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As a strategic procurement agent, you have to deal with different disciplines. After graduating from Tilburg University with a Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management and gaining varied experience in the world of procurement, Michiel Heesen (27) has now been working at the procurement department at VDL ETG Eindhoven for 18 months. He previously worked at a commercial company in Amsterdam. We decided to ask him how he is liking his job as strategic procurement agent at VDL.

How did you end up at VDL ETG?
‘I was working as a procurement agent in Amsterdam, but I was looking for a new challenge. At the company I was working at in Amsterdam, I was working in the consumer goods domain, focused mainly on hitting commercial targets such as lower prices and longer payment terms. Although it was very interesting, I needed a new challenge. As I was looking for opportunities, I got in contact with VDL ETG. At the interview, it instantly felt right.’

How is the procurement team organised?
‘Procurement is organised in a matrix here. Along one axis are the programmes, which is where you focus on meeting customers’ requirements, such as delivering on time, with the right price and the right quality (QLTC). This is what we call tactical procurement. The other axis is the product group axis, which has more of a focus on strategic procurement, i.e. finding and releasing suppliers, and developing the supplier database.’

What are your activities within this matrix?
‘I’m working on strategic procurement for the vacuum portfolio. Based on customers’ specifications, I find suppliers that are able to deliver products needed to create a vacuum in the systems of the customers for whom we handle assembly. One example is ASML, for whom I procure vacuum pumps, among other things. Another example is KLA, which is the customer for whom I procure bellows that have been produced with a high level of precision.’

What’s the best thing about your job? 
‘What I like a lot about my job is that I am responsible for multiple facets. I work closely together with other disciplines and that makes the job very broad and challenging. I am responsible for QLTC in procurement, meaning that I’m not only responsible for commercial terms and conditions, but also for suppliers’ costs, quality, delivery time, and technology. Aside from that, I’m expected to contribute to the group’s procurement strategy and improvements to working methods. If there is anything that can be improved, I get on it. Customers are also becoming increasingly demanding and expectations with respect to the products are higher, meaning that you need to be flexible and really think in terms of solutions.’

What’s the team atmosphere like?
‘The people associate well with each other, our team is made up of a nice mix of young and old. I think that’s great! And the atmosphere is just good, nice and informal. That suits me well.’

What is the most attractive project in your view?
‘The most attractive project that VDL ETG is working on at the moment is the one for Elekta. Elekta is a global specialist in innovative medical equipment and software for patients with cancer and brain conditions. The Elekta Unity is a new device that is used to treat cancer patients using a combination of a radiation device and a high-precision MR scanner with high magnetic strength. This new technology makes it possible to deliver very targeted radiation treatment of tumours based on more precise imaging. It is made possible by the fact that the device scans and radiates at the same time. The great thing about this is that we are making something together that has massive importance for society.’

Also want to work at VDL? We are looking for a strategic procurement agent in the mechanics domain at VDL ETG. Click here to view the vacancy.