World - Training in the Gypsum Activity

Training formalization is quite recent in the Gypsum Division and in two years, a comprehensive and global offer has been developed for the 6,000 employees. Each year, given the strategic Division orientations, training guidelines are edited for the three years to come. They set priorities and resources within the Division, and each Business Unit is in charge of adapting and applying it locally. In 2002, we sponsored 392 trainees in the Gypsum Division and 9,568 hours of training at a Division level (compared to 200 trainees and 7,764 hours in 2001). There are three main areas of training:

- Integration training (20% of all hours): all managers who join the Division (recruitment or external growth) participate in individual training programs or Meet the Gypsum Division seminar.

- Increased professionalism (40%), the biggest part of training, available to all technical managers (about 300 people), is focused on the Gypsum Division activity: plant management, process quality , maintenance, etc.

- Commitment to excellence (40%) to increase performance and expertise. It includes performance plans, safety, environment.