Arjette on quality control for new linen
What determines the quality of linen? According to Arjette, procurement employee, the answer lies not only in what is visible, but especially in what you measure, test, and continue to improve. In her role, she monitors the quality and processes surrounding new linen products every day. Arjette has now been working at Blycolin for 2.5 years. From the very beginning, it felt familiar. It is precisely the variety in the work that appeals to her: no two days are the same.
When boxes of new linen arrive at the warehouse, Arjette’s work begins. She checks the products on a random-sample basis for both visible and measurable properties.
“Often, it comes down to the details: how it looks, how it feels, and whether it is neatly finished. No loose threads, no deviations in weight or dimensions. Those are the basic requirements,” says Arjette.
Insight into the supply chain
In addition to the visual inspection, the linen is tested with a whiteness meter. Arjette: “With the naked eye, you can sometimes hardly see any difference, but the device immediately shows whether the linen is too gray or too yellow.” All results are recorded and shared with the supplier. This may lead to a minor comment, but also to further investigation. In her contact with suppliers, Arjette also looks beyond product quality. She focuses on making the supply chain transparent, as set out in the Respect Code, and on safeguarding standards and values.
Not every deviation means that a product is immediately rejected. There is room within certain margins, but these are closely monitored. “If we see that something is structurally close to the limit, we make adjustments. In this way, we strive for quality that remains consistent.”
Is recycled material also used?
Before new products are included in the Blycolin collection, they have already been extensively tested. Not only for quality upon delivery, but also for performance in the laundry and during use. The use of recycled material in linen products is increasing, such as recycled polyester. This requires extra attention in the process, because properties such as whiteness and appearance must be maintained.
What makes Arjette’s work especially valuable is the collaboration within the procurement team: “My colleagues are knowledgeable and experienced, and because of that I still learn every day. Precisely because we work so closely together, we are also able to monitor quality consistently.”
Arjette shows that quality is not a snapshot, but a continuous process. The quality checks she performs on newly incoming linen products form an important link in that process. They are part of Blycolin’s broader quality control. So that every linen product meets the standard Blycolin promises.
More on quality control in the washing process coming soon. Would you like to read more about our quality control now? Click here.