The secret of business success in times of crisis
While companies are struggling under the burden of the components crisis, sky-high energy prices and the war in Ukraine, electronics company Trescal is experiencing spectacular growth in a short time. In the first two weeks of January 2023 alone, the multinational five companies and more acquisitions are planned for the rest of the year. According to location manager Alex Rodenburg of Trescal Zoetermeer, the growth spurt is not a coincidence but the result of a number of well-considered management choices. FHI Tech Stories spoke to Rodenburg about 'the secret' behind Trescal's success story.
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“We are often asked how Trescal survives every crisis. Even during corona times, we have continued to grow rapidly. I think that has to do with our mentality. We always try to anticipate problems that affect the sector. We do not wait for the government's decision-making, but we take measures ourselves that we see fit. That is our secret.”
Ringleader
“We are right at the front. When the first rumors emerged about a new virus in China at the end of 2019, we preventively introduced a 2-meter distance within our company. We also decided to work in groups and to open a second canteen, so that one group could always continue working if another group dropped out. By grabbing the cow directly by the horns, we were able to prevent major losses. We approach every crisis with this mentality, including the problems we will face in 2023.”
Downtime employees
“Right now we see that the downtime of employees is important issue is. Due to the energy transition and the global workforce shortage, companies want to minimize the number of man hours lost. We try to respond to this by planning all our calibration work in one day. Our technicians start at 7 am and everything is ready by 2:30 pm. That sounds very simple, but it is not. It requires razor-sharp organization and planning on our part and close consultation with the customer.”
Tip: invest in interns and staff
“At Trescal we are not so affected by the global staff shortage, because staff turnover is low. Our rapid growth and career opportunities make us an interesting company for both interns and (potential) employees. We consciously invest time and money in this. Satisfied interns often return as employees at the end of their studies. We also have one pool of former trainees who obtained their qualifications at Trescal and whom we can call on in an emergency,” Rodenburg continues.
“I want to give all employees the feeling that they are important to Trescal's growth and that they can also grow within the company. It is important that everyone understands and supports the company's vision. That is why I regularly schedule 1-on-1 conversations with individual employees. This way people stay enthusiastic and you don't lose them.”
Automate processes
Automation also contributes to Trescal's success, during and outside times of crisis. “You solve many problems by organizing and automating smartly online. We started this twenty years ago by developing our own web-based system, including a webshop. All Trescal business units are centrally controlled via this system: from the storage of the goods to logistics and purchasing. This way everyone keeps an overview and you only have to send one invoice. When the corona crisis broke out, we benefited from the fact that our IT was already ready for online working”
Collaboration with FHI members
Despite the fact that Trescal is the global market leader in calibration, Rodenburg emphasizes the importance of collaboration with (com)colleagues. “We all have our own strengths and specialization. By working together, we make use of each other's qualities and complement each other. FHI also plays a role in this. At Trescal we work together with various FHI member companies, and I even consult with one party on a weekly basis. Especially in these times, networking and collaboration are essential to stay ahead in the market.”
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