Guillaume, engineering design engineer
What has been your career path?
After studying at the Arts et Métiers engineering school in Paris, I was hired in 2005 at the Altuglas plant in Saint-Avold. I was working as a design and projects engineer on the development of the plant. In 2009, I moved up to become a production engineer on the new units. In 2012, I went back to projects. Then, in 2015, I was transferred to the Pierre-Bénite plant to join a larger-scale engineering design office.
What are your responsibilities?
The job is about leading projects that will pave the way for the medium- or long-term growth of the industrial plant. This involves carrying out engineering design studies, tracking progress, and sticking to a budget and schedule. So, I contribute to the purchasing strategy, track the completion of work, and do cost control and scheduling throughout the duration of the project. At the same time, I also manage the CAD unit in charge of handling the plant's technical documentation.
What is your typical working day like?
My objective is to anticipate as far as possible all unknown elements. That means my day-to-day work involves lots of work meetings, steering and preparatory meetings, as well as checking on the projects in progress (studies, schedule, and costs) and a lot of back-and-forth with the people working on the projects. I often go and visit worksites too. The particular characteristic of the Pierre-Bénite site is its electronic and computerized system for project management (study start-up sheets and loan requests).
What do you like about your job?
I like the idea of contributing to the future of Arkema and the plants. It is very exciting to be there at the "birth" of a new construction that started out as just an idea on paper. Also, there is quite a clearly defined framework for my day-to-day work, and no routine. We have a lot of responsibility in terms of investing resources, and yet, we have the full confidence of the company's management!
What are your career plans for afterwards?
I would like to be in charge of an engineering design office or a new works department.
What do you like about Arkema?
I came into the Group practically at the time that Arkema was created, so I sort of have the impression that I've grown up with the company. I see consistency, good sense, and human values in this company.
One of your qualities and one flaw?
Diligent but sometimes too optimistic!
Maintenance - Engineering Design - Inspection - Project
The role of the maintenance, engineering design, and inspection professions is to optimize the performance and safety of our industrial plants.