Slokker Bouwgroep on Normec NCK

A Conversation with Slokker Bouwgroep About Normec NCK

Slokker Bouwgroep has been a Normec NCK client since 2015 and is certified for: VCA*, VCA**, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001.

The Slokker Group was founded in 1935 and has offices in the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States; it has been active in the real estate market for over 85 years, operating as a developer, builder, and investor—or any combination thereof. It is a 100% family-owned business, now led by the third generation. Innovation has been a common thread running through the company for decades.

In conversation with Erna Snelder, HSE Coordinator at Slokker Bouwgroep

“I was familiar with Normec NCK from a previous job. When I joined Slokker Bouwgroep in late 2014, I brought them along, so to speak. What I appreciate about their approach are the short lines of communication and the pleasant, informal way they interact. Even when it comes to issues I’m critical of. There’s openness and mutual respect. That’s why our relationship can be described as a collaboration, a partnership.”

Responsibility for Certifications

Each Slokker location is responsible for its own certifications. Normec NCK then carefully determines which auditor is the best fit for the location where an audit is currently scheduled. Incidentally, it’s typical of Slokker that we prefer to be thoroughly audited. Yes, a certificate is important for being selected for certain projects, but for us, it’s primarily about the learning process. Are our process quality, working conditions, and environmental aspects still up to standard, and how can we improve even further?

That process highlights just how important it is for an auditor to have practical experience. I myself have a background in civil engineering and occupational safety, so I have a lot of practical experience and knowledge of the standards. But the auditors at Normec NCK visit so many different companies that everything they notice at our site—and I’m not even referring to nonconformities—I see as a learning opportunity. And that, to me, is the added value of an audit.

In the spirit of the standard

Another advantage of that practical experience is that the auditors no longer need to familiarize themselves with the business process, which gives the audit more depth. In addition, they don’t assess processes strictly based on the checklist, but much more in the spirit of the standard. Simply because they understand day-to-day operations and know what matters.

At Slokker, we want to deliver a product that not only meets the customer’s requirements but also complies with laws and regulations. We want to protect our employees and everyone moving around the construction site, as well as the environment. This need is intrinsic and isn’t triggered by a standard or certification. “Yet the signal we send to the outside world—that an external body has assessed our way of working as sound—is perhaps more important today than ever before.”