The Unobvious Ones is a month-to-month take a look at movers and shakers who fly under the radar within the Canadian auto trade.
DIANA DI MICHELE
HEALTH AND SAFETY IS NOT JUST PHYSICAL
More than 3,000 folks work at Stellantis’ meeting plant in Brampton, Ont., and they should depart for house every day in a single piece. That’s the target for Diana Di Michele, a well being and security specialist within the manufacturing facility.
“Every day is a challenge, seeing things constantly change, especially with the guidelines around COVID,” she mentioned. “I have to get the message through that ‘yesterday we did this, but today we have to do that.’ I understand people’s frustrations about it, but I’m a social person and it’s easy for me to stay calm and relate to them but get the message across.”
Di Michele and her supervisor are well being and security specialists within the plant, and a group of security representatives experiences to them.
“Much of my job is compliance-based, ensuring we’re assembly company and authorities tips. I handle routine security monitoring and information in addition to investigations when issues come up.
“Some days I can be on the floor from one end of the plant to the other, or on the computer updating policies.”
The 32-year-old went to nursing faculty, “but I’m a germophobe, and it wasn’t for me, so I switched and got a degree in health and safety.”
Starting in 2015, she spent two summers as a trip substitute employee on the Brampton plant. When she graduated in 2016, she was employed for well being and security on the FCA casting plant in Toronto.
She went again to Brampton in her present place in 2018.
“That’s where I started and I knew everyone, and it’s a bigger plant and more of a learning opportunity.”
In addition to bodily security, “we’re focusing on a wellness approach to safety. The focus will go beyond and look at mental health as well.”
ALAIN LEYNAERT
LUXURY PLANNING FOR CANADIAN CUSTOMERS
There are market nuances in the case of luxurious automobiles and it’s Alain Leynaert’s job as product planning supervisor at Jaguar Land Rover in Mississauga, Ont., to know them.
He consults along with his U.S. counterparts to find out fashions and powertrains for Canadian patrons.
“We offer a higher entry spec in Range Rover and Sport than in the U.S. and a richer number of V-8 models,” Leynaert mentioned.
“[Canadians] tend to expect more features than in other markets.”
There are extra U.S. patrons who primarily need the nameplate and can take a lesser-equipped mannequin that’s on the restrict of their price range, he mentioned.
“For Canadians, it’s a luxury product at a luxury price, and that’s where the [market] intricacies come in.” Leynaert, 39, grew up in a “car-obsessed family,” and a birthday reward of Car and Driver journal steered him to journalism faculty to be an auto author.
“A analysis firm within the U.Okay. wished somebody to affix their group in Canada writing a publication, and I received in there in 2005. I used to be writing articles on gross sales volumes.
I used to be a senior specs researcher, which is true right down to what number of cupholders a automobile has, and I noticed I used to be eager about product administration.”
Leynaert was employed into his present function in 2016 after a mentor moved to Jaguar Land Rover.
An common day includes analyzing gross sales information and market developments, together with forecasting upcoming electrical automobiles, “and finding white space and something to fit into those areas.”
“We’re working three to four years out, dealing with [Jaguar Land Rover in the U.K.] to ensure we’re aligned. Anybody can learn anything, but you can’t fake automotive passion, and that’s why I do this.”
Source: canada.autonews.com
