Normec Certification spoke with Gert Hoogeboom, director of Hoogeboom Raalte. Since 1935, Hoogeboom Raalte has been active in contracting for earthworks, road construction, and civil engineering projects, as well as recycling and the rental of machinery and containers. The company also performs demolition work, asbestos and soil remediation, sheet piling, well point dewatering, sewer installation, and paving. The company owes its long history to its commitment to putting the customer first. Always.

Learning from Each Other

“Thinking along with the customer—that’s important to us, and it’s important to Normec Certification. If I have a question, I can always turn to one of their experts. That’s valuable, even if I don’t always love the answer. Haha! The auditors’ knowledge is top-notch. Of course, there are sometimes differences in interpretation; they bring their expertise, and I bring mine. But if you approach the discussion with an open mind and a willingness to learn from each other, things always work out. That’s also why I attend about 70% of all audits myself: I want to understand how things work, and it consistently prompts me to think about why we do things the way we do.’

The Importance of Continuity

By complying with the standards, we ensure the continuity of the business. For example, if we were to carry out an asbestos removal job without following the guidelines, that could, in the worst-case scenario, lead to a shutdown of this business activity. Of course, that’s not what we want. And as an entrepreneur, you’re not always aware of the legal regulations that are ensured by the BRLs. So with these certificates, we’re protecting our company.’

The Customer Comes First

“When it comes to certifications, you can go as far as you want. Of course, we want to invest and stay ahead of the competition, but what the customer wants is our guiding principle. If they ask for a specific certification, then it adds value for us. If not, then not.” Listening to the customer and meeting their needs is also a hallmark of Normec Certification. It’s great when we’re on the same page about that.”

“Certifications help us protect our business.”

Gert Hoogeboom, director of Hoogeboom Raalte