Xinran Yang joined ACC nearly two years ago. Now 33, she is one of the pillars of the technical partnership between ACC and experienced battery specialists, which is key to improving industrial performance.

What was your career path before joining ACC?

After high school in China, I came to France where I completed my bachelor's and master's degrees. I obtained a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Montpellier. During my third year, I did an exchange programme in Montreal.

I continued on to a master's degree. In my second year of master's studies, I chose environmental economics and sustainable development, and geomatics, which is mapping using data. For my first job in Beijing, I worked for a year and a half at a French company that designed ski slopes in the mountains. The idea was to develop new ski slopes while protecting the environment. Then, in 2019, I joined Mercedes at their Beijing factory to develop new production lines. I worked in the body shop and in the production planning department. We launched the new C-Class and E-Class models.

Why did you apply to ACC?

While I was working at Mercedes, there was an initial battery project in southern China, Farasis. Many of my colleagues applied because in bodywork, there is no new technology, we know everything. To work in the south and discover the new battery industry, I also applied, I wanted a change. But my application was rejected because my manager at the time wanted me to stay. I didn't get the opportunity to work on that project, but it was always on my mind. I had missed out on something, and everyone who had worked on Farasis said that it was the future, that it was completely different and that there were things to learn. That made me want it even more. And one day, I saw an announcement on the Mercedes intranet about ACC and the first Gigafactory in Europe. They were recruiting internally. So I started looking into the project: it's a factory linked to Mercedes, in France. I speak French, I know the industry, I can try a new job in France, so I thought it was exactly right for me. When I saw the ACC advert, I said, ‘This is what I want to do. And this time, no one will stop me from going.’ I applied. I didn't know anything about this industry or the processes, but I had passed my project management certifications and I had experience in industrial projects. Laurent Dufour and Fayrouz Bouarkhat contacted me at the time to talk about the A-Team, the standardisation team for several factories in Europe. The aim is to standardise all industrial development processes.

Since you joined ACC, you have been based in the A-team in Bruges. You have been at BBD for a few months now, since you changed roles...

Five months ago, I took on a new role as manager of external service providers, still working with Laurent Dufour, who is in charge of the BBD industrial project. Today, we have defined a position whereby we need the support of experts with experience. They have brought with them their previous standards and experience. We would like to integrate all these people into the industrial project using a standard ACC method, adapted in France to ACC. My role is to supervise and guide the support expert teams, ensuring that the project is adapted to ACC standards. I am working on the partnership with EVE. In four months, the team has achieved its objectives, but beyond that, it has improved machine stability and increased yield and cycle time. During this time, we exchanged comparisons and advice on the standards and processes that existed at ACC in order to improve them.

How do you view everything that has happened since you joined ACC?

Everything is happening very quickly. My work pace hasn't really changed from what I was doing in Beijing. It's the same speed, the same agility. As a new entrant to the market, ACC is facing many challenges. But with the support of experts, we have kept a very open mind. ACC is not closed-minded or arrogant. ACC does not say, ‘We come from the automotive industry, we are the best.’ We try our best to absorb the knowledge that comes from our expert partners. We have learned a lot. Our goal is very ambitious, and we are working hard to achieve it.

Do you have a hobby or passion that helps you in your daily professional life?

Yoga. I have been doing yoga for 8-9 years, since I was in Beijing. When I arrived in France, I continued to take yoga classes. And in Lille, or in Bordeaux for that matter, I found studios that I absolutely love. There's one in Lille with a view of the lawns of an aerodrome. It's an absolutely beautiful place. I go to yoga four or five times a week, after work or at the weekend. And every time, I let go. It helps me relax, but also find balance. In yoga, we work a lot on balancing the body and everyday life. Are your job and your emotions balanced? During meditation, I try not to think, but rather to focus on my breathing and the present moment. This exercise helps me enormously, especially at work. It's easy to get frustrated when things aren't moving forward or are stuck. Thanks to the mindset of yoga and meditation, I'm able to manage my emotions better and stay calm and focused, even in tense situations.