Marcel Smeets winner of Kees Kooij Award 2022

Why we write about this topic:

Developments within the high-tech and manufacturing industry are rapid and the demand for technically skilled employees is rising unabated. Training employees and giving them the right knowledge and skills still remains an important factor in keeping up with current developments. The Kees Kooij Award puts employees who contribute something important in the spotlight.

Marcel Smeets, lecturer at Mikrocentrum, is the winner of the Kees Kooij Award 2022, says Mikrocentrum in a (Dutch) press release. Mikrocentrum grants this award annually to someone who has made a special contribution to the organization.

Steets teaches Lean Six Sigma (LSS), a method for organizing quality and efficiency improvements. Together with his fellow lecturers Wouter Mollers and Hein-Jan van Velthoven, Marcel developed a solid Lean Six Sigma program. Since then, more and more companies know how to find Mikrocentrum. Thanks to Marcel’s efforts Mikrocentrum has been able to expand its position in the field of Process Improvement.

(Enter)trainer

Frank Bruls, Training Department Manager, calls Marcel a real (enter) trainer who knows how to get people excited about getting started with Lean Six Sigma. “He can tell the story to a director, as well as to the people on the shop floor. Everywhere he knows how to get his listeners enthusiastic about change and improvement. This is because he tailors his story to the target audience and translates it to the practice of the individual.”

After studying physics in Aachen, Marcel started as a Quality manager at Medtronic. Then, as a Master Black Belt, he put his knowledge into practice at GE Capital, Penske and finally at Componenta. Over the past 10 years, he has trained and supervised hundreds of students.

Lean Six Sigma

Frank Bruls continues: “Thanks to his in-depth knowledge and experience, but above all his infectious personal style, Lean Six Sigma is on the map with our customers. The above-average ratings from participants say it all. Participants and customers therefore always know where to find us. All in all, Marcel has proven himself to be a very good ambassador for Mikrocentrum.”

Knowledge Sharing Centre ensures the transfer of essential expertise in the high-tech industry

The purpose of the Knowledge Sharing Centre (KSC) is as clear as it is challenging: to share knowledge that normally lingers in the brain.