FB Procédés celebrates its 30th anniversary! - Jean-Paul Planchot
Among the factors that enabled FB Procédés to develop serenely in the early 2000s, Jean-Paul Planchot's name doesn't often come to the fore, even though his role was fundamental. At times, it was even uncomfortable. It was his job to inform a customer of a late delivery. It was his job to find a place on an already overloaded schedule. Finding and ordering a part in a hurry, that was still him. With the phone often glued to his ear, he put all his energy and benevolence into satisfying everyone's requests. He wasn't the last to swear "good God" when things didn't go his way, but his bonhomie quickly got the better of him. Let's meet our local JPP.
Hi Jean-Paul, how did you end up at FB Procédés and what did you do there?
I came to FB Procédés quite simply because I knew him. I knew Patrick, the company's managing director, from working with him at a previous company.
Above all, I knew Robert, the technical manager, who offered me the job. This was only fair, as I had recommended him to Patrick a few years earlier.
Finally, as far as my job was concerned, I held the position of "Logistics and Planning Manager". I was involved from the moment the order was taken, looking after supplies, stocks, production planning and finally product dispatch. And all this to meet deadlines!
What was your previous career path?
After a year's temporary work as a draughtsman, I found a permanent job as a methods assistant at Sambron in Pontchâteau (a manufacturer of handling equipment). I stayed there for seven years. I resigned to move closer to home after finding a job as a scheduling technician at Worthington Batignolles in Nantes (Manufacture of centrifugal pumps for the petrochemical industry). I was made redundant ten years later when the site was closed. I immediately found another job as a service provider at DCN Indret (manufacture of ship propulsion equipment). I was in charge of coordinating and planning/monitoring production for an order book. As DCN put an end to service providers, I was again made redundant after eight years' service in August 1998. On September 1 of the same year, I joined FB Procédés.
When you think back on this active period, are there any memories that come immediately to mind?
I obviously have a few memories of these moments in the company. But, for the sake of originality, I'm going to mention two moments that are a little on the periphery. In particular, at Worthington, when we learned of the site's closure. With only a few exceptions, the entire workforce fought, in a friendly atmosphere, to obtain a better redundancy. On a human level, it was an enriching experience.
Otherwise, and this shouldn't be reductive, I remember my retirement as an excellent occasion, with the memorable unwrapping of my gift.
What made you decide to join such a small team at FB Procédés?
It's true that I was the sixth member of the team! It was all new to me. I'd just left a group with fifteen hundred employees. Having worked for a number of SMEs, joining a small team was an exciting challenge, given the diversity of the day-to-day work. The fact that I was working with people I'd already worked with made it easier for me to settle in, despite some initial misgivings.
Between your arrival (1998) and your retirement (2014), the company had evolved considerably. What did this inspire you to do, and what do you see as our main assets?
Between my arrival and my departure from FB Procédés, the company has indeed come a long way! Already operating in a promising niche - wastewater treatment - the company has made its mark over the years. But we still need reliable, efficient equipment to satisfy our customers. I think this is the company's main strength, as it offers bar screens that are simple to operate. What's more, the company's staff have lived up to customer expectations right from the start. For me, FB Procédés is a competent, dynamic, close-knit and well-organized team.
How satisfied are you with your FB Procédés period?
My sixteen years at FB have given me a great deal of satisfaction. As I mentioned earlier, the variety of the work, the responsibilities associated with the job, the daily contact with customers and suppliers, but also the good atmosphere that prevailed internally. I like to have contacts and I can say that I was well served.
When Jean-Paul speaks above of the "memorable unwrapping of his gift", this is why. A superb Opinel!