Digitization brings Van Dijk Bakery up to speed

Van Dijk Bakery, a prominent family-owned business from Zwartsluis, Overijssel, has secured a strong position in the European private label confectionery market since 1931. The company, now led by the fourth generation, employs around 90 people and generates an annual revenue of approximately 25 million euros. Their product range includes luxury muffins, cakes, and cookies, produced on four production lines with a daily output of over 2 million items.

Since 2011, Van Dijk has made significant strides in digitalization by implementing CSB-System software for their production planning. Over the years, this software has been expanded to cover all aspects of the production process. The system integrates not only production planning and control but also manages financial and quality control systems, as well as all elements of the supply chain. CSB also supplies part of the hardware, including industrial PCs, printers, scanners, and mobile WiFi scanners used for real-time monitoring and control of business processes.

The company begins product development on a small scale with handmade prototypes. Once approved, these recipes are produced on a larger scale. This meticulous approach ensures that each product meets the quality requirements of both retailers and consumers. The competition in the confectionery market is intense, and high-quality standards necessitate efficient production methods and systems.

The CSB ERP system has been tailored to Van Dijk's specific needs and includes functions for procurement, inventory management, sales, production planning, quality management, traceability, and financial management. These tools enable Van Dijk to respond quickly to any issues or complaints, which is essential for maintaining high-quality standards.

One of the most valuable aspects of the CSB system is its traceability feature, allowing the company to verify the origin of ingredients and ensure the quality of the final products. This system also provides optimized planning and forecasting tools that enhance productivity and processing capacity. The CFO of Van Dijk Bakery highlights the advantage of having a more detailed view of operational processes, enabling them to work more efficiently and respond more quickly to potential problems.

The long-term collaboration with CSB has contributed not only to a higher level of efficiency but also to Van Dijk's ability to consistently meet the high-quality demands of their customers. The in-depth market knowledge of the CSB implementation team has ensured that the system is precisely aligned with Van Dijk's requirements. This has helped the company become one of the leading suppliers in the private label sector in the Netherlands and Europe.

csb.com