Specialist Control & Automation

The primary role of the Control and Automation Specialist is to maintain the plant and associated devices to original installed state. In doing so it must ensure that plant availability and product quality is maintained at minimum cost; without sacrificing standards. He or she will also be required to provide continuous improvement initiatives that would enable more cost effective manufacturing in a highly competitive market. The role also entails the need to provide coaching within his or her field of expertise to develop the skills of other technical peers.

Key Duties & Responsibilities    

• Operational Support
• Provide specialist support to the shift based teams during operations. This will include standby and day shift support.
• Where requested, assist as a functional expert in problem solving. This must be undertaken in support of the process artisan.
• Provide guidance and advice to the shift based teams on machine operation, machine fault finding and correct responses to machine failure modes. Provide coaching, mentoring and knowledge transfer of machine operation to shift based teams.
• Review SIC’s and address deviations regularly.
• Take part, as a functional expert, in regional and central plant optimisation trials.
• Development of work instructions related to equipment.
• Monitor and manage performance of equipment.
• Planned Maintenance
• Take part in maintenance planning meeting, contributing suggestions and clarifying work required.
• Carry out work during the planned maintenance window in accordance with the planned maintenance schedule issued by the Planner.
• Where scheduled work cannot be completed, feed back to the Maintenance Planner for direction. This may involve rescheduling the work or prioritising outstanding work.
• Assist fellow team members in the execution of their tasks during planned maintenance windows.
• Routine Maintenance
• Carry out routine maintenance activities in accordance with the maintenance schedule.
• Where problems have been uncovered during routine maintenance, these must be resolved using the appropriate problem solving techniques.
• Where problems have been uncovered, and it is required to include the work in the planned maintenance schedule, this must be communicated to the maintenance planner.
• Running Repairs
• Partake in carrying out running repairs on plant and equipment, or support the shift artisans in carrying out repairs.
• When carrying out repairs, assess the problem and determine a course of action.
• Solicits external specialist assistance where required; e.g. OEM’s (as agreed with the Packaging Engineer).
• Problem Solving
• Apply the correct problem solving methodologies to resolve problems
• Solicit additional resources to assist in problems solving or escalate to the Packaging Engineer for direction.
• Housekeeping and safety
• Operate in a safe manner at all times, and to identify and highlight unsafe work practices so that these may be corrected.
• Carry out work according to the work instructions and adhering to appropriate CCBA policies and procedures.
• Carry out housekeeping tasks, and apply 5S principles during the execution of their duties
• Conduct risk assessments and implement disaster recovery plans.
• Support NPD implementation and trials:
• Support NPD trials to be able to run on assets
• Ensure adherence to NPD procedures
• Ensure all changes on assets are well documented as per the Engineering Change Management business processes

Skills, Experience & Education    

• Bachelor's Degree in Instrumentation or Mechatronics Engineering.

Experience

• 5 years’ work experience (FMCG an added advantage)
• PLC programming software training.
• HMI development/programming software training.
• PC literacy essential - Microsoft packages.
• Knowledge of MSD.