Find my mission: Hein's 31-year commitment to Barco's excellent quality

"My first day in Bako felt like the first day of school. I joined Barco in September 1993 and sat next to Pete Deprez, who is now the maintenance coordinator. The warm and friendly atmosphere and new colleagues made me feel at home immediately.&said Hein Hansen, coach of continuous operational improvement. At first, work is challenging and exhausting, but every day brings new lessons and experiences. I quickly learned that curiosity and sharing knowledge are crucial when dealing with any new challenges.

我最初在 CRT 投影仪调试团队工作。By 1994, I was a member of the team that built a liquid crystal display production line. As a bachelor's degree in electronics, this role has given me a wealth of experience in both technical and personal aspects.
An important moment was in February 1998, when a fire broke out in the stress zone of Kourené, causing production disruption. We had to restart the projector at the Mark Factory in the Drapy Building. The teamwork during that time was amazing, showing that collaboration can achieve great things.
By 2002, I was promoted to production line supervisor in the analog department, responsible for manufacturing various analog projectors. When the economy was in recession in 2009, Jan Angannon and I formed an excellent operations team. This is my real mission-continuous improvement. Engaging people, supporting them and learning from each other is key. Today, our team consists of nine experts, each with their own expertise.
Over the years, technology has developed rapidly. The replacement of CRT picture tubes with liquid crystal displays, as well as the emergence of LED screens and laser projections, are huge advances. Continuous layout changes have become the key to survival.
CRT projector--From left to right: Jenny Van Keriaveld, Mick Dejord, Mark Van Paris, Carmen Reseiat, Eddie Waldennier, Daniel Van der Meillen, Walter Biek, Ralph Vercruise, Joe Bittebill.
One of the biggest challenges is the merger of Kourenay and Kortrik, which combines two different cultures under one roof. It took years to achieve integration. Another challenge is moving Barco's Norway company to Kortrik and producing F-Series equipment here, which is a major challenge. In addition, moving medical equipment production to Italy and re-training employees in the health care sector to move to the entertainment sector are also major challenges.
A particularly proud moment was when Barco launched the iGemba project in 2011, after several difficult years. Today, iGemba is not just a project, it is also a way of thinking. By conducting on-site inspections with members of the company's leadership team, we share experience, knowledge, and respect everyone involved. Since the launch of iGemba, people have paid more attention to employee participation. In this complex world, people have a say in improvement.

团队合作 -- 从左至右：斯蒂芬·德皮佩雷、伊莎贝尔·范希、马克·卡托尔、阿卜杜勒拉赫曼·阿布哈桑尼安、奥萨马·阿布萨勒姆、利夫·范波克、瓦莱丽·韦尔哈格、西尔维娅·范斯泰尔曼、海因·汉森斯。
The most valuable lesson I learned is not to be afraid of innovation and to treat people as your most important asset. Maintaining work-life balance and realizing that everything will come back in different forms, mutual respect, listening and support are crucial. Appreciation is the key, and sometimes it is necessary to take a step back and make time for yourself. Analyze the situation before making a decision and never give up.
My advice to newcomers is not to try to change the world immediately. Spend your time analyzing things so you can make the right decisions and not waste precious time. Involve employees in every implementation.
Looking back on my 31 years at Barco, innovation and teamwork have always been top priorities. Adapting to customer needs is crucial. Staying first requires improving processes, shortening delivery times, eliminating buffers, and automating when necessary.
Since 2012, I have participated in online activities through iGemba to share knowledge and exchange experiences with other companies. This made me understand that the grass is not greener elsewhere. Barco is a great company with a unique culture that you can truly feel. The product is first-class and challenging, and you have a say in improving it.