Every coordinator role has its own charms

Are you good with people, possess a strong dose of perseverance, and remain calm even when something seems to be going wrong? Then a coordinator role at Nedlin is perfect for you. Amir Pajaziti and Bart Wouters, coordinator and production leader in training at Nedlin Healthcare, share what a job as a coordinator entails.

Nedlin Healthcare has various departments, including the laundry, workwear, and shipping/packing. Each of these departments has two coordinators: one for the morning shift and one for the afternoon shift. Amir is one of them. Originally from Macedonia, Amir began his career as a professional soldier. Six years ago, he started as a production worker on the floor. When the opportunity arose, he climbed the ranks to become a coordinator, acting as the link between the floor staff and the production leaders. He enjoys this role. "Every day something happens that you need to solve at that moment," he says. "You learn something new every day."

Bart is relatively new to the company. Over the past six months, he has worked as a coordinator in all departments at Nedlin and is being prepared for his new job as a production leader. Fresh from his studies in business administration at the university of applied sciences, he has also gained relevant work experience by having a part-time job at a production company for 8 years. At the start of the day, he meets with the three coordinators to assess where the challenges lie. What is the goal for today?

An eye for the entire laundry process

"Every coordinator role has its own charms," says Bart. In the laundry, dirty laundry comes in. It is sorted and passed through the washing tunnels. In packing, the laundry is prepared for transportation to the customer. In workwear, the clothing is placed on a hanger in an automatic sorting system, where it is sorted and packed per customer. Thus, the focus for the different coordinators is more on the technical aspect, shipping and logistics, or the operational side.

As a coordinator, it is important to be well-informed about the entire laundry process, from the arrival of the laundry to its delivery. "Anything can happen that is beyond your control," says Bart. "It's important not to get stressed, but to find a solution. You learn that by doing it." Gradually, you manage to anticipate errors. This way, coordinators and production leaders together ensure that production keeps running. If there's a problem, the coordinator discusses their solution with the production leader. "You make sure you have a plan," Amir explains. "We had this problem, and this is what we're going to do."

A good start to the day

For the people on the floor, the workday begins with a PEP talk: a short meeting where the coordinators review the past shift and look ahead to the upcoming shift, discussing any special points and what is on the schedule. "When I started, I found that quite daunting," Bart admits. "You work with people who have been here for 10 years sometimes. Then you have to say: something went wrong in production, how are we going to fix it? The coordinator who guided me helped me a lot with that."

Good teamwork is essential. Amir says, "In the laundry, you have 7 or 8 people beside you. It's important to be a team, to work in the same way. You depend on the people to your left and right. You help each other." As a coordinator, he places his team members in the right positions. "Some are quick with sorting, others are not. Then the coordinator decides which position someone can work in."

Understanding people

What distinguishes a good coordinator? "A bit of leadership ability," believes Bart. "There's a great atmosphere, but you have to assert yourself. You stand between the staff and the production leader. If something isn't right on the work floor, you have to speak up. That's how you gain the trust and respect of your team." Additionally, it's important to have perseverance and to remain calm. "You deal with many clients; if you're stressed, you can lose track of things."

Honesty and sticking to agreements are two important qualities of a good coordinator for Amir. He also emphasizes empathy. "You have to be good with people. You're not alone; you're working together. It's important that people like you. Sometimes, you don't explain things with words but show it through actions. With older colleagues, you guide them gently, and with younger ones who think they can fly, you say, 'This is how we're going to do it!'"

At Nedlin, people of all ages, nationalities, and backgrounds work together. Bart stresses the importance of treating everyone equally. "No preferential treatment. Once you start that, it undermines your credibility." They both appreciate the diversity within the company. "We are a company that gives everyone opportunities, as long as you're willing," says Amir. When he started at Nedlin, he only spoke English. "I learned Dutch on the floor."

Trust

As coordinators, Amir and Bart are entrusted with a lot of responsibility. "It's a responsibility that you get," they both agree. "That's what makes it enjoyable: you're primarily responsible for our deliveries to customers. If something goes wrong, you're the point of contact. In my view, that only makes it challenging and fun."

The men strive to pass on this trust to their team. They do so with compliments during the PEP talk, saying 'we're doing well'. They also do this throughout the day. In the laundry, Amir immediately pitches in if he sees a container blocking the way. He cracks a few jokes here and there, gathers his colleagues for photos. There are various spots in the laundry with boards displaying current data on productivity and quality, which also serve as motivational tools. Bart notes, "Wherever you go in the company, everyone is working hard."

Confidence in the future

They look ahead to the future with confidence. Nedlin is in the process of building a new laundry facility for Healthcare, a promising sign according to Amir, crucial for the company's future. "It's great to see the company investing in this," says Bart. "Also in terms of work methods. The new construction will be much more ergonomic, aiming to reduce strain on employees in physically demanding roles."

Moreover, the new laundry facility offers new opportunities, although Amir is perfectly content where he is now. "I don't want to grow further. I enjoy working with the men in the laundry," he says. "It's a great role," agrees Bart. "Every day is different. Even on quieter days, you're always thinking about how to improve your work. You can make it as challenging as you want."