A successful partnership
Nedlin has been doing the laundry for Radboudumc for five years now. Last year, after contracting at European level, the hospital chose Nedlin again. This time even for 10 years: a confirmation of the long-term collaboration that both organisations wanted to commit to. Bram Kurstjens, logistics manager at Radboudumc, explains what this partnership looks like.
Tendering for 10 years is rare in this market. Nevertheless, Radboudumc consciously opts for the long contract period. “We asked tenderers to think along about some issues”, Kurstjens says. “In some cases, resolving them requires investments from both sides that ask for a long contract duration. We also prefer to organize the logistics, with which we link the services from laundry facility to end user as efficiently as possible, for a longer period of time.”
Radboudumc is searching for a partner to take new steps again and again. “With this tender, we therefore focused on quality for 80%”, says Kurstjens, “and only for 20% on price. Moreover, we have a long-term vision on sustainability: another reason to opt for a 10-year contract.”
Vanished
After evaluation, Nedlin got the best results. Kurstjens is happy with the outcome, because his experiences over the past few years have been very good. “Sometimes when people talk about a partnership, you can’t feel it. It’s very different with Nedlin”, he says. That is a compliment for how the company handles things. “You never feel like you have to solve a problem by yourself.”
After the contracting process, Radboudumc and Nedlin joined forces to create a dozen project teams with employees from both organisations. Every now and then, external specialists join the teams as well. Each team works on one of the relevant issues: things like cleanroom clothing for the pharmacy, or making employees aware of ink stains. One of the most interesting issues has been the vanishing or OR clothing, that we supply in bulk.
You never feel like you have to solve a problem by yourself.
Kurstjens: “We just couldn’t figure out where the clothing was going”. In their quote, Nedlin suggested various solutions for the problem of the disappearing clothes. Various sub-teams went to work on the details and the implementation of the suggestions. They figured out what changes were needed on both sides of the process, in order to achieve the desired results. This way, Radboudumc and Nedlin came up with the perfect solution.
Complex operation
The clothing management for the Clothing Dispenser Machines (KUAs) is also a big joint project. Radboudumc is using five KUAs. Keeping the clothing in every KUA sufficiently stocked is a complex operation. Nowadays, Radboudumc only has to take care of the daily management of the system. All other management activities have been outsourced to Nedlin, in order to unburden the hospital.
Another team is focused on the logistical challenges, as a result of 15,000 unique users and a large campus. Internal and external logistics are closely interwoven. At the moment, Nedlin drives 64 containers (two trucks) to Nijmegen twice a day. One of the project teams is currently researching whether 128 containers a day can be reduced to 104 containers a day, through smarter loading. In that case, our laundry facility could use one double-decker truck: a very sustainable solution.
“We keep an eye on things”
Aside from these projects, Nedlin also thinks along with the hospital. Andrea Meuwissen, Commercial Manager at Nedlin Healthcare: “Our partnership is not just about the ten projects from the contracting. We continue to keep an eye on things”. A few months after the contracting, the corona crisis broke out. This has really brought to light the value of our partnership. “I had so much on my plate, that I was very happy to be able to ask Nedlin for help”, says Kurstjens.
Sustainability is an important theme in all contracting. It says a lot about how essential it is to us.
“We had to adjust no less than ten processes, and we had to come up with a new procedure for the separate collection of corona laundry. In a situation like this, it’s very convenient to have a partner who knows the laws and regulations, and who has connections at other hospitals.” Nedlin offers a protocol that hospitals can implement right away. The laundry facility contributes ideas and supplies extra clothing and reusable isolation jackets. As a result, Radboudumc has the right things in the right place in no time.
Faith
Because of frequent talks, Nedlin is always aware of the situation at the hospital. By responding quickly to developments, the laundry facility ‘de-stresses’ clients. At the same time, the partners are continuously challenging each other to do even better every day. In the field of sustainability, for example, an important theme for both Radboudumc and Nedlin. “Sustainability is an important theme in all contracting”, says Kurstjens. “It says a lot about how essential it is to us. We are a government institution, so sustainability is one of our top priorities.”
During contracting, a specifically developed CO2 tool offers insight into the most important themes. “It doesn’t just include the trucks that deliver the laundry, but also participation jobs, circularity, the solar panels on the roof. Or its’ long-term vision. Again, innovative as it is, Nedlin came out on top.” So does he have faith in the next ten years? Kurstjens smiles: “There’s no doubt in my mind”.
Impact
- always the right amount of clothing in the right places
- the best quality
- 100% hygienic, even in times of crisis
- contribution to CSR goals
- quality and continuity guaranteed
- a committed partner who de-stresses