1 Coworker, 1 Job: Lucie

I am Lucie, and I joined the company éolane in 2018. It will soon be 5 years since I started working within the procurement department.

After completing my Master's in Purchasing and Supply through an apprenticeship at ESSCA, I landed my first job at éolane as a Strategic Buyer.

I had just finished an apprenticeship in the Defense sector, where the processes were extremely rigid. Upon my arrival, I immediately noticed more flexibility in decision-making and greater autonomy in the actions to be taken.

I saw it coming since within the procurement department, we had already experienced some early signs of the crisis: price volatility, disruptions in our supply chains, escalation with our manufacturers, and so on. By communicating with our suppliers, we knew this crisis was on its way, but we couldn't yet envision its magnitude or duration.

Honestly, I felt tension and stress during this period, but it also had a positive impact on my job. Indeed, I was able to build strong relationships with certain distributors and even manufacturers. We all worked together for two years to meet the company's needs. This crisis played a decisive role in enabling us to identify the suppliers who provided genuine support and capitalize on these collaborations.

We work for all the sites within the group, which allows us to have an overview of the purchasing needs. Through a strategic purchasing plan established by Constantin (Group's Director of Strategic Purchasing), I define my own strategy within my product portfolios: cables, connectors, and switches. My main role is to manage supplier relationships within my panel and implement the strategy, sourcing, and negotiations.

I am autonomous in my work. I ensure the negotiation and contracting of purchasing conditions within my panel. One of my responsibilities is to select and approve suppliers based on the specific purchasing demands from different sites. This requires vigilance and risk analysis. I conduct sourcing activities and manage supplier performance, making decisions on distribution channels. Every year, we renegotiate recurring items with high value. I also intervene in resolving escalated issues related to quality, delivery times, pricing, or any other challenges.

Well, with quite a few departments when I think about it *laughs*. The Industrial Purchasing and Project Purchasing departments, of course. The Procurement department, the Sales department, the RAO team during new projects, the Accounting department for payment terms, and the Quality teams. Internal exchanges are very diverse.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this position is the ability to see immediate, tangible results from my work. Each of my negotiations and sourcing initiatives has a palpable impact on the field, in the short or medium term, and in the company's new projects.

After 5 years of experience in these product families, I have been able to establish close relationships with my suppliers, emphasizing the importance of lasting partnerships. The positive work environment is essential as it directly contributes to our individual and collective performance. This team cohesion fosters cooperation, idea exchange, and mutual support, which are vital to achieving our common goals. We communicate in a two-way manner: I always share information related to my suppliers and the current market trends, and in return, my colleagues inform me about on-site challenges, which allows me to optimize my purchasing strategy.

Thanks to the diversity of sectors we address, the sales force, and the production capabilities at our sites, we enhance our ties with suppliers, and it is also this richness that motivates me every day.

You need to be tenacious and never give up! Because we handle high-stakes issues, and despite the challenges we may face, we must keep our objectives and strategic guidelines in mind. I believe that being a good communicator is also essential; we represent the company in the eyes of the suppliers and convey the information we want to bring internally.

One should not be afraid of the unexpected as no day is ever the same laughs. It is also essential to prioritize tasks since we are approached by numerous different stakeholders. Staying organized is crucial to avoid being overwhelmed by situations that may seem stressful at first glance.

I love my job, and I never get tired of it! I have been able to build strong relationships with some suppliers, the days are dynamic, and I have gained expertise in electronic products. I would also add that the electronics world is truly small; we have colleagues who become our suppliers, or vice versa. It's important to remain cordial while being firm in our exchanges.