In 2009, I took the 3-year engineer course at ITECH ((Institut Technique et Chimique de Lyon), with specialisation in leather in the final year. My last internship was spent at the Dupire tanneries where I worked on the implementation of quality procedures. This internship revealed and confirmed my interest for the tanning world.

At the end of my internship, the manager offered me a job to continue my work implementing control procedures inside the company. That was quite some responsibility for a young graduate ! That is how I dived into the heart of leather.

I am now working as quality supervisor in the Dupire Tanneries. Until the nineties, the company supplied low-end footwear leather but when the shoe industry began to relocate, it shifted to leathergoods with a focus on high-end positioning, and that’s when I joined them, in 2012.

My main missions consist of implementing control stages throughout the manufacturing process, from the reception of wet-blue hides until the dispatching of finished leather. For instance, we have a quality control unit at the crust stage in order to make sure it complies with the expectations of the finishing workshop which is, in fact, considered as a client of the dyeing workshop.

I also validate processes in order to stabilize production. I work in tight cooperation with a number of workshop supervisors who help me and transfer their know-how. It’s a true exchange and continuous learning whereby I improve my knowledge!

My job as a quality supervisor has slowly progressed to R&D as both functions are closely related. When a customer asks for the development of a new finish, we must find the chemical and/or mechanical processes to meet his requests and a fair balance between the look and the quality.

The tanning industry is a special universe, unlike any other work environment. Respect of the material is at the heart of tanning and being a part of the process that turns a raw hide into a noble quality material is very motivating. I love the multifaceted and varying nature of my job. Quality is a central service, in constant connection with the different workshops, maintenance, and even sales.

In one day, I go from manual work (removing test hides from a dyeing drum) to technical work (trying out pigments to find the proper colour) and administrative work (follow-up of REACH legislation). I also like working in a team when I follow the process of a manufacturing procedure. I call on specialists, currying and finishing technicians, in order to set up the different stages together.

Concerning the administrative part of my job, I am currently evaluating the harsh conditions of tannery work. This dossier makes me realize how hard it may be to work in a tannery and I am trying to find concrete ways to diminish those difficulties.

I also work in the field of fashion. The company must renew its finishing processes with each collection. It’s gratifying to find our leathers in the main luxury shops in France and abroad.

Finally, we work with more and more demanding customers and with increasingly complex products. In this context, my mission makes all the more sense when I find a technical solution that satisfies our client.