Adrien Saracco - Process Engineer

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Adrien Saracco

The Process Engineer on our Graduate Trainee Engineering Program has been working with Knauf since October 2018 and is from France.

Adrien Saracco Trainee Engineer at Knauf Insulation
My advice for young engineers? Keep moving, learning, thinking and trying hard, you can achieve anything. Always stay open to everything and never hesitate to ask if you want to know something.
Adrien Saracco

Why is the graduate program important to you?

It’s the best way to start in Knauf Insulation because it gives time to learn about the company, vision, people and history as well as the processes for Glass Mineral Wool, Rock Mineral Wool and Wood Wool. It gives us everything we need to carry out projects to the best of our ability.

Split between theory and practice, the program also allows us to move from plant to plant to see different specificities, cultures, ways of doing things, and meet different people to build an effective powerful network.

This is the best way to learn. I have always liked science, technical processes and solving problems, and this program allows me to carry out exciting and challenging tasks, working on important projects, all over the world and always learning. I love this program! And I still have so much to experience and learn.

What does it contribute to Knauf Insulation?

Knauf Insulation takes time to give us all the tools for us to perform as well as possible on projects. These projects are launched to improve Knauf Insulation, so training us supports a win-win situation. I’m also growing up with a group of other trainees. We all get along well and this group will continue to bring out the best in us all. We have a lot to offer Knauf Insulation.

How does the program enhance company culture?

Generations change and ideas change. We arrived with new ideas and new energy to share. We contribute to the dynamic of a plant by hopefully finding new ways to do things better. I hope we can all build a new future vision together. I’m proud to work for an insulation manufacturer — today buildings consume 40% of the energy in Europe — and everyone is now aware of the need to save energy.

How does the program build on Continuous Improvement? Safety? And customer-centricity?

These are not just words but real actions in the field. Safety and Continuous Improvement (CI) are more visible in the plants, and we should all be at the same level everywhere, wherever we work.

Safety should always come first — there is nothing so important that cannot be done safely. CI is also a way to act on safety, but also on productivity and working conditions. Ask anybody in a plant about it, you will always get the same answer —  CI helps and improves our working life.

As for customer-centricity. When working on projects we are targeting better quality, better productivity, better energy savings and in the end, the customer benefits. More and more action is being taken to think like a customer to implement positive change.

What lessons from the program would you share?

Keep moving, learning, thinking and trying hard, you can achieve everything. This program gives a lot and asks a lot of us. Always stay open to everything and never hesitate to ask if you want to know something. You will always be answered and supported.

It was amazing to me to see how motivated operators were when we were carrying out trials. People always like to participate when they can visualise a positive outcome. Knauf Insulation people are also really welcoming and warm-hearted I was surprised how quickly people offered their trust and friendship when I’d only just arrived.

I’m now learning so much thanks to the program and all the people I meet, and as someone told me: “Never stop learning, there are always new things to see, to discover, to understand and to learn.”

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I hope I know half of what the line operators know and my leadership skills improve at the same time for when I lead a team. I want to be in a position that allows me to stay linked to the process and the technical areas of the plants — close to the trials design and implementation — as this is what I really enjoy. Process, production, plant management, engineering, all offer this kind of working environment on a global level. I also want to continue meeting people and exchanging ideas.

 

 

 

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