The Lekker Network is a community for South Africans (Saffas) to connect, share opportunities, and do business together on a global scale. As a founding member, I’ve been involved in shaping an environment that promotes collaboration and growth. Our mission is to be 'Lekker' by creating meaningful pathways for South Africans, wherever they are in the world, to connect, to build, to help! So, how can I help you?

Maintenance and Reliability differs between operations depending on their maturity, profitability, risk tolerance and future commitments. Asset Optimisation rejects the position held by larger industry advisers suggesting that there is only one way to address maintenance and reliability. In fact, Asset Optimisation embraces the diversity of not only the challenges its clients face but also the diversity of solutions that best suit the client and their circumstances.Asset Optimisation specialises in assisting your maintenance organisation to develop tailor made solutions that balances your risk tolerance, your budget and your operational requirements. However, we also pride ourselves on being honest and advising you on realistic outcomes and what can and cannot be achieved.Current and previous clients include: BIS (SA, Tas, NSW), Nyrstar, C-Res (BHP), SUEZ-Resourceco, Lucas TCS, SIMEC Mining, Liberty Primary Steel, YSM, PAO, TimberLink, Agile Mining Services, Evolution Mining and others. Asset Optimisation has developed its own effective Root Cause Analysis (eRCA) and effective Five Why (e5Y) process, to assist our clients in improving their Reliability in a sustainable manner.

Served as a Member of the Board.Assisting the Church in decision making for growth and becoming a pillar in the local community.

Asset and Reliability Engineer for Supply Chain division. This includes ore storage facilities, wharf, ship loading, and rail.

Consulting on HSE for SCM17 - Major Outage on the Smelter, currently being executed. With a specific focus on Incident Investigation, ensuring learnings are captured and effectively shared.

Responsible for the development of internal Systems and Processes to enhance SKEE ability to successfully deliver ShutdownsResponsible for the development of all systems and processes supporting this framework and ensuring the effective roll out and integration of this framework.Assisting in Bid and Tender Management, by finding innovative solution to everyday problems.

Responsible for all operational performance delivery associated with Iron Knight Auxiliary Crushing Circuits, including the Iron Knob site.Responsible for delivering Improvement Engineering Services to the whole Hematite Stream.Evaluation of crushing and screening operations across the business for commercial suitability.Achievements:Successfully constructed Iron Knight Crushing Plant, with commissioning completed ahead of schedule with No Injuries.Project Manager responsible for the demolition of an old dryer plant. This project won the World Demolition Award for sub-US$1.5m projects (2014), and involved a 80t lift.

Responsible for the safe execution of all planned shutdowns within the Processing Department.Implementing and maintaining an effective shutdown process (Planning, Execution and Close Out).Cost control, budgeting, cost analysis of shutdowns up to $28mil.Managing a planning and execution team of 12 people (FTE and Contractors) to deliver safe and effective shutdowns.Managing major shutdowns as well as pitstops.Major shutdowns involved 750 people, up to 65,000 tool hours, for 10 to 12 days.Pitstops involved 250 people, up to 18,000 tool hours, for 10 days.Achievements:Managed 10 successful Shutdowns (3 Major, 7 Pitstops), with Zero Recordable Injuries. This was a first in the history of Processing. Successfully scoped and negotiated collaborative contracts for an overall shutdown solution (to a value of +$40mil). This includes site personnel for safety, planning, reliability and improvement.

Managing a group of maintenance planners to supply an effective planning service to three plants (crushing and screening plant, concentrator, ore beneficiation plant). Implementing and maintaining maintenance SAP KPI’s.Managing a team of shift maintenance personnel to respond to plant breakdowns & unplanned work for the three plants.Achievements:Achieved the successful implementation of Maintenance KPI’s to monitor and track the overall Maintenance Effort.Achieved the successful implementation of shutdown planning and management.Managed the successful repair of Grizzly Feeder after catastrophic failure.Was part of a focus group that successfully increased the Crushing and Screening plant’s throughput by 20% YOY (FY08/09 vs FY09/10).

Managing a maintenance department to effectively maintain three filter presses, two spray drying towers and a recovery plant. Implementing sustainable maintenance practices to ensure best for business outcome, to de-bottleneck the filtration plant for the business.Achievements:Achieved stability in the Filter Plant operation by reducing breakdowns by more than 60%, and increasing the reliability of the three filter presses.Increased the average throughput of the Filter Plant from 550 tons/day to 650 tons/day – exceeding design capacity.Successfully implemented planned maintenance with a change in Maintenance Mix (Planned : Unplanned : Breakdown) from 15:55:30 to 60:30:10.Successfully completed a 4 week, R 20 million plant shutdown with zero injuries.

Managing a maintenance department to effectively maintain two 37 MVA submerged arc furnaces and all related infrastructure. I was also employed as a Reliability Engineer in this period, responsible for the overall availability and reliability improvement of the above mentioned equipment.