“I started here as a rookie, and now almost all the data goes through me.”
Ruben de Boer works through NextGen at Norit in Klazienaveen, a manufacturer of activated carbon for applications including water treatment and pharmaceuticals. As an Interim Improvement Consultant, he develops data-driven dashboards and automates reports to provide greater insight into processes. We spoke with Ruben and Operations Manager Bernie about his journey from entry-level employee to professional at Norit.
When Ruben de Boer first started working at Norit in Klazienaveen, he worked there one day a week. “I actually started here as a greenhorn,” he says with a laugh. “You’ve just graduated, you’re working there one day a week, and you’re still figuring out how to handle it all.”
A year and a half later, that picture has completely changed. What started as a small assignment has grown into a role in which Ruben now works five days a week and has become the main point of contact for data. “Almost everything related to data now comes through me. I actually take that as quite a compliment.”
“At first, it was really a matter of trial and error.”
When Ruben started, he had little experience with PowerBI, a tool that was becoming increasingly important within Norit. “It was really a learning curve at first. How does it all work? And how do you make sure everything is set up properly? I received guidance from colleagues at Norit and from NextGen, but I also learned a lot on my own. If I got stuck, I could always turn to someone for help. At the same time, I was given the freedom to figure things out and build them myself.”
Gradually, his role evolved into the central hub for data within the organization. “I handle everything related to data: dashboards, reports, automation. The goal is always to present information clearly, so people can do their jobs more easily. By automating everything, I hope to lighten the workload for others.”
“I even got to go to the U.S. to set up dashboards.”
What started with a few reports in Klazienaveen quickly grew into something much bigger. Within a year, a fragmented Excel reporting chain was transformed into a global automated Power BI system.
“I started by automating reports in Klazienaveen,” Ruben explains. “Then I was told that the Norit site in Zaandam was also interested. Eventually, that led to a visit to the site in Glasgow. Next week I’ll be heading there for the third time, which is really cool.”
But that wasn’t all. “In October, I was even asked to set up the dashboards for the locations in the U.S. I spent some time there, and it was a truly amazing experience!”
According to Bernie, Operations Manager at Norit and Ruben’s supervisor, this didn’t just come out of the blue. It was the result of the work Ruben had done here. “Ruben might seem a bit quiet in the background,” Bernie says. “But he’s easygoing and adapts to any situation. He’ll be sitting at the board of directors’ table in Glasgow, just chatting about this and that. That’s pretty remarkable at his age.”
Ruben made such a good impression there that he was later asked to go to the United States as well. “That’s really quite unique,” says Bernie. “I think there are only two people from Norit here on-site who have ever been there. So that’s pretty amazing. For us, it was also a kind of reward for the work he’s done here.”
Locations in Klazienaveen, Zaandam, Glasgow, and two factories in the United States are now using the same dashboards. Reports have become more reliable, processes run more efficiently, and teams are working with the same data.
“I even got to go to the U.S. to set up dashboards.”
What started with a few reports in Klazienaveen quickly grew into something much bigger. Within a year, a fragmented Excel reporting chain was transformed into a global automated Power BI system.
“I started by automating reports in Klazienaveen,” Ruben explains. “Then I was told that the Norit site in Zaandam was also interested. Eventually, that led to a visit to the site in Glasgow. Next week I’ll be heading there for the third time, which is really cool.”
But that wasn’t all. “In October, I was even asked to set up the dashboards for the locations in the U.S. I spent some time there, and it was a truly amazing experience!”
According to Bernie, Operations Manager at Norit and Ruben’s supervisor, this didn’t just come out of the blue. It was the result of the work Ruben had done here. “Ruben might seem a bit quiet in the background,” Bernie says. “But he’s easygoing and adapts to any situation. He’ll be sitting at the board of directors’ table in Glasgow, just chatting about this and that. That’s pretty remarkable at his age.”
Ruben made such a good impression there that he was later asked to go to the United States as well. “That’s really quite unique,” says Bernie. “I think there are only two people from Norit here on-site who have ever been there. So that’s pretty amazing. For us, it was also a kind of reward for the work he’s done here.”
Locations in Klazienaveen, Zaandam, Glasgow, and two factories in the United States are now using the same dashboards. Reports have become more reliable, processes run more efficiently, and teams are working with the same data.
“He’s really gone from being a recent graduate to a mid-level consultant in the blink of an eye.”
Bernie saw Ruben’s development unfold quickly in the real world. When he started at Norit, he was clearly still a young newcomer. “At first, you could really tell he was fresh out of school,” Bernie says. “He found that pretty nerve-wracking. But Ruben has grown tremendously. He’s really gone from being a fresh graduate to a mid-level consultant at lightning speed. And that’s incredibly impressive.”
According to Bernie, Ruben’s strength lies primarily in digital transformation. Many factories still rely on standalone Excel files and manual reporting. “Ruben can truly build something from the ground up and make it more professional. He helps organizations take the next step.”
In addition to his work at Norit, Ruben is participating in the NextLevel program. “I was able to complete my Green Belt training there,” he explains. “In the program, you learn how to set up a project, execute it effectively, and ensure that the improvements are actually sustained. It also covers soft skills, such as leadership and teamwork. I receive a lot of support in that regard.”
Bernie also sees this combination of hands-on experience and professional development as one of NextGen’s key strengths. “I think what makes NextGen so strong is that they also provide professional guidance. Here, you’re working on real-world projects, but at the same time, the company is truly investing in your development. Ultimately, that benefits the company as well.”
Meanwhile, Ruben is also looking ahead to his next step. “I work a lot with data and dashboards right now. That’s going pretty well. But I also want to further develop my leadership skills. I’ve just started down that path, but I still have a lot to learn so I can take on more of a project leader role.”
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“I started here as a rookie, and now almost all the data goes through me.”
Ruben de Boer works through NextGen at Norit in Klazienaveen, a manufacturer of activated carbon for applications including water treatment and pharmaceuticals. As an Interim Improvement Consultant, he develops data-driven dashboards and automates reports to provide greater insight into processes. We spoke with Ruben and Operations Manager Bernie about his journey from entry-level employee to professional at Norit.
When Ruben de Boer first started working at Norit in Klazienaveen, he worked there one day a week. “I actually started here as a greenhorn,” he says with a laugh. “You’ve just graduated, you’re working there one day a week, and you’re still figuring out how to handle it all.”
A year and a half later, that picture has completely changed. What started as a small assignment has grown into a role in which Ruben now works five days a week and has become the main point of contact for data. “Almost everything related to data now comes through me. I actually take that as quite a compliment.”
“At first, it was really a matter of trial and error.”
When Ruben started, he had little experience with PowerBI, a tool that was becoming increasingly important within Norit. “It was really a learning curve at first. How does it all work? And how do you make sure everything is set up properly? I received guidance from colleagues at Norit and from NextGen, but I also learned a lot on my own. If I got stuck, I could always turn to someone for help. At the same time, I was given the freedom to figure things out and build them myself.”
Gradually, his role evolved into the central hub for data within the organization. “I handle everything related to data: dashboards, reports, automation. The goal is always to present information clearly, so people can do their jobs more easily. By automating everything, I hope to lighten the workload for others.”
“I even got to go to the U.S. to set up dashboards.”
What started with a few reports in Klazienaveen quickly grew into something much bigger. Within a year, a fragmented Excel reporting chain was transformed into a global automated Power BI system.
“I started by automating reports in Klazienaveen,” Ruben explains. “Then I was told that the Norit site in Zaandam was also interested. Eventually, that led to a visit to the site in Glasgow. Next week I’ll be heading there for the third time, which is really cool.”
But that wasn’t all. “In October, I was even asked to set up the dashboards for the locations in the U.S. I spent some time there, and it was a truly amazing experience!”
According to Bernie, Operations Manager at Norit and Ruben’s supervisor, this didn’t just come out of the blue. It was the result of the work Ruben had done here. “Ruben might seem a bit quiet in the background,” Bernie says. “But he’s easygoing and adapts to any situation. He’ll be sitting at the board of directors’ table in Glasgow, just chatting about this and that. That’s pretty remarkable at his age.”
Ruben made such a good impression there that he was later asked to go to the United States as well. “That’s really quite unique,” says Bernie. “I think there are only two people from Norit here on-site who have ever been there. So that’s pretty amazing. For us, it was also a kind of reward for the work he’s done here.”
Locations in Klazienaveen, Zaandam, Glasgow, and two factories in the United States are now using the same dashboards. Reports have become more reliable, processes run more efficiently, and teams are working with the same data.
“He’s really gone from being a recent graduate to a mid-level consultant in the blink of an eye.”
Bernie saw Ruben’s development unfold quickly in the real world. When he started at Norit, he was clearly still a young newcomer. “At first, you could really tell he was fresh out of school,” Bernie says. “He found that pretty nerve-wracking. But Ruben has grown tremendously. He’s really gone from being a fresh graduate to a mid-level consultant at lightning speed. And that’s incredibly impressive.”
According to Bernie, Ruben’s strength lies primarily in digital transformation. Many factories still rely on standalone Excel files and manual reporting. “Ruben can truly build something from the ground up and make it more professional. He helps organizations take the next step.”
In addition to his work at Norit, Ruben is participating in the NextLevel program. “I was able to complete my Green Belt training there,” he explains. “In the program, you learn how to set up a project, execute it effectively, and ensure that the improvements are actually sustained. It also covers soft skills, such as leadership and teamwork. I receive a lot of support in that regard.”
Bernie also sees this combination of hands-on experience and professional development as one of NextGen’s key strengths. “I think what makes NextGen so strong is that they also provide professional guidance. Here, you’re working on real-world projects, but at the same time, the company is truly investing in your development. Ultimately, that benefits the company as well.”
Meanwhile, Ruben is also looking ahead to his next step. “I work a lot with data and dashboards right now. That’s going pretty well. But I also want to further develop my leadership skills. I’ve just started down that path, but I still have a lot to learn so I can take on more of a project leader role.”
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