Anthony Durand

I completed my final-year internship in Shenzhen, China, at QIMA, a company focused on quality inspections and product quality. It was an intense and eye-opening experience, pushing me far outside my comfort zone and giving me a new perspective on work, industrial culture, and myself.

• Developed an interactive BI dashboard (Power BI, then Tableau) with key performance indicators from recruitment to inspections.
• Designed and deployed an automated workflow for collecting and analyzing training feedback.
• Consolidated scattered Excel data sources into a centralized, automated database in Microsoft Lists, linked to the BI dashboard.
• Updated a comprehensive overview of inspector capabilities across all Asian countries to support resource planning and deployment.
• Conducted on-site visits in factories to gain hands-on understanding of quality inspection processes and operational standards.
• Followed cotton testing projects, ensuring timely tracking.

Automation of Value Stream Mapping (VSM) modeling for an Airbus helicopter using CSV files. Development of a tool to generate a visual representation of production flows, enabling easier analysis and optimization.

• Assisted with cost estimation, technical studies, and preparation of execution plans for urban network infrastructure projects.
• Participated in supplier consultations, client coordination, and the scheduling and allocation of material and human resources.
• Monitored and measured the progress of the construction site.
• Contributed to financial oversight of projects, including forecasting and cost analysis.
• Developed an automated Excel-based tool for unified expense tracking, improving accuracy and efficiency in cost management.
• Gained hands-on experience in field operations (electrical works, public lighting, telecom trenches) through certified site involvement (H0/H0V & AIPR).

5-week group project (team of 3), focused on improving the communication flows of a company.

We analyzed and optimized inter- and intra-departmental workflows, identifying bottlenecks and communication gaps. I contributed to the development of an automated Excel-based tool that streamlined several key communication processes between departments. This hands-on project helped me understand how poor internal communication can affect efficiency on an organizational level.

Beyond the technical aspect, this experience was personally enriching. I lived in a shared house with five other students, including two from Mauritania, which led to some great intercultural moments and lifelong memories.

As part of my first year at IMT Mines Alès, I completed a one-month manual internship on a construction site. The objective was to step into the shoes of a worker in order to better understand the physical conditions and realities of fieldwork, an essential experience to develop empathy and respect for those we will later supervise from office roles.

During this internship, I actively participated in tasks such as concrete pouring, masonry, and structural assembly. This hands-on exposure gave me valuable insight into the challenging conditions faced daily by site workers, including physical strain, repetitive tasks, and strict safety constraints.

A 5-week field project, in a group of three, conducted for the company La Parqueterie.

The objective was to design and size an innovative solar carport. We performed structural calculations and finite element analysis using CATIA to assess mechanical resistance. The project included technical feasibility studies, comparison of multiple design options, and iterative improvements. In the end, we proposed three technically functional solutions adapted to the company’s needs.

10-week engineering research internship focused on the design and dimensioning of an experimental setup for the International Space Station (ISS), investigating convective condensation in microgravity.

This project was a unique opportunity for me to explore the world of research, a field I had always been curious about. Working in a laboratory environment, surrounded by experts, was both inspiring and intellectually stimulating. I conducted thermal and fluidic calculations, developed physical models, and designed the full experiment architecture in CATIA. I also learned to use LaTeX to write technical documents and reports, a tool I now use regularly. This experience left me with a deep sense of fulfillment and opened my mind to the possibility of pursuing a career in research.

President of the astronomy club EMA’stro and vice-president of the photo & video club EMA Visual (2023 – 2024).

We learned to follow a part throughout its entire lifecycle, from design to manufacturing. This gave me a comprehensive understanding of industrial processes, including mechanical design, production methods, quality control, and operations management.

Major: Mathematics, Physics, Engineering Sciences.