At Ugigrip-Vallgrip, technical innovation drives every project. Today, we sat down with Rémi, tooling design engineer in our R&D office, to get a behind-the-scenes look at his role.

Can you describe your job?

« My job is to turn a client’s idea into a real, workable product. I design the tools needed for production and act as a bridge between the sales and manufacturing teams. My role is to make sure the solution is technically feasible, cost-effective, and aligned with the client’s expectations. I’m constantly balancing industrial constraints with commercial requirements.»

What do you enjoy most about it?

« The exploration. Every new product is a chance to create something different and think outside the box. I love that phase of reflection and innovation. And there’s also the human side: working with support teams, sharing ideas, guiding, helping… Solving complex problems and finding robust, lasting solutions is really rewarding. »

Your biggest daily challenges?

« Time, no question. Deadlines are often tight, but it’s important to take the time to fully understand everyone’s constraints. And getting people from very different fields to understand each other—that’s a real challenge in communication and adaptability. »

What key skills are needed?

« A solid foundation in engineering, of course, but also curiosity, patience, and strong teamwork. You need to be open to feedback, share both successes and mistakes, and lean on the right people. »

Any final thoughts?

« Simplicity. I discovered this job by doing it. It’s not something you learn in school, but it’s essential. I’d love to share it more—with others, to grow together and find solutions that are even simpler, faster, and more efficient.»

Thank you, Rémi, for this inspiring interview!

Transform your meetings: Our secrets for interactive and engaging sessions

Let’s aim for engagement!

Tired of endless meetings that go nowhere? Unprepared, one-way sessions where only a few speak up? You’re not alone! “Meeting overload” is a common affliction. But imagine meetings where everyone has a voice, where participation and engagement are the norm. It is possible! Here’s how we transformed our meetings into dynamic, efficient, and inspiring moments.

A successful bet

As part of our broader restructuring journey, we realized that rethinking our meetings was essential. How could we foster more engagement, participation, and energy? We explored various training programs in management and personal development to breathe new life into our meeting culture. With innovative tools and facilitation methods, we’ve successfully turned our work sessions around. Ready to learn some of our secrets?

Speaking up and active listening

So what methods do we use? Here are a few of our favorite techniques:

T.O.P (Topic > Objective > Process): To frame the meeting properly, we start by clearly stating the topic, the goal, and the process. For example:

• Topic: Launch of the “Working Better Together” project
• Objective: « Understand the concept of working better together and put it into action »
• Process: Inclusion → Defining ground rules → Sharing views and brainstorming → Identifying risks → Next steps → Wrap-up

Ground rules: Defined collectively, they boost commitment. Examples: punctuality, active listening, non-judgment, confidentiality, setting time limits, etc.

Inclusion: A question or card game to get everyone to speak up and open up. For instance: “How are you feeling today?” or “What does this project mean for our company, in your view?”

Sharing perceptions: Everyone explains what a word or concept means to them—this fosters mutual understanding and builds consensus.

Wrap-up: End the meeting by inviting each participant to share their thoughts or feelings. Examples : a “ROTI (Return on Time Invested)” score from 1 to 5, or asking, “How do you feel as we wrap up this meeting?”

A host of benefits

What have we gained from this?

• Structured meetings: Sessions that are clear, focused, and productive
• More openness: Inclusion and wrap-ups have become second nature
• Increased participation: Everyone has a chance to speak, encouraging open dialogue
• Autonomy: Team members are now empowered to organize their own meetings
• Meeting evolution: More creative and participatory sessions, fewer top-down ones

By embracing these methods, we’ve not only improved the quality of our meetings but also strengthened our team’s cohesion and engagement.

What about you? Ready to transform your meetings? Share your experiences and draw inspiration from our secrets to host more dynamic and productive sessions!

The power of collective intelligence

Each day, we strive to embody our values—values shaped by our collective strength—to drive our company toward its ambitions and long-term success. These values are far more than just words; they are the shared compass that guides each of our choices and all of our actions.

Our CAARE Values: The Foundation of Our Collective

At our company, every team member is an ambassador of our values. Together, we form a united team, where every decision aligns with our shared vision. This is how we fulfill our collective mission and how each person finds meaning in their work, contributing their unique piece to the bigger picture.

Cohésion (cohesion, teamspirit): For us, cohesion is an essential pillar/foundation for building a committed, strong and efficient team. In order to reach our common and individual objectives, we set management tools and methods to ensure coherent and efficient work.

Agilité (agility, flexibility): For us, agility helps us to deal with future challenges in order to develop resilience. Thanks to our collective strength and to our management adaptability, we are able to propose trustworthy and relevant solutions.

Apprenance (improvement by learning through experience): For us, we learn how to use our experience as a transformation foundation. Everyone has key competences that can evolve in order to better take part in our global development and strive for excellence.

Respect (respect): For us, respect materializes through trust-based relationships and transparency with our environment, within and outside of our company. We make sure to maintain our commitments towards our collaborators, our clients, our partners and our planet.

Epanouissement (fulfillment, wellbeing): For us, wellbeing is a key point for each one of collaborators as we keep growing together in an environment that allows personal and professional development. We make sure to provide the necessary means for individual wellbeing and valorisation.

What Was the Process to Get There?

During the restructuring of our company, we aimed to spark new momentum within our teams—already highly committed thanks to the participatory management approach implemented over the past few years.

With collective intelligence at the heart of our meetings, it was during a creative seminar that the themes of our values first emerged.