For your QSE issues, consider interim management

In 2025, companies face significant challenges in the areas of quality, safety, and the environment (QSE): increased requirements to stand out while remaining competitive, organizational transformations, societal expectations regarding sustainable development, and above all, difficulty in recruiting experienced candidates. In this changing environment, the QSE interim manager is becoming a strategic resource for driving change while maintaining operational excellence.

It was in response to this growing demand that the AFNOR Group launched AFNOR BAO, a service connecting clients with hand-picked QSE experts. In AFNOR BAO, BAO stands for "bouche-à-oreille" (word of mouth)! This is the solution chosen by Cap Ingelec, a rapidly growing company that was looking to strengthen its quality team by providing support to its manager in preparation for several ISO certifications, in a context of transformation.

Interim management: a targeted response to QSE challenges

In France, the interim management market represents more than 4,000 assignments per year across all sectors, according to Stratethic. Faced with a shortage of talent in high-level positions, as described here based on a study by Robert Walters, this new way of recruiting executives is becoming increasingly popular. The QSE field is no exception to this trend, particularly in the context of projects involving the implementation of ISO management systems in continuous improvement mode (ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, etc.), where the aim is to comply with a number of (voluntary) requirements while pursuing business objectives.

QSE interim management involves bringing in a high-level expert on a temporary basis to resolve a specific issue, such as obtaining certification, reorganization, action plan management, regulatory compliance, etc. The expert acting as a "QSE interim manager" then becomes a catalyst for change, able to integrate quickly, communicate with different levels of management, and produce high value-added deliverables.

Technical, methodological, human: the three sides of the QSE interim manager

The QSE interim manager has a foundation of technical, methodological, and interpersonal skills. They are proficient in ISO standards, understand the dynamics of organizational transformation, and know how to interact with all stakeholders in the company, from the field to senior management. They are not one-off external consultants, but committed professionals who immerse themselves in the company's culture to bring structure, efficiency, and autonomy. The experts who carry out this type of assignment are selected for their ability to quickly understand the specific challenges of the assignment, structure priorities, and adapt their approach to the company's QSE maturity. "I was looking for someone who knew how to lead a meeting with directors, produce certifiable deliverables, and be a source of ideas. That's what I found from the very first conversation with Laurent, our AFNOR BAO consultant," continues Anthony Kanamma.

A flexible, people-oriented solution with high added value

One of the advantages of using a QSE interim management service is the flexibility of recruitment. The service allows you to quickly bring in an expert for an adjustable period of time and scope. This could be a temporary replacement, methodological support, an ISO project to be completed, or a need for team reinforcement. "Initially, the assignment focused on support for the three QSE standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001). We then expanded to include reinforcement for the project quality team. The BAO model allowed us to adapt as we went along," continues Anthony Kanamma.