#AmazingJobsAtSafranNacelles – Alain – “I call the beat for the programme”

“I’ve always been interested in technical things and I liked to ‘get my hands dirty’, Alain remembers from his years of study. I deliberately chose an engineering school with a strong industrial focus to get involved with mechanics, working with various materials, production. With his degree, he started working in service companies, contributing to the development of Airbus’s A380 programme. Having acquired significant experience, he joined Safran Nacelles in 2002 as Stress Manager on the A340-500/600 programme, one of the company’s first major successes in the long-haul market.

Behind the scenes of the A380

Eager to follow the A380 certification campaign, he joined the Customer Support and Services Department. There, he prepared the maintenance and repair documentation for the nacelles, then took part in the preparation of flight tests in close collaboration with Airbus. After the aircraft entered into service, he became a Technical Representative attached to Emirates in Dubai, before being offered the position of the A380 Customer Support Manager. “It was the logical continuation of my journey.” he says. “I knew the programme, I had participated in its development, followed the entry into service of the first aircraft with Singapore Airlines, Qantas or Emirates, etc. This time, I discovered the challenge of the “business” side of the work, since the objective was to align customer satisfaction and profitability." 

Setting the rhythm

Keen to stay close to both the products and the customers, Alain finally joined the Programmes Department in 2011. He was responsible for the A380 programme for 7 years, then moved on to the A320neo, which experienced its ramp-up entering service in 2016. He still holds this position today. "I am the focal point between the customer and internal functions: Production, Quality, Support, Sales, Engineering, etc.” he sums up. “I manage priorities, arbitrate decisions and ensure proper flow of information. I kind of call the beat for the programme, I set the rhythm while ensuring that everyone plays their role to that rhythm.” And the pace has been perfectly maintained: for the past five years, the monthly deliveries of 60 nacelles to Airbus in France, Germany and China have strictly met the schedule expectations. 

Getting people on board and inspiring

Alain is not only a good conductor. He is also fully invested in uniting, motivating and inspiring. "The teams must be on board to meet often very ambitious goals." he notes. “I spend a lot of time in the factory to check the equipment, discuss difficult situations, etc. I try to be exemplary and not to ask anything that I would be unable to do myself. Everyone knows that they can count on me, in good times and bad times. All of this creates a strong relationship that plays an important role in the success of the programme." 

After 9 years, Alain’s enthusiasm remains intact. “We still have challenges ahead of us! The ramp-ups continue to increase, and I really want to continue to bring my experience and skills to Safran, while sharing my passion for aerospace with the newcomers who join us."