Machining maintenance manager: Anthony Blanchard

A VAE after 20 years of experience in industrial maintenance: “It's a significant workload, but worth it”

Mobility Work is launching a brand new series that highlights maintenance jobs and their sometimes atypical careers.

In this first episode, Anthony Blanchard, machining maintenance manager at the FMGC (44), a subsidiary of Farinia Group specialized in foundry, tells us about her professional career, and looks back on her VAE experience (validation of acquired experience).

Mobility Work: Can you present your academic background?

Anthony Blanchard : For the first time, the question of my career path was raised with a guidance counsellor, because my options were relatively limited due to a chaotic school environment. After numerous discussions, I finally decided to opt for a manual profession, which was quite frowned upon at the time. I thus obtained my CAP/BEP diploma in industrial maintenance in 1990.

I would have liked to continue my career in order to obtain a vocational baccalaureate, but this was not the case because I was not able to join a school. So I started in various jobs for 4 years, from a lathe to the welder, through butchers, trimmers and even peelers in the food industry. It was in 1994 that I chose to return to my basic job, maintenance. I thus joined a company that allowed me to join a work-study training center for 2 years.

Can you briefly go back to your various professional experiences?

From 1994 to 1999, I worked as an electromechanical engineer at the company SBC Automation, in Craon (53), specializing in the design of industrial machines. I was thus required to carry out preventive and corrective maintenance interventions for the pharmaceutical, food and corrugated cardboard industries, etc.

Then I was a maintenance technician from 1999 to 2002 at Méca Atlantique, in Noyal sur Brutz (44), a company specialized in precision mechanics and large-scale machining. I was thus responsible for maintenance and machining of the entire CNC machine park.

I then joined the company Carpenter in Craon, which specialises in the processing of packaging foam, as a maintenance technician from 2002 to 2007. I was in charge of maintaining the entire machine park, the complete reconditioning of hydraulic presses, the automation study and its integration, compliance, and the improvement of production performances.

Finally, in 2007, I joined the Euro Mécanique company in Sudan (44) as a maintenance technician, specializing in precision mechanics and the machining of cast iron counterweights up to 20 tons. I was thus responsible for maintenance and machining of the entire CNC machine park and the Num, Fanuc and Heidenaim NC buildings. Following the merger of Euro Mécanique with the FMGC foundry, a subsidiary of Farinia Group, I retained this position, with some additional responsibilities, in particular related to the setting up and configuring maintenance software.

I am now responsible for maintenance in the machining sector at FMGC.

Mobility Work CMMS helps technicians and teams plan their industrial maintenance tasks

Why did you choose to do a VAE?

My main objective was to have all my skills and knowledge acquired after many years of experience validated by a state diploma.

It is important to understand that an eBike is a purely personal choice. The choice of degree should correspond to the skills and knowledge acquired over many years of experience. These skills and knowledge are part of a framework, and must be explained and proven through projects described in a thesis, validated or not by a jury composed of experts in the field of maintenance. The title of the diploma I was aiming for was the following: “Professional license with mention: Maintenance of multi-technical systems - Specialty: Management of maintenance services”. I thus obtained this diploma in June 2016 thanks to a VAE, in front of a jury at the IUT in St Nazaire.

The objective of the license is to train managers who can perform the tasks of machine maintenance manager or maintenance team leader, and more generally technical service.

The training focuses on deepening scientific and technological knowledge, and on training in management practices, project management, team leadership, methods related to industrialization studies and processes, system diagnostics, system diagnostics, environmental management and industrial risk management practices.

How did you feel about going back to school?

It was a real challenge for me, because this approach requires a significant personal investment. I was helped by the IUT of St Nazaire over a short period of time, and over 7 days spread over a year. So I can't really say that I went back to school.

On the other hand, it is true that I wrote my thesis on my free time, during the week, at the weekend or during my holidays. It's a significant amount of work, but well worth it. In this condition, it is essential to isolate yourself and take the necessary distance.

Strengths and weaknesses of this training?

I would not mention any particular strengths or weaknesses. This training requires above all a great deal of motivation, and involves significant writing work in order to describe your professional and academic career.

It is said that the level of young people leaving school has fallen, what is your opinion on the subject?

This is a personal opinion, but I would say that the CAP/BEP diploma that I obtained in 1990 corresponds today to a BAC +1 or +2. Also, maybe it would be wise for some (technical) people in National Education to integrate training courses within our industries in order to better know their subject and to transmit knowledge that is better adapted to the new generation?

Is it difficult to find maintenance personnel?

Our jobs, whether manual or in the field, have been denigrated for many years. No one is going to these channels anymore and we are currently paying the price. Unfortunately, this observation does not only concern maintenance jobs. However, we are seeing a certain return to our manual jobs: some managers of industrial groups are going to meet these young people in their schools in order to promote our jobs, which are certainly difficult, but very interesting.

Thanks to Mr. Blanchard, machining maintenance manager for his testimony. To be alerted to our next article dedicated to maintenance jobs, follow us on our social networks!

Are you interested in maintenance management and want to know more in order to increase your productivity and save money? Schedule a free video with our team to help you better manage your maintenance!