Meet Vicky van Elst – Quality Supervisor at Bekina Boots

Today we’re putting Vicky van Elst, Quality Supervisor at Bekina Boots, in the spotlight. She’s been part of the Bekina family since January 2019. Read about what her role involves, a project she’s proud of and what she thinks makes Bekina unique here.   

I started at Bekina five years ago as a Lab Assistant, which involved working to ensure the quality of our Bekina Boots and the incoming goods. My role recently changed to Quality Supervisor: a more organisational and supervisory role, in which I’m supported by my laboratory assistant Maxime. I am responsible for calibration of the measurement equipment and renewal of the certificates for Bekina Boots, for example.  

Our Bekina Boots are tested using visual checks but also physical checks relating to density, hardness, flex life, tensile strength and tear resistance, for example. The safety cap has to meet the various standards and our protective caps are also checked using a fall test and compression test, for instance. Final checks are also carried out during the packing process.

What I notice in particular at Bekina is the team spirit, everyone helps each other out, like a family where each person does their bit and supports everyone else.  That ensures day-to-day cooperation is smooth and enjoyable.  

The job description really appealed to me. With my former employer I worked as an R&D Employee and there I missed the contact with the work floor and quality control. At Bekina I can combine both jobs. 

Our boots are not only tested in the lab but also by a testing panel made up of professionals from various sectors, including farmers. We check the boots after the testing period and put their feedback to use. I wanted to expand these checks to include more technical tests in addition to just visual inspections. That way I can carry out detailed checks to ensure our safety boots still meet the standards after the testing period.

One important aspect of this research was what happened to the RFID tags after use (RFID = radio frequency identification), so that we can continue to improve this technology. The integrated RFID tag in the boots is a unique identification that allows us to track and analyse the boots from production to end customer, resulting in improved quality control. We recently started digitally tracing all edging materials too, as a sort of batch control, so that we can establish with complete certainty which raw materials and which components have been used in which boots. 

The variety in my job description. Every day there are new challenges and solutions to find together. There’s also often interaction with other employees in the lab. 

Bekina offers motivated employees a chance to grow. I have already been given a lot of opportunities to learn new things and take on new challenges here. They not only look at what you can already do, but also challenge you to surpass yourself. This helps you to grow both professionally and personally. 

I doubt myself sometimes but I’m very proud and grateful for everything I’ve achieved at Bekina in the last five years. 

If you would like to join Vicky as a member of the Bekina family, take a look at the Bekina job page and, who knows, we might be meeting each other someday soon!