How to Ensure Project Success: Insights from David Dupuis, PMO Director at CLEIO

By Caroline

David Dupuis has been the Director of the Project Management Office (PMO) at CLEIO for over a year. Trained as an engineer with a specialization in mechanical and biomedical engineering, he has accumulated a wealth of experience in both startups and large companies. Throughout his career, his responsibilities have expanded, and he has led the development of several products, primarily in the medical field.
When he chose to join CLEIO, what stood out most was the opportunity to work on multiple projects in parallel—each with its own unique challenges—and to collaborate with a wide range of innovators, both within our teams and among our clients.
By the time he arrived in 2023, our company was experiencing rapid growth. Project management was already well structured, but the PMO team was still young, with room for improvement.
Upon becoming Director, he set out to strengthen the application and deployment of processes and to improve project tracking. His goal: to ensure adherence to the three key parameters essential to client satisfaction—budget, schedule, and scope—all while upholding the high level of quality CLEIO is committed to delivering.
We sat down with him to learn more about his vision of project management and its benefits for product development.

How does project management contribute to successful product development?

“Project management is sometimes perceived as an added cost. While it may seem counterintuitive to invest in a role that doesn’t directly produce technical deliverables but instead focuses on coordinating activities and aligning data, it brings significant added value. The project manager is responsible for maintaining the viability of the project and rigorously overseeing its progress. Their role is to establish planning, control, and verification mechanisms, along with a strong sense of discipline, to ensure the project progresses according to the original plans. When changes arise, the project manager makes sure they are managed within a well-defined and relevant framework.

Working with a company that has a dedicated Project Management Office (PMO), like CLEIO, significantly reduces the risk of budget overruns and schedule delays. This strategic approach enhances efficiency and ensures the successful delivery of high-quality design projects.”

“Every client and every product has its own story, challenges, and reality. Adaptability is key!”

What makes CLEIO stand out in project management?

CLEIO stands out for its ability to adapt and respond to the specific needs of clients of all sizes, from large companies to startups. This adaptability is rooted in our strong, integrated multidisciplinary expertise and proven project management experience.

We understand that each client faces unique challenges. Large companies require cutting-edge expertise and seamless integration with their established processes, while startups need to build efficient teams and navigate the complexity of multidisciplinary projects from the earliest stages.
CLEIO has the depth of expertise and the organizational structure to meet both of these needs. Our in-house team brings together all the essential disciplines, allowing us to deliver a personalized and integrated service. We simplify project initiation by taking charge of complex coordination and ensuring the delivery of products that are ready for manufacturing.

Our clients benefit from a seasoned team that has led a wide range of projects, enabling us to anticipate and address project-specific challenges. We apply a rigorous methodology—breaking down projects into budgeted tasks, planning sprints, and ensuring seamless coordination across disciplines. This approach enables efficient execution that aligns with our clients’ objectives, regardless of project size.”

“Our strengths are our processes and our experience.”

What does CLEIO’s project management process look like in practice?

The process starts with rigorous initiation and planning. This involves clearly defining the project’s scope, objectives, and deliverables in collaboration with the client. A detailed project plan is then developed, outlining schedules, budgets, and resource allocation. Potential risks are identified, and mitigation strategies are put in place.

The next phase is project execution and monitoring. The PMO team monitors progress through periodic reports, ensuring that the project plan and quality standards are met. Any deviations are quickly identified, and corrective actions are taken. Communication and collaboration among team members are actively facilitated to ensure smooth and efficient progress.

Finally, project closure and evaluation ensure a smooth transition and support continuous improvement. A post-project evaluation is conducted to identify lessons learned and share them across the organization.

Throughout the process, the PMO plays a leadership and mentoring role, guiding and supporting project leaders and teams. It fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, ensuring excellence in project management across the organization.”
“Project management is a science that demands precision, rigor, and adaptability.”

What are the keys to successful project management?

Precise alignment with the client’s needs is the cornerstone of a successful project. To ensure this alignment, it is essential to develop a rigorous initial plan that clearly defines objectives and milestones. Detailed budget and time tracking must then be established, incorporating tolerance thresholds and predefined limits to anticipate and proactively correct any potential deviations.
Transparent communication and effective coordination between teams—supported by high-performance tools—help keep processes running smoothly. Adaptability and proactive risk management complete this approach, allowing us to respond to unforeseen events and project developments, ultimately delivering a result that meets client expectations.
At CLEIO, we apply these principles by leveraging high-performance tools and proven processes. We pursue excellence by continuously optimizing our methods—particularly by automating repetitive tasks—to unlock the full creative potential of our teams. Our goal is to focus our efforts on delivering high-quality results while fostering a culture of self-improvement. This approach allows us to adapt our strategies and ensure client satisfaction.”

Ready to bring your project to life? Contact us today to see how our team can support your next innovation.

Author & collaborators

Written by
Caroline

Newsletter & Monthly Digest

Subscribe to get our insights delivered to your email inbox.

Other posts you may like

Zero Non-Conformities in Our ISO 13485 Surveillance Audit

Meet The Team at LSI USA ’25

How a Multidisciplinary Team Accelerates Product Development

Zero Non-Conformities in Our ISO 13485 Surveillance Audit

Meet The Team at LSI USA ’25