 |
Fabrice, 35 – Project Department Manager at Fives Cail
1. Background
After a degree in process engineering at ENSI Pau in 1997, Fabrice studied for an additional year at Madrid’s Complutense University. He began his career as a process engineer working in the field of cigarette papers and reconstituted tobacco. He then turned his attention to the magazine paper sector, where he worked as an engineering project manager coordinating the detailed design study for a biomass power station and overseeing the implementation of various factory projects. In 2005, he joined the Fives Group via its sugar subsidiary, Fives Cail, where he worked as a project manager. He has recently taken on new responsibilities as project department manager.
|
2. What’s your role at Fives Cail?
As a project manager, I’m responsible, above all, for organising, coordinating and overseeing the sale of equipment or turnkey workshops for the sugar industry. It’s my job to ensure that the projects and contracts entrusted to me are up to standard both financially and technically, which includes performance and lead times.
3. What are your main day-to-day responsibilities?
To begin with, I coordinate the launch meetings for the projects I’m responsible for. That involves defining the objectives, among other things. I then set out work schedules for the various departments, in collaboration with their respective managers. To ensure that the project is financially sound, I prepare a cash flow and a financial analysis with the management controllers. That involves a cost-allocation study, an analysis of finance requirements, and so on. I also coordinate purchasing and project logistics, and keep a constant eye on CRM. I interface between the customer and the departments involved in the projects concerned.
4. So performing all of these tasks probably means working with a wide variety of people and departments.
I’m in constant touch with various departments, including the sales department when projects are launched, and the design department when there are plans, technical specifications or purchase requests to be looked after. Given the quality of our equipment and the importance that Fives Cail attaches to lead times, I work in close collaboration with the inspection department to ensure that there is constant supervision of our subcontractors’ production processes. I’m also in regular contact with the assembly department concerning the supervision of equipment assembly on customers’ premises. Lastly, my project-management responsibilities mean that I need to work with the process department on calculations, equipment sizing and operational start-up.
5. What would you say is most attractive about your job?
My job requires broad-based knowledge encompassing contracts and processes, as well as technical, financial and other matters. Project managers interact with all of the company’s departments, so they have to be open and approachable. The international environment is also very important for Fives Cail, because a lot of our projects are conducted abroad, which is very interesting and a great learning experience. I should also say that I enjoy a high degree of empowerment thanks to the spirit of initiative at Fives Cail and to the amount of freedom that the company gives me where project decisions are concerned.
6. If you were asked to describe the Fives Group in a few words, and encourage new people to join us, what would you say?
The international side of the business is really important for me, and the Fives Group is outward-looking and clearly committed to building the plants of tomorrow worldwide. Each of the Group’s subsidiaries has a leadership position in a distinct high-tech field, which is great for people like me with engineering backgrounds. The Fives Group also has considerable historical expertise which is widely acknowledged in industrial circles. While looking to the future to build the plants of tomorrow, Fives also keeps its heritage firmly in mind, which is part of the key to lasting industrial progress.