{"id":9604,"date":"2026-07-16T15:23:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T13:23:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/merca.team\/?post_type=cas-clients&p=9604"},"modified":"2026-07-17T18:55:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T16:55:09","slug":"saint-gobain-group","status":"publish","type":"cas-clients","link":"https:\/\/merca.team\/en\/cas-clients\/groupe-saint-gobain\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Saint-Gobain Group Implements Skills Management Across Its Plants"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saint-Gobain, a global leader in sustainable construction, has more than 600 sites worldwide and iconic industrial brands such as Isover, Placo, Eurocoustic, and Sekurit\u2026 Starting with an initial pilot site at Isover in Chalon-sur-Sa\u00f4ne, Mercateam has gradually been rolled out across several of the group\u2019s business units to digitize competency matrices, secure access permissions, and enhance the versatility of production teams. Here is the story of this rollout, as told by those who led it on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Saint-Gobain Deployment at a Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Group<\/strong><\/td>More than 600 locations worldwide<\/td><\/tr>
Starting Point<\/strong><\/td>Isover Plant in Chalon-sur-Sa\u00f4ne (2023\u20132024), pilot site<\/td><\/tr>
Deployed Entities <\/strong> <\/td>Isover, then insulation websites, Eurocoustic, Placo, Sekurit<\/td><\/tr>
Isover Pilot<\/strong><\/td>160 employees plus about 20 temporary workers; the plant operates on a 5\u00d78 schedule<\/td><\/tr>
BU Insulation<\/strong><\/td>2,500 employees, 10 plants, 450 managers<\/td><\/tr>
Key Uses<\/strong><\/td>Competency matrices, authorizations and deadlines, on-the-job training, scheduling
and versatility<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Starting point: the Isover plant in Chalon-sur-Sa\u00f4ne<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Background<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Isover plant in Chalon-sur-Sa\u00f4ne, one of three Isover plants in France, produces glass wool for the construction, home appliance, and automotive industries. With 160 employees, about 20 temporary workers, and a 5\u00d78 shift schedule, the plant never stops running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00abWe have five managers with five different work methods, and our overall workforce management was lacking in efficiency. Today, we manage our skills using Excel tools.\u00bb

Iris Philips, HR Manager<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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In practical terms, the lack of a standard led to some very specific problems: data scattered across files that were too time-consuming to consolidate, duplicate training (with each trainer using their own methods, the same person could be trained twice for the same position), and schedule assignments made without certainty regarding each operator\u2019s actual, up-to-date skills and authorizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenges: fostering versatility to remain competitive, standardizing practices among managers and across sites, ensuring reliable tracking of certifications as they expire (CACES, medical exams, regulatory certifications), and ensuring the safe daily assignment of teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The deployment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The rollout was carried out in workshops by an internal project team that included department heads: setting up workstations in Mercateam, creating training materials, and customizing the tool for field teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00abMercateam has brought a touch of Industry 4.0 to the site\u2014true digital support, something new in the production environment.\u00bb

Iris Philips<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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On the ground, the change is tangible:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00abBefore Mercateam, we had a lot of problems with document archiving\u2014a multitude of files that weren\u2019t always up to date. Now, we monitor the actual schedule every day: when we assign people to a position, we know they\u2019ve been officially trained and that they\u2019ve held that position at least once in the last three months to maintain their proficiency.\u00bb

Yohan Guillain, Relay Station Manager<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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The assignment schedule is no longer a separate Excel file next to the skills matrix: it is the same tool, and each assignment is based on the employee\u2019s actual skills and availability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From a single pilot site to a multi-entity rollout<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is this approach that makes Saint-Gobain\u2019s rollout so effective: a pilot site, proven results, and then gradual expansion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00abIt started at a site in Ch\u00e2lons, and then we rolled it out to other sites. We were able to roll it out at Eurocoustic and Placo. It was clearly the catalyst for success that allowed us to replicate it across all insulation sites, and then at Placo. And now, it\u2019s catching on elsewhere at Saint-Gobain.\u00bb<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Three factors for success emerge from the testimonials:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Dedicated and willing field pilots<\/strong>, with the full support of plant management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. A Collaboration Between Field, IT, and HR<\/strong>, with a clear roadmap supported by the group.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Pragmatic Solutions for Off-Grid Operators<\/strong> : tablets in the workshop, one email address per team, and QR code login to avoid having to enter any information.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    Sekurit: Expansion into Automotive Glass<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Sekurit, the group\u2019s automotive glass subsidiary, faces a twofold challenge: automakers require skills validation for every production line, every product, and every position\u2014that\u2019s more than 200 skills to track\u2014and one of its largest French sites has seen nearly 80 production workers leave in 18 months, representing one-third of the workforce over two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The solution combines physical and digital elements. On one hand, there is a Skill Center\u2014an in-house training school shared by the three French plants and serving 600 employees\u2014which has cut the training time for backup personnel in half. On the other hand, Mercateam was rolled out as a pilot at one plant to digitize certifications: the teams recertified all skills in the tool to start with a clean, traceable database.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The most telling finding from the audits of automakers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \u00abWhere we used to spend 20 minutes explaining our Excel spreadsheet and searching for documents, we can now cover the topic in 3 minutes. It\u2019s not even an issue in audits anymore.\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Claire Billas, HR Manager and Head of the Skill Center France, Sekurit Noyon<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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    The 2026 goal: to create a comprehensive maintenance training program and migrate all Skill Center tracking to Mercateam to standardize practices across the three plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \ud83c\udfa4 Read Claire's full testimonial in the summary of the panel discussion from our 2025 Community Event.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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    How Mercateam Is Making a Difference Every Day at Saint-Gobain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    • A shared vision of skills.<\/strong> \u00abFor me, Mercateam\u2019s greatest value is its shared vision\u2014a common, big-picture perspective.\u00bb (Yohan Guillain, Isover)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Security clearances under review.<\/strong> The tool automatically flags expired certifications and authorizations that are about to expire, whereas previously it was necessary to send follow-up emails to the HSE and HR departments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • A structured and self-directed on-the-job training program.<\/strong> Field teams manage training through their own representatives (shift supervisors, instructors), with supporting documentation available for audits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Versatility as a driver of performance.<\/strong> Assignments are based on actual, up-to-date skills\u2014including across teams\u2014with versatility cycles tracked over time (holding a position regularly to maintain proficiency).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Anticipating skills needs.<\/strong> Mapping helps identify future needs and initiate training before production is affected, which has a direct impact on the level of temporary staffing required\u2014a goal the group monitors on a site-by-site basis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • A group standard that remains practical for the field.<\/strong> Each site tailors its positions and career paths while standardizing practices\u2014a key challenge for a multi-site group.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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      A Word from Leadership: Saint-Gobain Isolation\u2019s HR Vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Mathieu Sanguinetti, HR Director at Saint-Gobain Isolation, leads a business unit with 2,500 employees, 10 plants, and 450 managers. As a guest on the \"Dimensions RH\" podcast alongside Adrien Laurentin, CEO of Mercateam, he describes the big-picture view: that of an HRIS designed for the front lines (English subtitles available in the settings).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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