As Pro QC celebrates its 40th anniversary, we highlight the dedicated individuals who have been instrumental in our success. One such person is Jean Champlain Ntyame, who has been with Pro QC for 17 years. Since joining the company in 2007, Champlain has played an essential role in expanding our auditing capabilities and establishing our presence in the automotive, and medical devices industry. In this interview, Champlain shares his experiences, discusses his challenges, and offers insights into the future of Pro QC. Join us as we learn more about his journey and the impact he has made on our company. 1) Can you start by telling us about your journey with Pro QC? How did it begin? I joined Pro QC in 2007, so it’s been about 17 years now. Before joining Pro QC, I worked as a Deputy Quality Manager at a French company in Nanjing for three years. My journey with Pro QC began with a one-hour interview at a restaurant in Shanghai with Mr. Sanchez, the owner of Pro QC, and Lynne, the General Director of EDS (our sister company specializing in sourcing). After that, I underwent more than a month of intensive training, which took me to our offices in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and finally Ningbo. During this training, I worked as a Field Quality Engineer under the close supervision of (senior engineers) Cesar and Tony. Since then, I’ve been based in the Ningbo office. 2) What was your initial role in the company, and how has it evolved over the years? Initially, I joined Pro QC as a Quality Auditor, leveraging my background in Quality Assurance. My primary responsibility was to audit companies across China. I was given additional roles, first as a Supply Development Engineer and then as a Supplier Development Manager. In these roles, my key goals were to develop more auditors within the team and to create a consulting service for companies that needed support. 3) How has Pro QC changed since you first started? The changes at Pro QC have been significant: Expansion of Auditing Capabilities: When I first joined, our auditing services were mainly focused on simple ISO 9001 system audits. Over time, we have expanded our offerings to include a wide range of quality-related audits, such as ISO 13485 for medical devices, cosmetics audits, automobile industry audits, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) audits, starting with SA8000 and extending to standards like BSCI and Walmart’s code of conduct. Growth of the Auditing Team: Initially, the auditing team in China consisted of just 1-2 dedicated auditors. Today, we have nearly 30 full-time certified auditors in East Asia, and Pro QC now operates in over 100 countries with a vast network of auditors to support our expanded services. Expansion of Pro QC’s Global Footprint: When I joined, Pro QC had four offices—in Ningbo, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Taiwan—with only one certified to ISO 9001. Today, Pro QC has grown to 19 offices globally, with five certified to ISO 9001 and one to ISO 17025. This growth reflects our company’s expansion and the addition of many skilled team members. 4) What are some of the most significant developments in the industry you’ve witnessed during your time here? One of the most significant developments I’ve witnessed and contributed to is the growth of the medical devices industry. This sector has become a critical area of development for Pro QC. When I first joined, our focus was primarily on general ISO 9001 system audits. Today, we are recognized as a trusted service provider for auditing and consulting in the medical device sector. My expertise and leadership in this area have helped solidify Pro QC’s reputation in this specialized industry. 5) What has been your most memorable project or challenge at Pro QC? One of the most memorable and challenging projects was an anti-diversion assessment for a global leader in the consumer battery industry. This client was facing issues with their batteries being sold on the black market, damaging their brand. They asked Pro QC to assess their client base to identify risks of battery diversion—a task we had never undertaken before. Typically, we audit our clients’ suppliers, but in this case, we had to assess our client’s own clients, which was more sensitive and challenging. We created a new service specifically for this need, and since 2019, Pro QC has conducted approximately 250 such assessments, primarily in Asia. This has positioned Pro QC as a unique service provider in this area, and we’ve developed similar “out-of-the-box” services for other clients as well. 6) Where do you see Pro QC in the next 10 years? To stay competitive in a market with many players, I believe Pro QC will need to transform its processes through digitalization. This is the future I envision for Pro QC—fully digitalized processes. I understand there is already an ongoing project in this direction, and I’m eager to see how it progresses. 7) What advice would you give to someone just starting their career at Pro QC? My advice is to approach your work as if you were the client. Embrace the challenge of discovering new techniques, processes, industries, and people. If you do, you’ll find a passion for your work at Pro QC. 8) How do you feel about celebrating 17 years with Pro QC? What does this milestone mean to you? I am very happy and proud to have been with Pro QC for over 17 years. Our team at Pro QC is truly passionate about their work—they are never satisfied with just maintaining the status quo. They constantly strive to innovate and push the boundaries of what’s possible. This relentless drive to improve and evolve is one of the reasons I enjoy working with Pro QC so much. Whether developing custom solutions, exploring new areas, or collaborating with diverse stakeholders, Pro QC always approaches challenges with excitement and creativity. They are true problem-solvers who aren’t afraid to think “outside the box” and take on complex problems. Working with Pro QC is never dull—there’s always something new to discover and explore. Our passion and dedication are truly inspiring, and I’m privileged to be part of this journey. I look forward to many more years of collaboration and exciting challenges ahead. Happy 40th anniversary to all Pro QC members!
