Safran Engineering Services: PMP®-certified project leaders

The Project Leader: at the heart of operational performance

“Managing projects is at the heart of our operational performance. Our project leaders are one of the priorities and strategic subjects for our company. We support them so that they continuously increase their skills level and professionalism. so that they can also be recognized by an international-level certificate,” explains Clara Gloriant, HR Development Manager for France at Safran Engineering Services. “To do this, we first reorganized our in-house training courses and our own certification program. The newly certified employees therefore become flagbearers for our organization and will provide in-house tutoring.”

PMP® Certification: skills recognized worldwide

In parallel to its curriculum, Safran Engineering Services has allowed ten experienced project leaders from across all the sites to take a week of specific training to prepare for PMP® certification (Project Management Professional) from PMI, the American Project Management Institute. It is the most prestigious project management certificate in the field of industry. This certificate, held by 650,00 people around the world, is internationally recognized and is earned on the basis of a tough selection process and a major entrance exam.

Michel Meulien, who was “Engine Housing” Project Manager for the Safran Aircraft Engines account for many years and is now responsible for “Automotive Projects” for the Renault account, followed the dedicated training course before sitting the exam. He was the first to earn the certificate at Safran Engineering Services. “It’s a source of great pride, both personally and professionally. It wasn’t easy, I invested a lot of time and effort in learning the PMBOK® (Project Management Body of Knowledge) reference system, the Project Management Institute guide. And then to sit the exam, you need is to demonstrate your professional experience, expertise and training. The aim: demonstrate that you are a experienced Project Leader and have already implemented lots of good practice.”

Once the file has been accepted, the exam is in the form of 200 specific multiple-choice questions covering all processes and project management fields. “Everything is gone over with a fine-tooth comb: the launch, scheduling, operations, monitoring and control and closure. The questions also tackle ten skills fields: integration, content, leadtimes, costs, quality human resources, communication, risk, supplies, and stakeholder management. The hardest thing, besides giving the right answer, is time management.”

Concrete application

Backed up by this certificate, Michel Meulien now applies what he has learned to daily working with his team of twenty employees. “In particular, this course allowed me to understand the importance of linking up the process and streamlining tasks that sometimes occur naturally,” he admits. For the company, having a pool of PMP®-certified project leaders also encourages mentoring and skills upgrading for all of that sector’s professionals. This allows them to take on larger project management activities and full work packages for their clients.