Division: Production

Reference Number: PPNP-03-25

Grade: C3

Purpose of the job
The Production Specialist is responsible for effective coordination of preventative maintenance process for the plant such that the business production targets can be met while minimising maintenance cost and increasing overall plant efficiency. The incumbent is responsible for maintaining the legal compliant aspects. The incumbent is also tasked with reporting on and minimising repeat work and machinery breakdowns through effective problem solving. The incumbent is responsible for Logistics and Production North Manufacturing departments.
The abovementioned activities shall be conducted in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, No. 85 of 1993. The responsibilities abovementioned shall include ensuring equipment is visibly marked for identification, changes to be registered and approved according to the MOC procedure and equipment is handed back to the internal customer in a safe, effective and clean way.

Key performance area
1.
Ensure that production Efficiency rate is achieved.
•
Ensure that the business production budget is achieved
•
Manage all maintenance activities within the area of responsibility through planning and co-ordination with maintenance personal to ensure that all statutory maintenance is completed on time without impacting on the production targets
•
Carry out daily inspections of plant equipment to minimize unplanned downtime and repeat tasks. Solve problems in a timely manner, and to identify opportunities for improvement.
•
Plan and manage detailed maintenance/shutdown schedule and impact analysis. Work with team members to develop contingency plans for potential delays on maintenance work and planned start-up date/time.
•
Initiate, implement, and manage the plant maintenance program based on best practices in the industry, with an emphasis on planning/ scheduling preventive/predictive maintenance.
•
Produce detail schedules, material requirements list, and production plans for the manufacture of products; and check whether the production plan can be achieved.
•
Monitor on SAP the inventories of spare parts, maintenance supplies, and equipment and initiates reordering, when necessary, by ensuring all required work requests clearly indicate all requirements.
2.
Ensure Compliance with All SHERQ requirements (Compliance).
•
Ensure complete compliance with all EH&S, Quality and PSM policies and procedures within own area of operation.
•
Ensure compliance to all appropriate control systems such as safe operating limits and that plant is available and safe for maintenance work as per procedures.
•
Conduct plant inspections on equipment and in the area of responsibility. Reports any
hazards or potential hazards then recommend and develop ways to eliminate unsafe
conditions.
•
Provide technical expertise during incident investigations in order to identify root causes
•
Ensure that all corrective and preventative actions assigned during an investigation are completed within the specified deadlines
•
Issue permits to work as well as an authorised official on confined space and hotwork permits.
3.
Manage Production Variances.
•
Document all work orders and all maintenance and repair activities in the relevant system and investigate repeat failures.
•
Track, analyze and improve key maintenance parameters such as plant availability, utilization, Mean time between failures and mean time to repair.
•
Prepare reports, analyze data, and make recommendations for improving plant operations and solving maintenance-related problems on a weekly basis.
4.
Ensure Efficient Cost Control within department.
•
Ensure that all statutory maintenance work to be carried out is as per business fixed cost budgets.
•
Source suppliers for work that NCP is unable to perform and ensure that the cost remains within the business budget
•
Manage major maintenance activities within department, taking into consideration the cost implications of down time.
•
Minimize call outs and maintenance overtime by proper maintenance scheduling and planning as soon as required to minimize disruptions and to maximize plant availability.
•
Ensure reduction in repeat failures through investigating causes of repeat failures.
•
Capture and analyze data all non-conformances (incidents, quality, plant trips equipment failures and breakdowns) to ensure that equipment costs are minimized. This will involve preparing reports such as mean time between failures, mean time to repair including the cost of such activities.
5.
Projects.
•
Assist with the implementation of projects in the area of responsibility to ensure they are completed on time and within budget
•
Communicate future permanent changes on the plants by making effective use of the MOC process
•
Facilitate meetings to ensure that process improvement ideas are generated and implemented to ensure continuous improvement at NCP’s production facilities.
6.
Related SHERQ responsibilities

Knowledge/Skills/Competencies
•
Preventative maintenance process
•
First line maintenance
•
Production scheduling
•
Excellent Negotiation skills
•
Knowledge of environmental health and safety processes
•
Understanding of the Manufacturing industry
•
Knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations (e.g. OHS Act and regulations)
•
Knowledge of cost implications and business processes
•
Knowledge of impact on profitability on an organization
•
Knowledge of ISO standards
•
Continuous Improvement and Auditing processes
•
Investigating RCI’s, issues and non-conformances
•
Computer literacy, SAP, Microsoft
•
SAP R3
•
Excellent Communication skills.
•
Judgment
•
Organizational Communication Effectiveness
•
Initiative
•
Interpersonal communication skills
•
Analytical Ability
•
Results Driven
•
Organizational values and quality
•
Professionalism
•
Attention to Detail
•
Confidentiality
•
Personal Ethics
•
Cost awareness
•
Proactive problem-solving abilities – use initiative
•
Good time management skills – deadline driven
•
Quality and results orientated
•
Decision making
•
Self-motivated, energetic and positive
•
Reliable / responsible / dependable / trustworthy
•
Team worker
•
Able to handle conflict management
•
High level of integrity
•
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Experience
•
3-5 years Manufacturing environment
•
3-5 years SAP experience
•
Production Planning Management.

Qualifications:
•
Matric
•
Diploma/B-Tech in engineering (chemical\mechanical)
•
Production management\planning certificate will be an advantage.
Reporting structure:
This position reports to the Northern Plants & Logistics Manager.
Personal Circumstances:
•
Must be able to obtain a satisfactory medical report from the companies’ medical centre.
•
May be required to be on Standby.
Other requirements:
Please ensure:
•
That the application form is fully completed and attached with your CV.
•
That the reference number and/or position name of this advertisement is quoted on your application form.
•
That recently certified copies of all qualifications referred to on your application form and cv, are submitted.
•
Applications can be handed in at the HR offices on or before the closing date.
•
Only applications that are submitted to HR directly will be considered.
External Applicants:
Please attach a copy of your most recent payslip. We regret we cannot consider any applications received without this information.
Failure to comply with the above requirements will result in your application being disqualified.
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply, should the applicant be successful the incumbent will be reasonably accommodated depending on the inherent requirements of the job.
All applicants are thanked in advance for showing interest however correspondences will only be entered into with the shortlisted candidates.
Closing date: 19 March 2025
CV’s to be sent to: careers@ncp.co.za
Recruitment for this position will be conducted with the intention progressing our Employment Equity policy, targets, and objectives. The Company reserves the right not to fill this position.