A RTISANS
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS CRAFT?
When I was a teenager I discovered that I loved working
with my hands. At 17, to earn extra money, I would
restore just about anything, from cars to furniture.
I registered for school to become a police officer, but
never finished my training because I had already found
what I loved to do – I wanted to work with my hands.
I made the right decision; I still love what I do.
As for aerospace, it was just the right fit. I wanted to
build amazing things and I was looking for a career that
would allow me to do that, so I got a job at an aerospace
company. I started as a painter, and I loved it, but there
was a restructure at the company and they moved me
to another department. I missed painting and working
with my hands, so I came to Bombardier and was hired
in the wood shop. The rest is history.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT IT?
I love making beautiful things and bringing different
materials to life through sanding, varnishing, polishing
and painting. I love to see the finished product. If I build
a table, it has to be perfect. I know that our customers
will be working and dining on that very table for hours
on end, so it has to be flawless.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?
I have very high standards for myself and I expect the
same of others. I always aim for perfection, so I can
be hard on myself.
WHAT ARE YOUR DAY-TO-DAY TASKS?
I’m comfortable working in any area of the wood shop.
I’m extremely lucky because my management team
allows me the flexibility to work at various stations.
Right now, I’m working in the spray booths, where we
varnish the wood, and I’m training new employees.
I make it a point to arrive about a half hour before the
start of my shift. It gives me time to walk the shop and
Joseph Martin
businessjetinteriorsinternational.com
048 JULY 2019
get a sense of the day’s work, determine where the most
volume is so that I can help where I’m needed the most.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
I’m proud of my work and of the business jets I help
to build – they’re like Ferraris in the sky.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR
PEOPLE STARTING IN THIS CAREER?
Be patient and open-minded – you can’t learn everything
in a year. I’m still learning, and I’ve been fixing things my
whole life and working at Bombardier for 10 years now.
It’s a demanding job because our customers expect the
very best quality.
WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU, AND
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
What surprises me is how quickly manufacturing
technologies are evolving. There are new tools,
techniques and products that come out every day and
we have to be able to master them all, so I’m always
learning. I actually love that about my work, but you
have to be able to adapt.
What would I change? Let Bombardier build all the
jets! I’m kidding of course, but I really do believe we
build the best interiors and I’ve seen a lot of jets.
Finisher, Bombardier
Montreal, Canada
/businessjetinteriorsinternational.com
