A time pioneer which he does not speak without emotion

From his Office to angle yet crowded of cartons, the new boss of the Sevelnord plant could almost see the first landscapes of his native Thiérache. Born 40 years ago in a family of farmers both farmers and dairy farmers, Patrick Labilloy did not, a priori, any path destiny of an Executive of an international car manufacturer. But, like his three brothers and sister, all became engineers, the young man leads brilliant studies, first at Vervins (Aisne), and then in preparation at the lycée Faidherbe in Lille. He unhooks Polytechnique, complemented by bridges and pavements - "but in a civil engineer," he said modestly. There, he naturally prepares for a career in scientific computing, and conducts courses in Office in PSA. Before discovering, at successive stages in the same constructor, the world of production, and "the incredible diversity of trades" of an international industry that creates the dream.

In 1996, he joined the French constructor, that he would leave. Integration requires, it starts with a plant tour, Aulnay-sous-Bois, with the idea of joining the offices of studies after two years. But the taste of production takes over: will remain ultimately seven years in the Parisian factory, where, after various positions in quality, it will take the responsibility of a 1,000 people assembly line for the C2 and C3. In late 2003, he called on the draft policy of the new plant in Trnava, Slovakia, where he moved with wife and children the following summer. In the "task force" of 15 people that pilot operation, he was responsible for the quality. A time pioneer which he does not speak without emotion. In addition to the development road of this large unit, where the first 207 are assembled in the summer 2005, Patrick Labilloy discovers a population which he learned the language and the mountains of a country that he hugs family, single leisure is consistent really.

After nearly four years on the spot, he returned to the headquarters of PSA in 2006. He joined the new industrial technical Directorate established by Christian Streiff and became Director of production at PSA system. It will be auto "tsunami" described by his predecessor in Sevelnord, Nicolas Guibert: "soil failure under our feet, the situation gave more importance to the need for performance," he says.

Profound change

This experience, the new boss of Sevelnord, joint PSA-Fiat but driven by the French group, will manage a factory in deep mutation. A plan of voluntary departures on 250 stations has also be presented, which will be added to the 350 departure plan decided last year. While it employed 4,000 employees two years ago and was struggling to meet demand, Sevelnord less 2.900 account today and must prepare the case, in 2013, minivans manufacturing Peugeot and Citroen, after having ceased, these days, that of the Fiat MPV. Will remain it only the big utilities (Jumpy, Scudo, Peugeot Expert). There is no doubt that multiple experiences the quality or production SAP system will it be a great relief to succeed a bold challenge: find the economic performance of 2008 with production divided by two.