45 Back to the future

Last week, I had 10 students visit my lab. They are starting a course similar to mine...with a difference of nearly 30 years. If I am now responsible for the metrology laboratory in terms of organization and quality, it has been a long journey with very different positions. They were interested in Metrology, the scientific study of measurement. And I had to show in 1h30 how it works, what are the different types of measurement. I had some ideas in mind but it's always to short to show everything. They are in the first year (now it's a 3 years course... 2 years before and for different reasons I could do it in 1 year, 30 years ago). There is more work experience in companies and more time to study in depth. A good thing, especially because of some lacks in mathematics sometimes and other basis no more studied in school.

I also have another colleague in the team with the same diploma, a different experience in the company. They were from the same school. Everything has changed and we looked like dinosaurs. I think they were happy with that and they had good questions about our work. 40 % of girls, 60% of boys...it's just a little better for that diploma. It's a very generalist degree that allows you to go in many directions, particularly industry but also research. I'm just in the middle, not in a factory but in Research and Development for cars. Assembly plants in Europe are less and less....and there will be 2 plants less in 5 years, I think. R&D is still in France and Europe but it's also a war internally to be the most efficient : Same Quality, Less Cost...But the problem was how to "measure" the quality and to compare it.

I didn't talk about that of course and they didn't have much time to talk with the team. We are in a very difficult period with old equipment, 30% less people, more work. We are waiting for "new blood"...That's the difficulty today in automotive industry, face to Chinese, Korean and European competitors. When I see how they work elsewhere in the world, France has not to be shy and is not working less, as some people says. If we had investments during the last 10 years, we could do 2 or 3 times quicker. Our software, especially, are old. Students and their teacher were surprised by our equipment, sometimes "homemade" products, recycling old parts. We were surprised to see the luxury of the equipment in Germany (and the cost ... they were not competitive) and archaisms in Italy. Italy automotive industry had more to win than us but for Germany it was a matter of survival. I don't know how it is in Volkswagen but when I see how Porsche is reacting today, it should also be the same. The golden era is no more and now they are in the same situation.

After this feeling of the past, let's go back in the future with great challenges. I'm not responsible of the bad conceptions and issues of the engine and products. It's often a problem of skills and mindset. The students here were motivated, for a large part of them. I always see the one who is not in the right place. I thing it was the case for one or two. That's life. I still have 15 years to do and to accompany colleagues as gently as possible towards retirement. With the new CEO, it will be difficult because they are doing utter nonsense, following the wind that is turning bad in the USA. To survive to those dark years will be a strong mission. And we were talking about it with those student : National Service, War, Climate change, to find a house or a flat...That's their future, now.

2Dɛ

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