very well how this work works. Then you can also achieve results quickly. As a person, he has already grown enormously in the past year. He has worked on huge projects, including for ASML, and then you really are under a magnifying glass. But he remains calm and constructive. That's very clever, so we are economical with people like him.
'I get very happy working together and like to see where a team's qualities and opportunities lie'
Martijn: That also made me a little proud. And I am also just very happy here, we are putting things in place with our team that are completely new to the organization. We are setting a new standard and developing something that hasn't been thought of yet, with specifications that have never been achieved. I never really look beyond a year ahead. Eventually I might want to do what Jos does. In other words, to be responsible for a project and to ensure that people get the best out of themselves. I am very happy working together and like to see where the qualities and opportunities of a team lie. Maybe it is here, maybe it is somewhere else. I haven't decided yet. But that's also why I'm at NextGen, so there's the opportunity to broaden my knowledge. I would like to discover what else I can do.
Jos: I also like to see that, even when someone like Martijn flies out. We know that in advance. The candidates that NextGen supplies are simply very good, otherwise there wouldn't be three of them walking around here. We work with about five agencies and I don't know if it's a coincidence, but the candidates NextGen brings always click here immediately. I like working with a small-scale agency, so there is more personal attention, both for us and for the employees. I also see that the development programs are of enormous value to guys like Martijn. They are young guys who stay calm under pressure, who have communication skills. That's crucial in this world, so we hope he'll be around for a long time!
Want to write your own Growth story?
Check out our open vacancies and who knows, maybe you'll soon be starting your own Next Level journey.
More growth stories.
