INTERVIEW SPIE EN

1. Franck Thuillier, 55, started working at SPIE in 1982 as a Technician, and rose through the ranks
to become a manager in the 1990’s. Today, he is a Department Head in Normandy and is in charge
of the petrochemical activities in the Seine Valley.
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INTERVIEWS
WITHOURSO SPIEPEOPLE
“Few engineering
schools offer training
in the petrochemicals
industry”
Tell us about your career at SPIE.
Franck Thuillier: I’ve been a Technician, a Business Manager assistant, a Business Manager,
a Department Manager, a Site Manager… Over a 36-year career, I’ve done a lot of various jobs
at SPIE. Since 2014, I have been a Department Head in charge of our petrochemicals activities
in northern France. I’m responsible for managing multi-year contracts with large customers.
What do SPIE’s petrochemicals services consist of?
F.T.:Wecontrolourcustomers’installationsonsitesothattheirplantshavethebestperformance.
Using very accurate instruments, our technicians measure and calibrate the temperature,
pressure and flow of gases and fluids resulting from the manufacture of fertilisers, plastics and
oil.Wearealsocommittedtoensuringthatalltheproductscarriedinthepipesarefullycompliant.
What are the challenges facing this very specific area?
F.T.: Nowadays, it’s difficult for us to recruit because there are few engineering schools that offer
training in the petrochemicals industry. That’s why SPIE organises a training programme so that
we can share our knowledge and know-how with the applicants. I regularly give talks there to
encourage students to graduate in this field, but also study at engineering schools and gain work
experience by doing their apprenticeship at SPIE. I explain to them that it’s not a routine work in
any way, that we use the latest technologies and that there are great career perspectives.