Andre Botha is a well-rounded mechanical engineer with experience in all the life cycle phases of projects from conception through to the operational phase. He specialises is employing a systems engineering approach in the development of operational and support systems for projects and has a thorough understanding of the importance and complexity of ensuring that operational and support system requirements are included in projects from the outset. Using the systems engineering approach ensures the operational readiness of the equipment or systems upon project completion and also that the equipment or systems will be able to perform to required performance levels at an acceptable cost of ownership throughout their life cycle.He has participated in projects at equipment level through to complete plant level (systems).During his career he acquired proficiency in the following disciplines:• Project management• Generating project proposals• Systems engineering (Also known as front-end-loading)• Operational and support management and practices• Value improving practices• Reliability engineering• Marketing and sales• Project financing• Technology transfer• Enterprise architectureAt management level he held the following positions:• Engineering departmental manager• Establishing and managing a company locally for a foreign parent companyDuring his career he practiced in the following sectors:• Rail transport• Maritime industry• Electric power generation• Nuclear energy• Military• Surface miningSpecialties: Reliability and Maintainability engineering, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis, Support Analysis