Safran USA employee spotlight

September 26, 2016

Michael Wong, Master Production Schedule Manager, Safran Helicopter Engines

Safran’s U.S. employees are a vital component to the company’s continued success in a competitive marketplace. The group invests heavily in its people, seeking out the “best and brightest” individuals to support its operations. In the U.S., some 7,000 employees help the Group drive innovation forward, including Michael Wong, who is the subject of this month’s employee spotlight.

Who: Michael Wong is a Master Production Schedule Manager at the Safran Helicopter Engines operation in Grand Prairie, Texas. He has worked for the group since March 2014, joining with over a decade of experience in supply chain management at various companies in the Texas region. Wong holds a bachelor's degree in business administration – supply chain & IT management from Texas A&M University.   

When: Wong joined Safran just over two and a half years ago, assuming this newly created role focusing on supply chain management. “It was an opportunity to develop and implement an idea from scratch,” he said.

What: Wong is responsible for ensuring the smooth flow of assets, materials and communications as part of Safran Helicopter Engines' supply chain management operation in the U.S. He oversees the Master Production Schedule, which ensures that all production processes and plans are executed, aligned and optimized.

“I had to develop many of the processes and tools that are in place today,” he said. For Wong, his role comes down to three keys: having the vision to define where the company needs to be; maintaining the visibility to see how the smallest details connect to the highest level strategies and initiatives; and, communicating the plan to all levels of all departments.  

Where: Seeing where our helicopter engines are deployed for critical missions – from the Army’s UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopter, to rotorcraft in service with the U.S. Border Patrol and Coast Guard, as well as for air medical transportation operators – makes working at Safran special for Wong. “Understanding the need for these important missions adds weight to our work.”

Achievements: For Wong, it’s the challenge of the job that motivates him. “I’ve supported our teams in accomplishing goals so many said were impossible,” he said. Since his start with Safran, Wong has been responsible for the creation of the Master Production Schedule and building associated tools, as well as sharing the vision and creating visibility for supply chain management activities. “We’ve had a lot of success, but I don’t think my job has ever stayed in one place,” he noted. “It continues to redefine itself.”

Wong also serves as a Safran Ambassador – a group of the company’s senior leaders, engineers and business experts that promote interest in Safran’s activities with future candidates and emerging talent. “It’s an exciting opportunity to talk about things you enjoy with young people,” he said. In this two-year role, Wong attends several career fairs and recruitment days to share his “Safran story” and strengthen partnerships with key universities.

Why Safran: “Safran is driven by innovation. This means I must embody that spirit every day in my job to continue pushing our teams to the next level.” – Michael Wong