Manufacturing

Ensure the reliability, efficiency, and safety of automated production equipment by focussing on the maintenance and optimisation of electronic control systems and instrumentation.

Job Purpose

Providing specialist electronic and automation support that maximises plant uptime, optimises equipment performance, reduces costs through proactive maintenance and continuous improvement, and ensures safe, compliant operation of high-speed production lines.

Key Accountabilities and Outputs

Plant maintenance and optimization

• Electronic systems: Install, maintain, repair, calibrate, and upgrade electronic systems, instrumentation, PLC/HMI controls, variable speed drives, sensors, Scada/Plant Information systems, and industrial networks (Profibus, Ethernet, ASI, etc.) on existing and new machinery.
• Fault-finding: Perform rapid fault-finding and diagnostics on electronic and related electrical equipment using circuit diagrams, troubleshooting tools, and OEM documentation; attend to breakdowns and provide immediate support to production lines.
• Maintenance: Execute planned and preventative maintenance schedules, analyse breakdown trends via the maintenance system (e.g., SAP/MAXIMO), and recommend improvements or spares to minimise recurring failures.
• Programming: Program and optimise control logic, stacking patterns on palletisers, conveyor automation, and high-speed filling/packaging lines (e.g., Siemens S7, TIA Portal, WinCC, Simotion).
• Continuous improvement initiatives: Focus on implemeting Lean and Sigma 6 and PDCA cycles to deliver high plant availability, cost reduction, improved quality output and faster responses
• Deliver: Increased efficiencies, reduced down time, reduced MTTR/MTBF, successful project handovers and continuous improvement.
• Standby: Provide standby/call-out coverage (rotated), work overtime as required, and contribute to budget inputs while managing spares and contractor performance.

General

• Collaboration: Collaborate with shift teams, mechanical/electrical artisans, and operators to embed best-practice maintenance processes, provide technical coaching, and act as functional expert in root-cause problem-solving.
• Support: Support CAPEX/OPEX projects, supplier/contractor interactions, equipment commissioning, and ad-hoc refurbishments to enhance process flow and reliability.

 Adherence to the Quality, Food Safety, Health, Safety and Environmental Standards

• Protocols: Enforce health, safety, and environmental protocols in utility operations, including handling of hazardous materials like CO2. Conduct risk assessments, ensure compliance with local regulations (e.g., OSHA equivalents), and participate in audits.
• Adherence to Standards: Ensure strict adherence to Quality, Food, Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.
• Enforcement: Enforce all food safety and health regulations, policies, and requirements at all times to guarantee a secure work environment.
• Personal Hygiene: Maintain exceptional personal hygiene as per the organization’s code of conduct.
• Contamination Control: Raise awareness about potential physical product contamination and implement control measures to prevent it.
• Health and Safety Measures: Take reasonable precautions to prevent health and safety hazards. Follow the prescribed incident reporting procedure in case of accidents.
• Knowledge and Compliance: Stay updated with relevant business information, policies, processes, and procedures. Enforce compliance with legislative and statutory requirements, as well as GMP’s (Good Manufacturing Practices).
• Training: Attend and enforce the implementation of learnings from training sessions related to Quality, Food Safety, and Health and Safety.
• Housekeeping: Maintain high levels of cleanliness and orderliness within the work environment.

Qualifications and Experience

• Qualified Electronics Artisan with Trade Test Certificate (Red Seal / Section 13 or equivalent).
• N6 / S4 / National Diploma in Electronics / Electrical / Instrumentation / Mechatronics Engineering advantageous
• Minimum 3–5 years’ experience as an Electronics Artisan, prerably in an FMCG manufacturing environment
• Proven hands-on experience with:
  • Siemens PLC/HMI/SCADA (S7, TIA Portal, WinCC)
  • Industrial networks and automation
  • Variable speed drives (Danfoss, Schneider, Lenze)
  • Sensors, instrumentation, PT100, contactors, and high-speed filling/packaging lines
  • Programming knowledge of palletisers/robotics advantageous
  • SAP experience
  • Valid driver’s licence and own transport (for standby)

Key Qualities & Behavioural Competencies

•  Technical Excellence & Problem-Solving:

Strong analytical mind with the ability to diagnose complex faults quickly under pressure and implement permanent solutions.

•  Proactive & Ownership:

Proactive identification of problems that are concrete and procedural, troubleshoot and apply solutions in line with guidelines provided or escalate more complex problems to superiors, providing information required to solve problems.

Anticipates issues, takes initiative, and drives continuous improvement with a “fix it right the first time” mindset.

•  Team Player & Coach:

Work effectively with multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams.

Clear communication and collaboration with the team and coach operators and apprentices.  

Ability to share knowledge and expertise to upskill colleagues to drive continuous improvement

Continuous Improvement: Proactively seek out resources, “best practice” companies, customers, etc., in the need to quickly introduce improvements

Finds ways to fast-adapt improvement ideas to work processes and transfer knowledge

•  Resilience & Flexibility: Ability to work independently, handle extended hours, overtime, standby and cope with physical demands and adapt to rotating shifts.

•  Professionalism: Demonstrate professionalism though accurate documentation, cost-consciousness, and customer-focused behaviour and output.

•  Safety & Compliance Focused: Zero-compromise attitude towards SHEQ, food safety, and GMP; leads by example.

Contact information

Lubainah Mncwabe