VALENTINE BONNEFOND
Gaithersburg
Summary
Dynamic Plant Manager at Saint Gobain, Life Sciences, with a proven track record in Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence. Spearheaded initiatives that boosted manufacturing contribution margin by 18% and transformed underperforming sites into efficient operations. Adept at cross-functional collaboration and team development, driving significant improvements in safety and engagement.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Plant Manager
Saint Gobain, Life Sciences
Gaithersburg
06.2023 - Current
- Lead $45M operation with 85 employees manufacturing assemblies and single-use bags for cell therapy and final fill in an ISO 13485 environment.
- Managed the site P&L and budget, consistently exceeding financial target.
- Increased manufacturing contribution margin by 18 through labor utilization and efficiency improvements, process simplification, waste reduction, and 50% scrap reduction via Lean and Kaizen initiatives, supported by Power BI KPI dashboards.
- Transformed underperforming site from pilot operations to stable, full-scale manufacturing plant through organizational redesign, disciplined prioritization, and strengthened cross-functional execution.
- Reduced lead time by 10 weeks via scheduling optimization and cross-functional collaboration.
- Built a strong safety culture, implementing structured training, standardized tools, and leadership engagement.
- Established clear roles, responsibilities, and career paths, enhancing team engagement and empowerment.
Manufacturing, Technology & Innovation (MT&I) R&D manager
Saint Gobain, Life Sciences
Largo
04.2019 - 06.2023
- Founded and led the MT&I team to shape the future of Life Sciences manufacturing processes and materials.
- Developed budget, strategy, and roadmap aligned with business objectives.
- Built and managed a global team of 14 (5 direct reports across 4 sites), fostering ownership and accountability.
- Optimized silicone and TPE compounding, extrusion, and overmolding processes; reduced manufacturing costs by 23.
- Spearheaded raw material risk mitigation, sourcing cost-effective tubing from Asia to enhance supply chain resilience.
- Managed delayed greenfield plant start-up in Largo, FL, overseeing installation and qualification of 3 compounders, 4 extrusion lines, and 4 molding machines to ensure operational readiness.
- Recovered a project running over one year behind schedule, re-establishing control and momentum: Reorganized teams and governance structure; Reset priorities, expectations, and execution cadence; Drove accelerated completion while fully meeting pharmaceutical quality and validation requirements.
- Leveraged internal and external partners for creative problem solving, removing roadblocks to deliver timely project results.
Strategic project manager smart factory
Saint Gobain, Life Sciences
Clearwater
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Collaborated on Manufacturing 4.0 strategies, implementing SCADA and CMMS while assessing digital maturity.
- Coordinated cross-functional agile teams for successful product and technology transfers.
- Standardized equipment and processes across Life Sciences sites to enhance efficiency and scalability.
Technology transfer manufacturing engineer
Saint Gobain, Life Sciences
Clearwater
01.2015 - 01.2018
- Managed global process and product transfers across 12 life sciences sites, ensuring seamless integration and compliance with regulatory standards.
- Directed equipment specification, purchasing, installation, and qualification for new production lines meeting pharmaceutical standards.
- Led cost reduction and quality improvement projects through process centralization, driving significant improvements in resource allocation and output consistency.
- Supported tubing extrusion, molding, and cleanroom assembly for silicone and TPE products, enhancing operational efficiency and product quality.
Process engineer
Saint Gobain, Composites
Wayne
01.2010 - 01.2015
- Managed fluoropolymer extrusion lines, delivering $212K CapEx savings and $81K in waste reduction through targeted projects.
- Supported R&D initiatives for co-extruded fluoropolymer films, contributing to product development and innovation.
- Authored and maintained SOPs, trained operators to enhance compliance, and led site Safety Culture Team to promote safety awareness.
R&D intern
Bluestar Silicones
Saint Fons
01.2010 - 06.2010
- Developed 2-component LSR formulations for medical and food-grade applications, enhancing product versatility.
- Transferred RT gel formulations from R&D to production, ensuring seamless integration into manufacturing processes.
R&D Intern
Cognis
Dusseldorf
01.2008 - 01.2009
- Developed cost-optimized, performance-driven shampoo formulations for commercial applications.
Education
Master of Science - Chemistry
CPE Lyon
France01-2010
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
CPE Lyon
France01-2008
Skills
- Lean Manufacturing
- Operational Excellence
- Operational Strategy
- Budget Management
- Project Management
- Process Improvement
- Continuous Improvement
- Inventory Management
- Change Management
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Team Development
- Process Innovation
Certification
- Agile Leadership Path, Saint-Gobain, 01/01/24
- HPS Advisory Board Member, Saint-Gobain, 01/01/23
- Essentials of Leadership, Saint-Gobain, 01/01/15
Timeline
Plant Manager
Saint Gobain, Life Sciences
06.2023 - Current
Manufacturing, Technology & Innovation (MT&I) R&D manager
Saint Gobain, Life Sciences
04.2019 - 06.2023
Strategic project manager smart factory
Saint Gobain, Life Sciences
01.2018 - 01.2019
Technology transfer manufacturing engineer
Saint Gobain, Life Sciences
01.2015 - 01.2018
Process engineer
Saint Gobain, Composites
01.2010 - 01.2015
R&D intern
Bluestar Silicones
01.2010 - 06.2010
R&D Intern
Cognis
01.2008 - 01.2009
Master of Science - Chemistry
CPE Lyon
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
CPE Lyon