At Grands Moulins de Paris, there are more than 200 jobs. Because milling can be perceived as a very male-dominated field, let's take a look at the positions held by women with a first portrait of a passionate and determined woman: Laëtitia Boutron, line operator in Briare.
I worked for 15 years for Sofria, which was then taken over by Grands Moulins de Paris, which I joined 10 years ago. On November 1, 2023, I will have been working at the Briare site for 25 years. I received a work medal for my 20 years with the company.
Over the years, my job and my missions have changed.
What position do you currently hold?
For the past few years, I have been a product line manager and I supervise the smooth running of my packaging line. My role is to start up the machines, control the operations and ensure the first level maintenance, such as that of Francine preparations and flours but also flours for the artisanal bakery and other markets. It's a job I've been passionate about for all these years.
What do you love about your job?
Today, I hold a position with varied missions, there is no redundancy since I change lines very regularly. Another point that I really like is that for several years I have been training men and women to become line operators on the various machines. I like to pass on my knowledge to people, it brings a certain recognition to my work and motivates me even more.
Did you imagine doing this job when you were young?
For the past few years, I have been a product line manager and I supervise the smooth running of my packaging line. My role is to start up the machines, control the operations and ensure the first level maintenance, such as that of Francine preparations and flours but also flours for the artisanal bakery and other markets. It's a job I've been passionate about for all these years.
How did you get to your current position?
At the Briare site, there are many opportunities for development. I started my career as a Line Operator. I was then a Francine line operator on the cartoning machine, a machine that loads products into cartons and bags. Then I became a Line Manager on the bagging machine, especially for 2.5kg (Francine) and 5kg to 20kg (flour for bakers) packages.
And now I am a Line Manager for several lines, from product manufacturing to packaging.
In addition to the job changes, I have had the chance to gain skills. Training people has strengthened my self-confidence. Recently, I was trained on the yeast line, which requires more precision since we work on small bags (baker's yeast, etc.).
I think that employees have their own possibilities for development, you have to know how to seize opportunities and learn to communicate with your managers. For my part, I'm thinking of getting my CACES* in order to be even more autonomous and to be able to replace certain colleagues if necessary.
*The CACES, or Certificat d'Aptitude à la Conduite en Sécurité, is a kind of driving license which, once obtained, authorizes the driving of construction equipment; auxiliary cranes, forklifts, aerial work platforms, etc. It not only attests to the ability to drive self-propelled mobile and lifting equipment, but also reduces the risk of work-related accidents associated with the use of such equipment. (Source: Gojob)
Do you think there is a gender gap in these positions?
Obviously, it is easier for men to obtain positions as line operators than for women, who are limited to carrying heavy loads of no more than 15 kg during bagging. Nevertheless, at the Briare site, we pay particular attention to offering women opportunities in these jobs.
This year Grands Moulins de Paris has obtained 99/100 on the gender equality index. Did you know that?
I didn't think the equality index was that high at GMP. It's a very good score and I hope that we'll reach 100% soon! At the Briare site, in any case, I can testify that management values gender equality. And to make things change, I think that everyone has a role to play!
What would you say to a potential recruit to convince them to apply?
This profession is still considered masculine, but this is not the case since women can work like men. This is very rewarding! Women and men are considered in the same way, we all have the same possibilities of evolution.
You just have to be ready to work with varying schedules, you can be a morning or evening person.
To conclude, what are the 3 values that define Grands Moulins de Paris?
Sharing, benevolence and know-how.
