Client Reference
SNECMA Propulsion Solide, Bordeaux, France
Client Testimony: M. Pascal POTHIER
Itris Automation Square (IAS): To start with, can you please introduce yourself and your company and its key products or services?
Pascal POTHIER: I am a New Construction Project Manager and have been working at SPS for 6 years. I specifically support industrial computing projects, as I was responsible for a DCS (Distributed Control System).
Snecma Propulsion Solide belongs to the SAFRAN Group.
The Bordeaux unit (where I am based) consists of about 1,200 people and has been existing for 60 years. It specializes in propulsion and thermostructural composites for space, defense and aerospace (2010 revenue: € 287m).
Our major development programs target the M51 missile, the Ariane 5 rocket, the MISTRAL, the MDCN (Missile de Croisière Naval or Naval Cruise Missile) and the engine of the RAFALE and of other commercial aircraft.
IAS: How did you find out about PLC Checker, and when did you begin using it?
Pascal POTHIER: We have known your products and your company for 3 years. We have been using PLC Checker since 2009.
IAS: What do you use PLC Checker for ?
Pascal POTHIER: We use PLC Checker on PLCs that we replace when renovating production units. In most cases, we replace SIEMENS S5 with SIEMENS S7. Your product has allowed us to take a "picture" of the quality of the S5 programs (before replacement) and of the S7 programs (after replacement). In 2012, we are planning to use PLC Checker on a big project to qualify the programming of a production unit of elastomer.
IAS: According to your experience, how is PLC Checker unique in the market today?
Pascal POTHIER: I do not know if your product is unique in the market, but it has the advantage of allowing us to measure software quality. We had been requiring software quality for a long time, but we had so far little means of control on it.