The added value of global resources

Jean Lobey reveals how end-to-end solutions are helping the infrastructure industry produce better results in the security sector.

3M’s Safety, Security and Protection Services Business has a broad aim – to produce products that can enhance the safety, security and productivity of workers, facilities and systems around the world. Although its products and services are aimed at a wide variety of infrastructure needs, the company’s overall focus on providing end-to-end solutions in categories such as border and document security, fire protection, and occupational health and environmental safety helps it continue to innovate.

What challenges do you see on the horizon for those in the infrastructure industry? 

Jean Lobey. Changing economic conditions will demand that companies offer solutions for a wide range of customer needs and budgets. Additionally, the various hazards brought on by both natural and man-made events are drawing increased attention and concern. Those in the infrastructure world need to help their customers prepare for such situations, not only through product offerings, but also through planning tools and services.

Legislative changes are also a continuously evolving factor, and companies must continue to monitor changes and make refinements to products and services, as well as help their customers stay informed.

What can infrastructure leaders do to better anticipate future challenges and shape the policies that affect them?

JL. We believe it is critical to take an active role in the professional organizations that serve our industries, and to communicate with other organizations that have a stake in these businesses. Currently, 3M plays a role in organizations including the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), National Safety Council (NSC), American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), International Code Council (ICC), ASTM International, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), and more. We monitor the status of the laws and policies that affect us and our customers, and we aim to stay at the forefront of changes so that we can be responsive to our customers’ needs.

What is the advantage of working with 3M versus a company with a more exclusive focus?

JL. It is true that 3M’s product portfolio numbers in the thousands – this is the result of extensive expertise in materials science and a focus on leveraging our core technologies across many different categories. We place an emphasis on information-sharing across divisions, which allows us to adapt our technologies for new and creative applications. For example, 3M became a pioneer in passive fire protection technology after one of its product developers recognized that an internally-developed intumescent material being used in automotive catalytic converters had the potential to save lives by helping to prevent the spread of fire, smoke and toxic gases in construction and marine applications.

What does 3M offer to enhance the value of its products?

JL. Our subject matter expertise and training services are vital components of our offerings to safety, security and protection services customers, and we work to provide end-to-end solutions, rather than just off-the-shelf products. Our training and education programs help keep workers safer, more informed, and better able to use our products to their best advantage. One example from the many training sessions we’ve recently conducted is the H1N1 Pandemic Response Webinar held by the occupational health & environmental safety division, which gave customers more information about the nature of the virus and the guidelines issued from governmental agencies regarding the use and care of respiratory products in occupational environments. 

In consulting services, our divisions are able to help customers identify opportunities for increasing efficiency and better utilizing their existing tools. We are able to provide customers with useful insights into how to more effectively use their resources, as well as how to create new systems that offer a better end-value.

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Biography

As Executive Vice President of Safety, Security, and Protection Services at 3M, Jean Lobey is responsible for a division that helps keep people safe, the environment secure and assets protected. Lobey's 3M career spans 34 years and he has a degree in Economy and Marketing from the University Paris XIII.