{"id":23771,"date":"2025-05-20T14:16:55","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T12:16:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/5scompany.com\/?p=23771"},"modified":"2026-09-10T14:35:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T12:35:42","slug":"5s-implementation-workplace-bluekens-breda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/5scompany.com\/en\/klantervaring\/5s-implementatie-werkplaats-bluekens-breda\/","title":{"rendered":"How 5S transformed Bluekens' workplace in Breda"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The big turnaround at Bluekens: how 5S changed the workplace and the team<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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At Bluekens Truck and Bus, the mobility of their customers is their number 1 priority. In a transport and mobility industry that continues 24\/7, where customer satisfaction, safety and efficiency are of crucial importance, standing still is not an option. <\/span>When the parent company Volvo Trucks,<\/span> the Lean for Retail program, Bluekens seized the opportunity to further professionalize their processes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Within that program, Bronze is the first level. This includes a focus on 5S, daily starts and KPIs. Volvo wants each dealership to designate at least one location this year to start this process. Progress is monitored via a Lean for Retail audit. For Bluekens Truck and Bus, that was Breda, because this is also their largest location.\u00a0
<\/span>The result? A workshop that is impressive: tightly organised. They save six minutes per work order and the mechanics work more pleasantly and efficiently.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou only know what you're missing when you see what it could be,\u201d says Pjotr \u200b\u200bvan Gils, business support<\/em><\/span>employee at Bluekens Truck and Bus.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Dennis is happy to help you on your way.<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCONTACT US<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"5S\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Why 5S at Bluekens Truck and Bus in Breda?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The workplace in Breda is the largest location. With more than 30 mechanics, all with their own routines and preferences, tools and materials quickly became scattered. In addition, safety was an important point of attention. With grease pits, heavy vehicles and tools, a small mistake could have major consequences. And in a time when the workload is increasing and mechanics are scarce, you have to spend every minute wisely. That is exactly what Bluekens Truck and Bus has achieved with our guidance.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cA mechanic wants to tinker, not search for a battery charger or torque wrench. Yet that happened more often than we would have liked.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The preparation: support as a foundation\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Bluekens knew: a successful 5S implementation<\/a> starts with support. That is why an integral approach was deliberately chosen. Every employee, from apprentice to workplace manager, was involved. No top-down story, but working together on improvement. Every mechanic received an A3 drawing of the workplace and was asked to design the ideal layout themselves. <\/span>As Pjotr \u200b\u200bputs it so beautifully:<\/span> \u201cThis made it their workplace, not an imposed image. It also gave us smart insights from practice.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>

The challenge was not in motivation, but in the logistical preparation for the temporary closure of the workshop. In an environment where everything always continues, this requires tight planning and clear communication. Nevertheless, Bluekens decided to close the Breda branch for two days for the large-scale 5S redesign. Unplanned repairs continued as usual and we asked our customers to use one of our other branches during these days to ensure continuity. In this way, there was maximum focus.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The 5S rollout: creating space together<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Pjotr \u200b\u200blooks back on the rollout: in the spring, the workshop was closed for two days. Together with 5S-Company, all mechanics got to work with the five steps of 5S: separate, clean, arrange, standardize and maintain. Some items had been lying unused for years. Saying goodbye literally created space.<\/span><\/p>

\"<\/b>Where initially there was scepticism (\"do we really have to shut down for two days for this?\"), the atmosphere quickly turned into enthusiasm. Mechanics who normally worked individually, consulted and helped each other. The team spirit grew visibly. You saw people making choices together and improving together. That was really nice to see.\"<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Embedding: 5S as a permanent habit<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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At Bluekens Truck and Bus, 5S has now been embedded in the daily work culture. With the help of the 5S app<\/a> and the Safety app<\/a> (including safety cross) the teams start each morning with a short day start in which actions, points for improvement and safety come together.<\/span><\/p>

According to Pjotr, the app has really become a central point. Everything you need to know is in there. That keeps things moving. Daily starts, weekly checks, monthly internal audits and periodic checks by 5S Company ensure that the attention for 5S remains lively. \u201cNotifications and actions are actively followed up, so that improvements are not diluted. By making successes visible, the support base grows. That is ultimately the key to really making 5S part of daily work,\u201d says Pjotr.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Measurable and tangible results<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The impact of 5S was immediately visible and tangible at Bluekens:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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