Group of Butchers about Normec Foodcare Online
55% time savings with e-learning for Group of Butchers
Group of Butchers is an innovative meat product manufacturer with locations in the Netherlands and Belgium. For several years in a row, the company has received the Industributie Trophy for the best rating from the retail market for its products. It makes sense that employees must be trained to stay up to date in order to maintain high standards.
Craftsmanship and education
To train its employees, Group of Butchers uses the Normec Foodcare Online e-learning module. Formerly known as Dutch Grill Specialties (DGS), the company became part of Group of Butchers a year and a half ago. Group of Butchers is characterized by craftsmanship and traditional methods. A lot has been invested in the new look because the company wants to appeal to as many target groups as possible, not only business-to-business but also end users. These groups must be convinced of the high quality and traditional preparation of the meat products.
Production locations
There are five different locations where the mostly pre-cooked and ready-to-eat products are made: Eersel, Soest, Oosterzele and Alken in Belgium, and the head office in Tilburg. The range includes roast beef, bacon, minced meat, rotisserie products, ham, spare ribs, fricandeau, smoked meat, filet américain, beef sausage, and smoked sausage.
Training
Approximately 350 people work across the various locations. They receive thorough training on how to process the products correctly. Food safety and hygiene are key components of the training, but the company culture and general information about lifting and interpreting hazard symbols are also mandatory parts of the training program.
Every employee completes this basic training before starting work at Group of Butchers. At the location itself, there is theoretical and practical training on the employee's specific job duties. The practical information is provided by experienced people such as an SVO-trained butcher. All employees also take a refresher course every year. Group of Butchers provides around 1,000 training courses per year, most of which are followed via e-learning.
Your own time
The quality, health, safety, and environment manager (KAM manager) is responsible for training at Group of Butchers, in collaboration with Human Resources. "Changes in legislation and customer requirements are happening fast. Regular training is necessary to keep up with these changes. The fastest and easiest way to do this is through e-learning. All theory is taught online, and practical lessons are given on the work floor. Employees can do the training at a time of their choosing from home, the employment agency, or at one of the locations. The freedom and personal responsibility are seen as very positive. E-learning is ideal, especially when new employees come to us via a temporary employment agency. The agency ensures that they have completed the training before they join us. This saves time because they can get started right away. We can see in the system whether the training has been successfully completed and we check the employees on a random basis.
Roles
The QHSE manager and all quality staff can see at a glance in the Normec Foodcare Online system who has completed which training course, whether they have passed, and which questions were answered incorrectly. In the more advanced HACCP training courses, this can be followed up with, for example, an extension on a specific topic, or the training can be discussed with the employee. “I can request analyses of, for example, the most frequently answered questions or how long a training course takes on average.” Another advantage is that different parties can use the system at the same time, each with their own rights. “The employment agency can register new employees and invite them to a training course, but cannot make any changes to the system.”
House style
Group of Butchers develops the training courses in-house. “I test the training with a number of employees before it goes online. This allows me to see whether the questions are too easy or too difficult and whether they can be answered within the time limit. The training courses are constantly being developed and regularly updated. This allows us to implement any improvements at the same time.” Normec Foodcare Online also offers its own training courses on the most common topics in the food industry, such as allergen management, hygienic working practices, and cleaning. These training courses can be requested digitally. At the customer's request, they can be supplemented with specific topics or designed in the company's house style.
GFSI-approved
Various Normec Foodcare Online modules are available. In addition to e-learning, it is also possible to manage a manual and all specifications, inspections, and registrations in the secure environment of Normec Foodcare Online. Group of Butchers uses the “manual” and ‘specifications’ modules in addition to e-learning. "We only pay for what we use. In the case of E-learning, this is per employee who follows a training course. This is cheaper than the costs of lost production due to classroom training and the associated handling costs. Also important: the E-learning training courses are recognized by the GFSI standard auditors and therefore help us to comply with the BRC and IFS standards."
More about Normec Foodcare Online
Normec Foodcare Online
's-Hertogenbosch Netherlands