Logistics team leader
Ite van der Kam
From warehouse floor to team leader
Ite has been working at SMT in Emmeloord for over 6.5 years. He started as a logistics employee in the warehouse and progressed step by step to logistics team leader. He can still be found on the floor every day. Not only to keep an overview, but also to work with. "I think that's important," he says. "You have to know what's going on." The warehouse is the heart of the parts flow within SMT. Everything that comes in, everything that leaves and everything that comes back from the field engineers passes through here. Ite is mainly responsible for that return flow. Checking what has been used, checking whether scans are correct, liaising with planning and making sure the administration and invoicing are correct. "If things don't go right here, it works right away," he says.
The interview with Ite
What exactly does your job at SMT entail?
"I make sure everything in the warehouse is correct. That what a mechanic has used is actually processed correctly." It's work where accuracy counts, but also communication. "If something is not right, you have to find out. Then you call the planning department or coordinate with a colleague." According to Ite, it's all about keeping an overview and keeping calm.
How have you seen yourself grow since working at SMT?
That's an easy question for Ite to answer. "When I started here, I was pretty quiet," he says honestly. SMT saw that and offered him training. From Excel to coaching and communication training. "That helped me speak out and become more confident." That development eventually led to his role as team leader. "I once indicated that I wanted to make that step. And they really helped me with that here. I'm also sure I can grow even further here, should I want to."
What is the collaboration like within your team?
Ite's team consists of about 11 colleagues, with ages ranging from 19 to 62. "That mix is just strong," he says. What typifies him is how naturally colleagues help each other. "If someone is busy, there is often already someone next to them. As team leader, he makes adjustments where necessary, but always in a calm manner. "First name what is going well. Only then what can be improved. That's how we become even better at our jobs together."
Why SMT is more than just a job for Ite
What makes SMT special for Ite is not in one big moment, but in how people are treated every day. "Here, they look at who you are and what suits you." Whether it's about development, working conditions, working hours or just a moment's thought: "You feel you're not a number here."
