RSC Ekusasa Mining manufactures and supplies a broad range of high-quality steel and resin-based rock support product solutions, supported by innovative research and development.

My key duties include:The overall accountability of the manufacturing operation.Leading research and development into product improvement and cost-saving initiatives.

Upon successfully completing the production of the MeerKAT Main Reflector Panels, I was asked to remain with the project and drive all quality assurance related aspects - both at the SKA MeerKAT site and at the various vendors.I was also asked to take over the Site Management responsibilities, effectively from 15th December 2017, until the project is closed out and handed over to our client.

I was approached to apply for this exciting opportunity: to be part of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project in South Africa. The position required experience in production as well as project management to make a success of the work that lay ahead. It’s not often that a position as challenging and interesting as this comes along, so naturally I grabbed it with both hands.In short, I had to set up a facility (the first of its kind in South Africa) capable of producing the Main Reflector Panels for the MeerKAT Radio Telescope Antennas. With quality and schedule being the main drivers for the project, the challenge was first to design a facility; kit it and make sure the skills transfer (from our international partners) was successful.The entire operation fell under my control; which meant managing over 50 employees running two shifts as well as making sure we keep on target and produce products of exceptional quality. Product and process development, optimisation and improvements were day-to-day occurrences.I can safely say that we’ve made great improvements; learnt a tremendous amount and empowered many employees with new skill sets. This facility was one of the best performing fabricators of the SKA MeerKAT components.We were also awarded the 2016 Operations Excellence Team Award: for successful management of the manufacturing facility within budget and completing ahead of schedule.

I was approached by a recruitment agent for Synergised Engineering Technologies with a request to join their Project Management Office in Hotazel (Northern Cape). Synntech specialises in providing Project Teams to the mining and construction industries. In this case we were contracted to BHP Billiton’s Manganese mining operations near Hotazel.In my time with Synntech I worked at the PMO’s in Hotazel, Wessels Mine and Metalloys. I managed a number of projects, but was soon given many of the larger engineering projects which focused on Regulatory Compliance, i.e. environmental and process improvement projects.The project budgets were generally quite high because of the large scope and impact that these projects had on the environment and the facility’s long term future.I thoroughly enjoyed working in BHP Billiton’s PMO’s since they diligently applied Project Management Principles. Stakeholders embraced their roles and responsibilities which made project scoping much less difficult. Executing projects were simpler because the preparation and planning phases thoroughly explored possible solutions and scenarios.

Selmec is a company who provides specialised maintenance solutions for some of the major communications providers in South Africa and Mozambique. This was a new field for me and the position was a challenging one initially. I managed the maintenance operations of a national telecommunications infrastructure. I was directly responsible for the Johannesburg office as well as the satellite offices in Durban and Cape Town and the technicians in other key towns and cities.Key duties:- Manage the maintenance operations of a national telecommunications infrastructure- Ensure maintenance contract specifications and service level agreements are met- Provide quotations to the client on all work that is excluded from the contract’s scope of work- Chair weekly meetings- Compile monthly reports to the client and Selmec HO- Perform Site Inspections- Manage Johannesburg Offices- Manage and resolve all client queries and requests- Chair disciplinary enquiries

I initially joined Group Five as a Project Engineer primarily responsible for increasing the plant’s production output and reducing our operating costs. Within a short space of time the factory’s output nearly doubled (from 150ton to almost 300tons of structural steel components per month.In March 2009 I was promoted to Project Manager and immediately thrown into the deep end on a struggling project: Johannesburg Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit System. Our facility was responsible for the manufacturing of the Façade Steel Structures of Phase 1A (which included the first 45 Bus Station Modules).The first module took 24 working days to fabricate. Through making design change suggestions; fabrication sequence and method changes; component flow improvements; designing jigs and better planning I reduced the overall manufacturing time to about 48hrs.I also managed the site teams and contractors; liaised with structural engineers, the client, architects and other managers and engineers to make sure the project is a success. I was nominated for an award for my work done on this project.

The first time I worked with 3CMetal was in 2006 as an Engineering Assistant. I worked there whilst waiting for my UK Visa’s approval.During my time there I worked with a French Project Manager, who then put my name forward to take over from him when I returned from the UK 1.5years later. I was contracted to complete the refurbishment and manufacturing of a Deep Sea Drilling Vessel’s drill pipes, pumps and valves.Establish and implement HSE RegulationsProvide a safe and healthy work environmentEstablish project planning requirements (timeframes, supply lead times, etc)Ensure project specifications are met, and if possible exceededEnsure projects are completed within the specified timeframeCo-ordinate sub-contractorsReduce operating costsManage Project Data BooksCreate electronic copies of all Data BooksInitiating disciplinary enquiries

Jeld-Wen UK is based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire and focuses on high speed high volume commercial and residential doors. I managed the production through the Assembly and Pressing Plant, which had 5 production lines running continuously over three shifts per day.Key duties:Manage the Assembly and Pressing PlantEnsure effective planning through departmentEnsure production targets are achievedProvide a safe and healthy work environmentReduce operating costsInitiating or chairing disciplinary enquiries

Whilst waiting for my UK Visa approval Belmet Marine employed me on a contract basis to assist 3C Metal with the completion of their section of an engineering project for PetroSA and Subsea7. My duties consisted of:Computerizing and updating the records and certificates of each component of the welded structures.Ensuring valves within the structure can be accurately identified by the pressure test records.

Grafton Everest’s production facility was one of the largest of its kind in South Africa and employed about 700 employees. I joined Grafton Everest in July 2000 as the Maintenance Manager. During this time I designed and implemented a preventative maintenance system for the factory.Other key functions included assisting in factory layout changes and managing the plant’s Asset Register to ensure it was accurate and that all machines and equipment could be easily identified and tracked.In September 2001 I was promoted to Industrial Engineer (to Production) and took control of the Work Study Department. During my time in this position I continued to oversee some of the Maintenance Department’s activities and also started to manage some of the production areas. I focused on analysing and minimising production inefficiencies; reducing operational costs and improving the facility layout designs and production flows.In April 2004 I was promoted to Production Services Manager. I was directly responsible for implementing and maintaining Occupational Health and Safety Act rules and regulations and liaising with local authorities and HSE Government Departments to ensure plant operates within legislation. All safety and security activities fell under my control, as well as any and all special projects which were required to improve the facility and its production activities.

I joined the Steinhoff Africa Group to complete the practical portion of my studies in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. I soon became a permanent employee and focused on Industrial Engineering work. In my time there I designed and implemented a preventative maintenance system for the factory and managed the facility’s Asset Register. I took over the Maintenance Department whilst still managing many production improvement projects.