Propelling the next generation: Etienne Le Pironnec wins CUTA’s “Youth Leadership 2023” award for a collaborative research project supervised by IVADO

Étienne Le Pironnec was honored with the ‘Youth Leadership 2023’ award during the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) Congress on November 15, 2023, for his collaborative research initiative alongside the Société de Transport de Montréal (STM), facilitated by IVADO.

With a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Polytechnique Montréal, mentored by Professor Robert Pellerin, thanks to IVADO’s support, he collaborated in 2020 with the STM on a project to develop data visualization tools that would enable better management of spare parts inventories. Transitioning from an intern to a senior data science analyst, Étienne Le Pironnec distinguished himself through his mobilizing leadership, his positive influence on various bodies, his skills in strategic analysis and his ability to popularize information. These qualities were rewarded with the “Leadership Jeunesse 2023” award at the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) Congress.

1- What role did IVADO play in the success of your project?

Initially, IVADO brought together the Industrial Engineering and Mathematics Research Chair at Polytechnique Montréal andSTM, enabling the latter to entrust a research mandate to a student researcher. Through my former research director, I had the opportunity to work with the Montreal transit company  and, as part of a research master’s degree, study industrial data valorization within the STM.

Subsequently, upon the completion of my research mandate, I drafted a multi-year research project charter to perpetuate the agreement between STM and Polytechnique Montréal. An organization like the STM has a lot to gain from data valorization techniques across its various business lines. Whether for fleet operations teams, bus network planning teams, maintenance planning teams, or the upcoming bus fleet electrification, the STM stands to benefit significantly from utilizing the data it generates!

2- In your opinion and in your profession, what would be the challenge raised by AI at the moment?

In my daily work, I see many opportunities for AI. First and foremost, there’s the opportunity to enhance our work practices in general. Integrating AI into our work tools, whether for office-based tasks or for exploring extensive and diverse research avenues using tools like ChatGPT.

More broadly, for my team responsible for maintenance planning, these are the high-level areas and activities that would derive the most value from AI solutions:

• Optimizing inventory management by improving forecasting of spare parts consumption,
• Implementation of predictive maintenance models to anticipate work resource needs by profession and medium-term spare parts consumption,
• Development of operating asset dashboards focusing on vigilance points and sensitive components of active assets,
• Optimization of spare parts storage in the organization’s central warehouses and improvement of network logistics.

IVADO continues to pursue its mission as a research, training and knowledge mobilization consortium, supporting new talent and propelling the next generation forward.

CUTA’s Annual Conference & Transit Show welcomes delegates from across Canada and abroad for engaging presentations, stimulating discussions, technical visits, and invaluable networking opportunities.

Photo: STM