We spoke with Hannelore Hoornaert (job coach at WOK), Conny D’Hoe (workfloor supervisor at WOK), and Bart Billiet (production manager at Buyse Metal Works) about their successful collaboration.

 

Could you briefly introduce your organizations?

 

Hannelore: “WOK aims to offer a tailored work program to anyone who can no longer access the regular labor market. For those who are not able to return, we provide long-term customized employment. Those who can transition to the regular or social economy are prepared for this (through supported employment). In addition, we offer employment trajectories of up to 5 years. Through specific training, guidance, and support in the workplace, employees are prepared for a job in the regular labor market (via local service economy initiatives). We work with them to find the most suitable type of work, based on relevant and economically viable assignments. Our operations are built around three pillars: a handling workshop, a maintenance and gardening service, and a service that performs energy and water scans and roof insulation.”

 

Bart: “Buyse Metal Works Group has been active for more than 60 years as a supplier in the metalworking industry. Buyse has grown into one of the key suppliers of CNC turning, CNC milling, and CNC grinding, with locations in Aalter and Lier. We operate more than 90 CNC machines and employ over 120 people. Some of our customers include Atlas Copco, Dana, CNH, and Reynaers Aluminium.”

 

How did your collaboration start?

 

Hannelore: “In 2016, within the ‘Handle with care’ project, a manager was appointed to find repetitive assignments for several Bruges-based organizations with workshop activities.”

 

Bart: “That person visited us. He wasn’t ‘just another salesperson’; he had a strong and convincing story. One thing led to another. After a pilot project, we outsourced part of the tasks we had previously handled in-house to WOK.”

 

Conny: “The assignments are quite varied: placing rods in plastic bags in sets of 100 and labeling them, checking the threads of nuts, folding cardboard boxes, and more. Every week, we receive a purchase order with the upcoming assignments. The work is distributed among our employees, whom we support with tools such as gauges, counting blocks, or counting scales. The finished products are then checked again and packaged.”

 

Bart: “With our weekly transport route, we collect the finished products every Thursday. At the same time, we deliver the materials for the next assignments.”

 

How is the collaboration going?

 

Bart: We are very satisfied. Communication runs smoothly, and there is a high level of trust. Thanks to the additional checks, the quality of the work is very high; I really want to emphasize that.

 

Conny: “There is definitely a lot of mutual respect. If, due to circumstances, we are unable to meet a deadline, we contact Buyse and discuss which tasks should be prioritized.”

 

Hannelore: “For us and for our employees, these types of assignments are extremely valuable. Buyse provides strong continuity for us, even during the COVID crisis.”

 

Conny (laughs): “Our target group employees were not allowed to come to work, but the WOK staff counted and packed a lot of items during that time.”

 

Bart: “This collaboration also fits within our vision of corporate social responsibility. We deliberately choose to work with as many local suppliers as possible. This also allows us to align our weekly transport route across different local suppliers in the most ecological way. WOK also carries out the assignments at a very competitive price.”