Transatlantic Industrial Leadership
Graduated as a wood/mechanical engineer (Master) in 1994, I dedicated over 30 years to directing and scaling Joulin, a family-owned industrial manufacturing firm specializing in advanced vacuum handling systems and custom robotics vacuum grippers. After managing French operations, I relocated to the US in 2007 to establish and manage the North American manufacturing facility.
Few quick examples of differences from experience in the industrial sector:
Rarely a price negotiation in the US compared to Europe/Asia. However, prices for industrial supplies are often 30-50% higher in the US due to complex distributor networks.
Designs differ due to culture, usage, and available raw materials (metric vs. imperial). Subcontractors can be more expensive in the US, requiring more in-house adaptation.
Decisions are faster in the larger US market. Expectations for customer service are exceptionally high; customers are supportive but demand strong backing for products.
Having stepped back, I now mentor pro bono for early conversations. The purpose is to save founders the time it took me to learn.
Insight comes from working directly alongside teams. To truly understand a job, spend time with the people doing it. Listening is learning, doing is understanding.
Active listening and building trusted relationships. Visiting customers and spending time on their floor to talk to operators and maintenance teams brings invaluable advice.
Lean, motivated teams with mutual respect outperform heavy structures. Empower people with tools and responsibility. Titles don't define value.
The following concepts from the working document need to be expanded into full sections or integrated into the layout above:
Depending on the company and the opportunity, I am also open to investing alongside providing strategic and operational support.
I am particularly interested in niche industrial products, especially businesses combining mechanical, electrical, automation, or other technical components.
"Il faut se tromper pour apprendre."
(Needs a paragraph translating this into an investor mindset—embracing calculated risks and learning from failure).