#LovemySafranjob : « shared knowledge is key to a sustainable performance »

What is your background?

I have a degree in manufacturing engineering management from the California State University Long Beach. In 1994, I joined C&D Aerospace, which was later taken over by Zodiac Aerospace, which itself became Safran Cabin. I held various positions during this period, starting as a product support engineer. I was located by our customers in Brazil, while liaising with our engineering department to improve our products. I then was involved in the fortified cockpit doors that were implemented after the 9/11 hijacks, both in their manufacturing and in their retrofitting to existing planes, especially on Boeing B737/B757 and Douglas MD-80s. I also worked on several cabin elements for the Airbus A380. I then became a senior manufacturing engineer for interior systems for airlines retrofits and OEM line-fits, which basically are the cabin components, minus the seats. My team focused on manufacturability of our products, by working with the customer and our design engineering teams Eventually, I joined in 2012 the Learning and Development department, where I now am Corporate Training Development Manager.

Could you describe your job?

I create training campaigns, their format, their contents, as well as the tools to deploy them. One of these tools is our global Learning Management System (LMS) which assigns, tracks, and hold records of training.  Currently we are implementing this tool for all our sites located in the European Union. We are working through data protection laws right now, but expect to implement it by the end of 2021.  I have also been working on a Competency model for all Safran Cabin departments, so we can precisely publish what is expected from applicants and current employees for each job role in the branch.

What drew you towards training?

I started to become very interested in it around 2010. At the time, Zodiac had made major progress in implementing efficient standards and processes. The next step was to make sure that the people got to know them, understand them, and use them: an industrial company needs what I call the “Three P’s”, that is Purpose, Process, and People. To achieve that, training is crucial. Of course, training programs already existed at Zodiac, but I was the first Corporate Training Manager with a 100% engineering background, and with a long experience at organizing and implementing standards.

Does the fact of sharing knowledge matter to you?

Of course! For a company, shared knowledge is key to a sustainable performance. However efficient your production system may be, it will yield results only if its principles are widely and persistently shared. For employees, training is the best way to grow in expertise along a career. Lastly, from a personal point of view, I am glad to be able to contribute to this, while still learning myself. In my present position, I had to train in data analytics and in communication. I must also add that I was certified as a Lean Sigma Green Belt, which means that I still work on continuous improvement projects for both office and shop floor departments. This allows me to keep directly in touch with the operational goals of Safran Cabin.

You also have other involvements within the Group. Which ones?

I am eager to contribute as much as possible to the development of Safran. First, as a Safran Ambassador, I take part in the promotion of the Group on the social networks, and I represent it towards several universities in California. My own Alma Mater, of course, and also UCLA, UCI, UCSB the universities at Cal Poly Pomona, San Luis Obispo, and Western Washington State University. I closely follow the development of their research programs, and I regularly assess partnership opportunities with them. In addition, I take part in the Safran mentoring program, and I tutor interns each year, mostly engineering students. I am proud that most of them remain with Safran once they have graduated.

You have been working with Safran for quite a long time. What is your vision of the Group?

To start with, I am impressed by the array of expertise within Safran companies, and by the scope they cover in the aerospace sector. Then, as an engineer, I appreciate the way Safran creates and implements global processes and standards worldwide. Last but not least, as an individual, I am glad to be part of a group where I can live my passion for aerospace and engineering, and where people are considered as a priority.