From the sea to a foundry: François Beaudet’s extraordinary career path

Soucy Belgen Sainte-Claire
Metallurgy
Career

François Beaudet has a unique job. He is the Process, Quality and Development Director at our Soucy Belgen Sainte-Claire foundry.

Working in metallurgy requires technical skills and an in-depth knowledge of plant procedures and materials. And someone who occupies a managerial position in this field also needs to have analytical, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

Moreover, François’s job requires him to have a hand in both project development and manufacturing procedures. Tasks he finds both intellectually stimulating and strategic. In this article, he explains the path his career has taken since his college studies and tells us about his current position, the challenges he faces, and the accomplishments that fill him with pride.

As a navigation student at the Institut maritime du Québec (IMQ) in Rimouski, François spent more than a year at sea. But once he graduated, he wondered how he would balance a family life with a career in the shipping industry. 

That’s when he decided to undertake undergraduate studies in electrical engineering at Université Laval. 

He became enthralled with metallurgy during a materials course in his first semester. The tangible aspect of materials and their composition fascinated him, and he realized that the creative potential of metal was endless. 

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As a result, he decided to pursue his studies in the field and earned a master’s degree in 2008. 

 

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François loved the “Materials Engineering” course so much that during the holidays, he began using his parents’ wood-burning stove to cast pewter pieces. The following semester, he decided to switch his focus to materials engineering and metallurgy.

After he graduated, he took a job in business development in the automative industry, specifically in the manufacture of powder metallurgy parts for vehicle engines and exhaust systems. Even at a young age, his availability and technical know-how earned the trust of his clients.

After several years of experience, François decided to become a project manager in the construction industry where he managed large-scale projects throughout North America and acquired the competencies that are essential to managers.

In 2015, he wanted to go back to metallurgy and joined our team at Soucy Belgen Saint-Claire as a project manager. He rose through the ranks and was promoted to lead metallurgist before becoming the Process, Quality and Development Director.

His career path is a testament to his versatility and his willingness to tackle increasingly ambitious challenges.

 

“In my current position, I play a part in business development, product design, and even production quality control”, said François. The variety of tasks is what makes his job so stimulating.

And the human dimension energizes him just as much as the technical tasks. He enjoys working with different teams, sharing ideas, and finding solutions together. With the engineering team, he is constantly devising new approaches to tooling that he then presents to the production team. He also actively supports the sales team in its mission to grow the foundry’s business.

In other words, his drive and creativity come into play at numerous points within the same project.

In essence, his role is to innovate, resolve problems, and help the company’s processes evolve. Experiences that strengthen his skills and help foster collaboration while enhancing his role as a leader.

“The real challenge in my job lies in the ability to switch from one project to the next in the blink of an eye!” said François. He stresses that versatility and teamwork are critical in a position that requires him to make informed decisions and oversee the technical aspects of production. François also believes that the success of the diverse projects he works on is due to the fact that the company’s departments constantly collaborate.

One particular project comes to mind for François. When the GTS platform was launched, parts that were too big needed to be modified to be compatible with the moulding equipment at Soucy Belgen Sainte-Claire. François and his colleagues came up with a clever solution. They implemented new tooling techniques that would take parts manufactured elsewhere and make them compatible with our equipment.

Thanks to their resourcefulness and efficiency, François and his colleagues were able to take over the project internally, thereby eliminating quality concerns and avoiding additional costs incurred externally.

In fact, the project was completed in record time and is a huge source of pride for François. It’s also the perfect example of how knowledgeable the teams at Soucy Belgen Sainte-Claire are.

 

François has become an ambassador in the metallurgy sector. As such, he’s implemented several strategies to enhance his professional skills and build his network.

He also cares about fostering knowledge sharing and makes sure the expertise he acquires benefits his team and Soucy Belgen Sainte-Claire. A collaborative, open approach that has led to many breakthroughs.

Even though other companies might be bigger than Soucy Belgen Sainte-Claire, François says the unit’s know-how and autonomy are renowned globally. As evidenced by the myriad invitations he continuously receives to take part in international events, collaborate on new products, and form new partnerships.

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François has had an atypical career path, from his student days at the IMQ to his career at Soucy Belgen Sainte-Claire. The professional experiences he’s accrued in various fields have helped him to rise through the ranks at Soucy.

His career path is a reflection of his versatility, curiosity, and openness to new experiences. All precious assets. Thanks to his technical skills and team spirit, François has overcome a slew of challenges and has had a real impact in his work environment.

His story proves that sometimes non-linear paths are the most enriching. Today, François is proud of his job and appreciates how rewarding it is. That’s why he intends to pursue this career path for many more years to come.

 

A manufacturer of gray, ductile, and ADI cast products, our Soucy Belgen Sainte-Claire unit has recently implemented several strategies to reduce its environmental footprint, in line with its commitment to innovate responsibly.

More about Soucy Belgen Sainte-Claire Discover the eco-responsible strategies of Soucy Belgen Sainte-Claire