By air, over land and sea: a lot is possible at FIB!
Bauke Westra, Warehouse and Expedition Coordinator at FIB Industries, shares daily responsibility with his colleagues for all matters related to incoming and outgoing goods.
“Many people think that at the end of the process, our department just calls up the transporter and everything is taken care of,” Bauke says, “but that really isn’t how it goes.”
Actually, the process starts with an incoming request from a potential client. The Sales department determines whether it’s a client or a product, and whether it fits within the realm of possibilities in terms of what FIB Industries is able, allowed and willing to do. With years of experience, they are usually able to draw a conclusion quite quickly. Some cases require further research. Those can entail countries or parties, for example, with sanctions or embargos. Up-to-date information can be found on that through public channels.
We have to check the countries/parties as well as the products to be delivered. One of the terms we use in that process is DUAL-USE. That is used to indicate goods that could be used for both civil and military purposes. That latter scenario is where Bauke comes in. He has acquired a lot of knowledge on this topic by taking courses and training programmes at export organisations.
When it comes to complex materials and their use, he contacts the Project Management department, which is familiar with the possible uses of certain goods. The Finance department is aware of all the required documents. Together, they carry out the necessary first checks.
Transport planned from A to Z
Various preparations are made for the transport to the client. “We work closely with transporters and forwarders who are familiar with our clients’ wishes,” Bauke says. For some products, certified industrial packaging companies are enlisted.
Special plans are drawn up for products that are extremely large or heavy. “The Engineering department draws out a professional transport plan so each party knows exactly what to expect. That’s a major advantage we have now, which we didn’t have before,” Bauke says.
For road transport, sometimes obstacles like traffic signs have to be temporarily removed. We also plan and handle everything concerning permits and transport. Getting goods delivered on time is therefore essential.
Leaving nothing to chance
A while ago, we had a big order at FIB packaged in special different crates to be shipped to the US on a charter flight. At our well-guarded terrain, a special external team with sniffer dogs checked our crates for any explosives.
Our own landing quay
A key advantage of and for FIB Industries is our waterfront location, with our own landing quay. Various major projects have been loaded and shipped from here. The sailing schedule is looked over in detail and adjusted if necessary. When we have a delivery in the winter, it may be affected by a potential Eleven cities tour skating event, for example; of course, we have our own ideas about that in Leeuwarden!