| | Olivier, you are an Altran senior consultant on a project for the ING Renault F1 Team. What is your role in the Team? I am a process engineer in an environment where processes need be optimized to bear pressure on costs and speed of development. Things get done massively in parallel in Formula 1 engineering. My role is to optimize processes and streamline them to increase the efficiency and save precious time, in all steps from the design to the race! So far we achieved increased smoothness in processes, data consistency and integrity, and a great amount of time was saved for designers, mechanics, engineers, which helps in increasing performance.
What is the biggest challenge in this position? On one hand my task is preparing the Team’s processes for the long term future, and on the other hand I have to deliver quick results, step by step, to boost the Team’s performance straight away.
Another challenge is that no traditional industry method applies for Formula 1; you have to find the most innovative ideas faster than the competitors. We use technologies from various industrial sectors; therefore Formula 1 has highly complex requirements. What is the role of Altran in the ING Renault F1 Team? Altran brings experience and expertise on such fields as automotive design, composite material, electronics etc, as well as on activities which are not Formula 1 core expertise. I belong to this kind of “special” experts, bringing experience from other industries and providing technology transfer. The Team is already best-in-class in many sectors; that is why we provide them with solutions coming from other industrial sectors, which is source of innovation specific to the Altran Group.
What did you do before starting your project for ING Renault F1 Team? I have worked in many companies and sectors. My jobs before joining Altran in 2005 were industrial engineering and environmental research. I like the fact that my career is made of successive challenges.
When I joined Altran I trusted that my manager, Jacques-Henri Veyron, would help me boost my career and meet new challenges. Time has proved us both right!
Were you already on this project in 2005 and 2006 when Renault F1 Team won the championship?
Yes, I started in 2005. I was proud of celebrating the Renault F1 Team victory.
Now [2007], the ING Renault F1 Team faces a difficult season, which brings new interesting challenges. I can say that the whole team has responded and showed how strong its fighting spirit is. Professionalism and dedication are the key for the ING Renault F1 Team as it is for Altran. Therefore no need to panic, the skills are right here, ready to deliver performance!
How does the ING Renault F1 Team consider Altran consultants?
When I arrived, Altran was perceived as a “supplier of engineers” for one-off projects. Jacques-Henri Veyron was the person who changed this. He was at that time a manager for Altran UK (he is now the executive director for Altran CEE). He fully understood, along with Bob Bell (Renault F1 Team technical director), the interest of a long term partnership with a high-level positioning. Altran is now considered as a provider of performance on key activities of the Team.
How do you spend your free time?
As much as possible, I spend time with my two amazing, clever, funny and lovely children. They teach me more than I teach them, sometimes!
I like art, photography, good movies, and I’m a big fan of jazz music. I love Japan and Japanese people and everything Japanese!!!
I practice some sport as well, it helps to feel good. And of course I meet friends. A consultant’s life away from home means socializing more than others!
More information
| |
