Thomas M.'s Blog

And to conclude, my coach is going to say a few words...

   I found the concept of the program very interesting because it seems to me that it allows a student and a professional, whose job the latter is interested in, to have a profitable relationship. Anyway I hope that he will help you to build tou professional project whatever it may be. As for me, it gave me the opportunity to show you some sides of industrial research. To my mind, industrial research is an exciting activity maybe not for the same reasons as academic research but because it really permits to follow the development of an idea untill its realisation with the commercialization of an innovative product. As you may have seen it, workdays may be very heavy because we have continuous relations with our factories and our clients outside the firm. however it is also this closeness which motivates us. It also allows to be in touch with different functions and different cultures, which may be very enriching. Now it is you turn to play and to make the right choice: YOU ALL CAN!

All the posts

Dear Readers,

Let me give you the list of all the posts:

    "Bienvenue" on my Blog!
     The Weallcan Philosophy
     About me
     Branding
     Acrostic
     About my coach
     About my Alcan Day
     Aluminium and I
     Take the Quizz
     First Topic:Clients&Suppliers
     Second Topic:International
     Third Topic:Innovation
     Fourth Topic:Teamwork
     The Last Word
     And to conclude: My coach is going to say a few words...

Have Fun and to not forget to visit all the blogs!...

The Last Word...

Dear Readers,

   The time has come to write my last words. Henceforth, days will be sunless, birds will no longer sing, flowers will no longer open out... More seriously I am sad at the idea of leaving the "Weallcan" adventure. As a matter of fact, because of the program I was fortunate to meet interesting people and to have preferential relations with Sylvain, an Alcan researcher. I could easily go on listing all that the program brought to me but I prefer focussing on the essence of the program. As you may now know it, the program help the students to discover the life of a young professional inside Alcan and to have a better idea of a work which they are interested in. As for me, I aim to become a researcher. But, as I explained it to the "Weallcan" team when we met, I still do not know if I want to do academic or industrial research. Unfortunately, I had no idea of industrial research's world whereas I already did an internship in a public laboratory. Fortunately Alcan gave me the opportunity to discover industrial research's world. I have to confess that the program gave me a better picture of indutrial research. Thanks to Alcan, I can now make my choice...
Moreover, I hope that my blog helped you to answer your questions if you are in the same case as I am. I strived to answer all the questions that I asked myself before taking part in the adventure. So this is high time that I got down to answer these questions:
Do we earn more money by doing industrial research rather than academic research? Is it possible to protect our family life when we do industrial research?
   In fact, it cannot be denied that an industrial researcher usually earns more his living than an academic one. Nevertheless do not think that an industrial researcher can not protect his family life! You are not driven to become a workaholic who has never time to seize the life,  if you want to be a successful researcher.
Do industrial researchers have larger means than public ones?
   Actually, it depends on the public and industrial laboratories. However industrial laboratories have usually more means than Alcan ones. For instance, if an Alcan researcher needs to attend a congress in Mexico or in Japan, he will not be refused to attend the latter, whereas a public laboratory has sometimes difficulties in financing such a trip. That is why industrial researchers are talked out of wasting time and money and can sometimes be more under pressure than academic researcher.
Is academic research more interesting than industrial one?
   Not at all! In fact, it depends on what you enjoy doing! If you enjoy deepening theory, you will like academic research.But if you enjoy discovering all the stages of a product's creation, industrial research will suit you. What a satisfaction when you can see your alloy in a new plane or a new car!
Is there no link between academic research and industrial research?
   No! Industrial and academic researchers have been working together for a long time now. They share their knowledge and they often met. Sometimes a public laboratory may be paid by a firm to carry out some scientific surveys.
Do firms prefer not employing doctors?
   Of course not! In Voreppe, a lot of researchers are doctors. Alcan need people who have specialized scientific knowledge.
May Alcan finance some PhDs?
   Of course! Some PhD are financed by Alcan each year! The epitome is probably my coach, Sylvain, who, after holding his engineering degree, obtained an Alcan grant to finance his PhD. Be sure that attending a PhD financed by Alcan is a good way to become an Alcan researcher!
Can a PhD financed by a firm hamper a student to become an academic research?
   Officially there is no reason. Nevertheless you must be conscious that you have to publish scientific articles and to become well-known by the other researchers if you aim to be an academic researcher; whereas you will usually be asked to patent if you do a PhD financed by a firm end patenting requires to be secret. However there are some PhD financed by some firms which will not hinder you to publish some scientific articles. You just have to be careful with the choice of your PhD.
If I do not want to do research during my whole career, do I have to choose academic or industria research?
   In fact, an industrial researcher can decide to work in production or in management for example. Alcan offers its researchers to change their career if it is their will. I have to confess that it is more difficult for an academic researcher to change his career.

    The "Weallcan" program helped me to find these answers, but it also allowed me to discover a job which could suit me. Even if we all are different and that our questions are not necessarily the same, I hope that my blog will drive some of you to be interested in doing research. If I would like you to learn one thing from my blog, it would be that Alcan research is The Job which allows you to discover all the stages of a product's creation and that is why Alcan often gives its researchers the oppotunity to change their career by working as a manager or a person in charge of production for instance.

The big question: Do I now know what I want to do?
   I am sorry for disappointing you but I still do not know what I want to do... In fact, before the beginning of the adventure, I had no real idea of industrial research and -to be honest- I thought that the main advantage of industrial research was the salary. Today, after the adventure, I am much more interested in industrial research. Thanks to Alcan I discovered a job! And I hope that I succeeded in making you discover the job! That is why , today, I know less about what I intend to do. As a matter of fact, before the adventure, I did not really contemplate  doing industrial research. But now, I am really beginning to wonder wether I will choose industrial or academic research...
Try your luck!
   If my aim was not to brainwash you into working as an Alcan researcher, I hope that now some of you who are still students, feel like taking part in the "Weallcan" program! Do not forget that it is an unique opportunity for you to discover a job which could suit you. Moreover it will make you progress and, to be honest again, it will allow you to be inclose touch with a young professional. The winner of the program is not the student who will go to Canada but the thirty-three students who took part in the adventure and met their coach. Do not forget that contacts with professionals is certainly a good point for your career! So try your luck because WE ALL CAN!
Thank you!
   First I would like to thank Alcan and the "Weallcan" team for giving us the opportunity of taking part in the adventure! Thank you Sandrine, Angélique, Edith and Marie-José! I am quite sure that you did not have a lot of free time during the adventure!
I also thank Alcan members whom I met in Voreppe or in Paris.
I also want to thank Marie my girlfriend and my friend Nicolas who helped me to create my blog! Unfortunately, if I am fortunate to win the trip, I will have to choose between you for going to Canada with me!...
Eventually I would specially like to thank my coach Sylvain. Sylvain, you was a great coach and you made me enjoy your job! Moreover you were careful with my questions and you told me your experience without brainwashing me into choosing your way. Thank you so much!...

                                             Try your luck because WE ALL CAN!

 

Fourth Topic: Teamwork

    Do not be scared.. I will not bore you by spunning you a long-drawn-out tale about how teamwork may be essential... So keep on reading this post because no platitude is written here! However you will not be surprised if I tell you that teamwork is a major element of my coach's work. As you may guess it, researchers locking in an office alone are now endangered species. The aim of this post is thus to focuss on Sylvain's teamwork. As for Sylvain, teamwork is the key of success in Research because it allows the team members to brainstorm.Actually Sylvain belongs to two main teams:
1.The Voreppe R&D projects' teams.
   In Voreppe Research Center, two kinds of Research Units may be registered. There are indeed "Activity Research Units" and "Support Research Units". The "Activity Research Units" are directly linked to the trading activities. For instance, Sylvain is a member of the "Automotive Heat Exchangers" activity. The scope of the "Support Research Units" is transverse to the activities. As a matter of fact, the members of the "Suppot Research Units" carry out scientific investigations for the researchers of the"Activity Research Units". For example, the "Structural Investigations" unit conducts surface analysis or studies alloys through a microscope.
   To carry out a R&D project to a successful conclusion, the different competences from the different "Activity Research Units" and "Support Research Units" have to be gathered under the responsibility of a leader. As a matter of fact, it is a long time since an industrial researcher was in charge of all the stages of a project. As for the "Automotive Heat Exchanger" activity, Sylvain may be often appointed to be the leader of a project. Nevertheless, he may also be driven to be a team member of another activity's project if his knowledge of metallurgy are considered to be interesting. Moreover a leader of a project plays the job of organiser and coordinator, but is not necessarily the other team members' senior in charge.
2.The Automotive Heat Exchanger trading activity's team.
   Research is an integral part of trading activities. If you have a look at the post "Third Tipic: Innovation", you will easily understand that researches need to know the economic restraints ofa product. Moreover, industrial researchers have to make sure that their ideas could lead to industrial applications or commercial benefits. Thus the team is made up of a researcher, a marketing one and the person who is responsible for the development of the product. When Sylvain meets Alcan clients, the three functions are most of the time represented.
Differences between Academic Research and Industrial Research.
   Sylvain considers teamwork in Industrial Research very satisfying because it allows researchers to know all the stages of a product's creation:from technical marketing (looking for some good ideas by meeting the clients) to research in laboratory, industrialization and sale. As for Sylvain, it is one of the advantage of industrial research over academic research. Nevertheless, a little disadvantage is that industrial researcher do not have always time for deepening some subjects.

Third Topic: Innovation

    I assume that nobody will be surpised if innovation is told to be one of Sylvain's greatest concern. As a matter of fact, there is no R&D without innovation. But let's go further...
Does Aluminium industry really requires innovation?
   First I would like to dismiss a generally accepted idea, which could make you think that there is no need of innovation for Aluminium industry. Do not forget that, for intance, Aluminium is used in cars or planes. The epitome of the need of innovation remains my coach's job. As it is explained in the post named "About my coach", Sylvain 's research area is automotive heat exchanger.  As you may guess it, automotive industry is high innovating since many firms are competing.It means that Aluminium industry is demanded to be also high innovating. Thus Sylvain and Alcan researchers have to offer new solutions to their clients (First Topic: Clients and Suppliers).In other words they have to find solutions which offer better results or/and are more economical. If you take the blog's quizz, you will discover how much the R&D budget amounts to...I am convinced that you will be surprised!
Is innovation the only solution for an occidental firm to remain competitive?
   Today occidental firms have obviously more and more difficulties in facing the competition with firms from countries, such as China, India or even Russia- where production costs are lower. Actually, Alcan researchers have to offer higher-potential alloys than standard alloys which are sold by Alcan's competitors with a lower cost than Alcan's one. If you can talk to an Alcan client, you will be told that Innovating ability is clearly a criterion of selection.
A simple example: A lower price does not necessarily means the cheapest solution.
   Let me give you the example that Sylvain told me in order to make me understand how innovation may be essential. Imagine that the price of a standard alloy amounts to 2.500 euros/ton. If Alcan is able to propose an alloy whose cost is 2.800 euros/ton and if the latter can make the client save 500 euros/ton (forinstance, because the client will then succeed in reducing the thickness of the part without losing its properties or because he will not have to use a rustproofing treatment), the client will be droven to choose Alcan's solution.
Alcan research requests innovating in Alcan's clients processes.
   The previous example shows how necessary the innovation in clients' processes may be. That is why Alcan researchers knows perfectly their clients' products and often create the prototypes of these products. Unbelievably, Alcan researchers can sometimes lies at the roots of innovation in their client's products and processes.
Difference between academic research and industrial research.
   Innovation is certainly more at the heart of industrial research. As a matter of fact, academic researchers are more interested in understanding and creating new theories whereas industrial researchers always strive to find new applications of the different theories. It does not mean that industrial researchers do not work at creating new theories or that academic researchers do not develop new applications. However there is no doubt that the aim of an academic researcher remains to publish some scientific articles whereas the one of an industrial researcher is to patent.
Is patenting always a good strategy?
   When Sylvain -or another Alcan researcher- finds a new alloy or a new process, Alcan usually patents the idea. Alcan has indeed to be careful to protect the idea in order to prevent the competitors from using Alcan's ideas or alloys. Nevertheless, patenting is not always the best solution. As a matter of fact, patenting is a public act. Thus, it will give a part of the idea to the competitors. For instance, a process innovation does not leave any mark, it will be very difficult to prove that there is an infrigment of the patent.

Take the Quizz

Do you want to test or deepen your knowledge of Alumium and Alcan? So TAKE THE QUIZZ and HAVE FUN!!!

Download Quizz.zip

Second Topic: International

    Most students are keen on going abroad. We usually strive to study in a foreign university for one year or to go on a training course abroad. But don't you think that working in an international company like Alcan would not be a good idea if you enjoy travelling? The aim of this topic is thus to make us discover to what extent an Alcan job entails international aspects.
Alcan, an international company...
   First, as you maybe know, Alcan employs 70,000 people and has operating facilities in 55 countries and regions. Where would you like to live? Europe? North America? South America? Asia? Africa? Do not worry... I could say that you just have to choose! I hope you can guess that if you look for a firm which can offer you an international career, Alcan will suit you more than another company!
Do I have to learn English to do research?
   As for my coach's job international aspects, you will not be surprised if I tell you that scientific research is international in essence. So if your goal is to become a researcher, I should advise you to work hard your English. In fact, taking part in the Weallcan program is certainly a good way to manage it! As a matter of fact, there is no way of informing oneself about the last new things if one cannot speak English, since all the scientifc articles are written in English. In the same way, if Alcan researchers want to be understood by most of the other researchers, they have to write and to talk in English. Moreover, when my coach Sylvain and his colleagues want to enter in collaboration with a university, they do not choose a french laboratory, but the best one even if its researchers do not speak french!

Is the automotive heat exchanger's market international?
   Let me remind you that Sylvain's field of research is automotive heat exchangers. Will you believe me if I tell you that the market of heat exchangers is international? It can be divided up into three geographical areas: Europe, North America and Asia. The eight main automotive suppliers which produce heat exchangers are -when they are listed according to their geographical area:
_Europe: Valeo (France) and Behr (Germany)
_North America: Delphi (a former General Motors' subsidiary,the USA), Visteon (a former Ford's subsidiary,the USA), Modine (the USA) and Long Manufacturing (Canada)
_Asia: Denso (a former Toyota's subsidiary, Japan), Calsonic (a former Nissan's subsidiary, Japan)
As you may guess it, I just pointed out above where were located these companies' head offices. However, these companies' factories are located through out the world.
Does an Alcan researcher travel a lot?
   I know that you all expect the answer to this question! In fact, YES, an Alcan researcher travel very often. For instance, during my Alcan Day, Sylvain asked his secretary for preparing (booking train or plane tickets) a business trip to the Czech Republic the week after my Alcan Day. In May have always been scheduled some business trips to Poland and Sweden. In June Sylvain will maybe also go to South Korea...Is it enough international for you? I guess that you should be interested in such an international career!
Why does an Alcan researcher have to travel a lot?
   If you could talk to Sylvain, he would explain you that what may be very interesting in his job remains that there are a lot of distinction between the different countries'schedules of conditions. For example, Japan, which is a  humid country (surrounded by the ocean), has some strong requirements for corrosion whereas the United States of America, where cars are bigger, demand for alloys with a better mechanical resistance. It implies that it is necessary that an Alcan researcher should well understand theses distinctions and the cultural differences -which have to be taken into account during the meetings with the clients or the suppliers.
An international competition...
   The companies which compete with Alcan are also foreign. Indeed there are Alcoa (the USA), Norsk Hydro (Norway), Corus (Great-Britain/the Netherlands), Sumitomo (Japan) or Furukawa (Japan). And don't forget that Alcan is likely to be competeted by chinese firms...
The country of the rising sun...
   During my Alcan Day, I realized that Sylvaindid several business trips to Japan and that it is one of his favourite countries. When you enter in his office, you can at once see some souvenirs from Japan. And can you guess where I will go on a training course next year?Yes, you have got it!...To Japan!
Finally, I hope you will have understood that Alcan is an international company which can offer you an international career!..

The Weallcan Philosophy

   Dear visitors, 
   However due to haphazard your visit may be, I hope you will enjoy discovering Alcan's world. You may wonder why this program has been created. Actually, as you may know it, Alcan is a North-American firm and is not very well-known by european students. Nevertheless, after the acquistion of Péchiney, it appeared necessary that Alcan should be introduced to the european students. That is why thirty-four students have been selected. So which part do we have to play in this program? In fact, we all are very different: we come from different countries, we have different backgrounds and our aims are also very different. Some of us are interetsed in sciences, others in management or in law. It means that whatever you may want to do, you can find someone between us who can answer your questions. So do not hesitate to visit all the blogs!...

  Moreover I advocate you to take part in the Weallcan program. As a matter of fact, it is a unique real experience of professional life. You will no longer have the same view of working in a major firm like Alcan as before. It will also help you to know what kind of jobs are likely to please you. So try to convince Sandrine Guyot (on the right) and Edith Sala (on the left) when they will come to your school or university to get to know you better. Do not forget that Sandrine is the Weallcan program's "mother". Without her we would never have the opportunity to live such an experience!

   Finally do not waste your time and take the most of this blog to ask all your questions...

First Topic:Clients&Suppliers

    Usually the nouns "client" and "supplier" are used when you talk about a business chain. However it cannot be denied that each worker has its own clients and suppliers. Do not forget that "client" and "supplier" does not necessarily mean "buyer" and "seller". Let me take an example. The suppliers of a superhero like "Superman" or "Spiderman" are the bad guys who aim to control the world and their clients are the victims of the latter. You can thus imagine that the topic is more complex for an Alcan employee since his clients and suppliers may be inside or outside the firm. That is what we will see in this post by wondering who are the clients and suppliers of my coach Sylvain Henry.
Do you remember which is my coach's job? He is actually a Senior Research Engineer. He works at Voreppe Alcan Research Center and his research area is Automative Heat Exchanger.

Who are Sylvain's clients?

Inside Alcan:
     Sylvain's chief clients inside Alcan are the "Automotive Heat Exchanger" business activity which is located in Neuf-Brisach (Alsace, France) Alcan factory. More precisely, the person Sylvain is speaking to, is Pascal Roger who works as Alcan Neuf-Brisach factory Slaes and Marketing Director. Indeed, after discussing with Alcan researchers from Voreppe and his director, Pascal Roger lays down Sylvain's R&D projects budgets. Since the beginning of this year, Pascal Roger has also been in charge of the "Automotive activity's Sales Direction". These two activities are part of the "Alcan Speciality Sheet" unit which gathers together Neuf-brisach and Singen's (South of Germany) factories. Remember that the "Alcan Speciality Sheet" unit is one of the nine "business units" from Alcan Engineered Products Business Group.
     Sylvain also helps Alcan producers when they have difficulties in producing the heat exchangers. It means that Sylvain may be called whenever Alcan producers met some problems. To prevent from being called too often, Sylvain trains Alcan producers so that the latter can go through by theirself when they have problems.

Outside Alcan:
     Sylvain's chief clients outside Alcan are automotive equipment suppliers such as Valeo, Calsonic, Visteon, Denso, Modine, long manufacturing, Behr or Delphi. They are his clients not only because they are the clients of Sylvain's business activity but also because it may happen that Sylvain and some employees of these firms work together; As a matter of fact, Sylvain and his colleagues may have to create some prototypes or to realize some expert appraisals for these equipment suppliers.

Who are Sylvain's suppliers?

Inside alcan:
     Sylvain's chief suppliers inside Alcan are some other researchers from Voreppe Research Center who realize different research surveys for him. The epitome of this kind of suppliers remains the "Support Research" unit which is in charge of helping the other researchers in their work. For instance, the member of this unit may help Sylvain to find some information or to do some structural investigations.

Outside Alcan:
     Never forget that industrial research and academic research are no longer separate. Indeed Sylvain have often contacts with C.N.R.S researchers. For example, concerning the automotive heat exchangers, Sylvain works with Dijon's University at corrosion problems.
     The other Sylvain's suppliers are the factories which supply him with some raw materials.

Honesty: one of the Alcan values
     Clients often need to have confidence in their sellers (or suppliers). As a matter of fact, some surveys pinpoint that if you aim to satisfy your clients, you have to indicate the problems that there might be. Your clients will certainly be at least as satisfied when you express the problems and you succeed in solving them as when there is no problem! So be honest!...

Now you may really guess that defining clients and suppliers for Alcan researchers is far more complex than for superheroes....

Acrostic

   Do you remember that I live with my girlfriend who works as a litterature teacher. I hope you guess that each day I hear her talking about litterature. She more exactly bludgeons me into reading books everyday. At the moment, she cannot help speaking about OuLiPo! But what is OuLiPo?

   OuLiPo is a french litterature movement. The name means "Ouvroir de Littrature Potentielle" in french ("workroom of potential litterature" in english). The moment were created by Raymond Queneau and François Le Lionnais in 1960. But what does their work consist in?

   Their aim is to write constrainedly. For instance, Georges Perec, a member of OuLiPo, wrote La Disparition (The Disappearance) in 1969, in which he never uses the letter "e"... Unbelievable!!!

   Now in order to describe myself, I wrote an acrostic of my name, whose aim is to focus on my qualities and my values:


          TEAMWORK, is where I feel good
          HUMOUR and HONESTY, these are my H values
          OPPORTUNITY, never refuse them                      
          MATURITY, may help you to know who you are and whou you want to be
          ACKNOLEDGEMENT, never forget people who helped you
          SEIZE THE LIFE, never forget it

          MARTIN LUTHER KING, he is a model for me
          ACCEPT things that you cannot change
          UNDERSTANDING, a great skill when you work in team
          RESEARCH, this is what I want to do
          ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUS, that is what I try to be in my everydaylife
          RISKs take some and keep on trying