Maintenance Specialist Instrumentation (North West) at Samancor Chrome

SAFETY, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY

• Identify and assess level of issue based risk exposures in area of responsibility by considering exposures to business, financial, legal issues, people, equipment, material, environment, processes, etc.
• Consider the level of risk, apply mitigation and implement control measures for residual risk (set objectives, minimum requirements, etc.)
• Manage SHEQ compliance within the Section through effective use of the Toolbox
• Utilise the Integrated Management System (IMS) to initiate, investigate and report SHEQ status.

PEOPLE:

Manage the Section:

• Ensure an enabling climate/culture
• Manage labour stability by minimising labour turnover
• Labour complement in line with budget 
• Achieve HDSA/Female targets for the Section
• Manage performance against set targets and competencies
• Ensure IDP’s are linked to performance results and implemented as per plan
• Conduct career discussions and implement actions with all identified talent (quarterly)
• Ensure discipline is maintained (absenteeism, lateness, overtime, misconduct, etc.)
• Coach and counsel people to ensure improved performance levels
• Conduct recruitment interviews.

CUSTOMERS:

• Understand how the operation works and the effect of the instrumentation and automation on its deliverables and the way it operates and vice-a-versa
• Proactively seek ways of improving equipment reliability, planned maintenance, physical maintenance and automation systems on the mines
• Conduct regular scheduled plant inspections to ensure standardization of equipment and procedures
• Provide regular feedback with regard to team actions and performance to operational and maintenance personnel in designated areas 
• Attend designated production and maintenance meetings.
• Monitoring of MES in areas of responsibility, control, and report on downtime data
• Conduct and distribute RCFA reports
• Key Customers: Production and Maintenance Supervisors, Production and Maintenance Specialists, Instrumentation Artisans.

BUSINESS PROCESSES:

Operational:

• Ensure that the SAP PM data and work management meets Samancor Chrome standards at all times
• Monitor corrective maintenance workload vs available manpower
• Coach and mentor team members on effective plant maintenance management 
• Create quality awareness and quality service awareness within the team
• Provide regular feedback to the responsible engineers/managers
• Monitor and minimize overtime worked by team members
• Report all planned and unplanned to the Instrumentation Superintendent
• Compile and submit daily report
• Compile and submit monthly team performance report

Equipment availability:

• Check uptime data, investigate where necessary and take corrective action
• React swiftly to any plant stoppages involving instrumentation equipment or automation faults, report all stoppages to the Instrumentation Superintendent
• Liaise with various departments and sections
• Become totally integrated into the operations team to provide a comprehensive control and automation support service
• Ensure that the correct spares and adequate quantities thereof, are in stock
• Ensure that relevant PLC spares and adequate quantities are kept in stock, and devise action plan to handle emergency situations
• Accurately file documentation for easy retrieval
• Prioritise and plan work within the team structure
• Compile preventative maintenance schedules on instrumentation, measurement, control and communication equipment 
• Authenticate PLC programs and ensure adequate back up facilities is available 
• Provide advice and support to central team members wrt troubleshooting and suspected automation related defects.

Standby:

• Perform senior stand by duties on designated areas from time to time
• Report any bridging or plant stoppages during call outs immediately to the Engineer on stand by
• Inform the Engineering Manager of any stoppages longer than 2 hours relating to instrumentation equipment and/or automation systems after hours
• Provide specialized on-site assistance to instrumentation stand by personnel if requested or should a call out extend longer than 3 hours.

Digital Transformation:

• Drive automation and control projects in line with digital transformation initiatives
• Install and maintain underground and surface OT network infrastructure. 
• Maintain relevant design documentation to as-built status. 
• Provide input and guidance where control system hardware and software changes are required. 
• Adhere to the management of change process to ensure the impact of changes are assessed and documented.

Support to automation and mechanisation team:

• Drive automation and related digitalization projects
• Interface to all relevant disciplines involved in multi-disciplinary projects  
• Coordinate with different functional teams to implement control strategies and monitor outcomes
• Develop processes and tools to monitor and analyse control strategy performance and data accuracy
• Ensure compliance to standards, procedures and guidelines for automation, instrumentation and networks 
• Where work is outsourced, provide input, guidance and oversight with regards to scope of work, deliverables, risk assessments, management of change and acceptance testing.

Project Management:

• Clearly define scope of work, milestones and expected outcomes for contracted work
• Accurately evaluate delivered work from completeness and performance against specifications and standards  
• Interface with business units and external contractors with regards to implementation of automation projects on mining operations. 
• Interface with other engineering disciplines to establish how process control system can be utilised to aid in achieving their objectives

Training:

• Ensure compliance to standards through coaching and training of automation personnel
• Develop and present training modules to HRD standards
• Assist Samancor with knowledge sharing and training initiatives to familiarise operational teams with fundamentals of Process Control Systems, Instrumentation and Automation.   
• Be a mentor for Graduates in training, development them to become future Automation/instrumentation personnel  
• Provide specialist technical advice/assistance to customers and team members.

GROWTH

• Manage Continuous Improvement through Operational Excellence
• Develop capabilities within the section
• Keep abreast of new mining technologies, standards and methods.

SHAREHOLDER VALUE

• Regularly review cost reports, investigate over-expenditure and take corrective action
• Strive for continuous improvement of processes through implementation of cost-effective technology
• Monitor Maintenance budgets

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Trade Test and Degree in B.Tech or National Diploma in Engineering Electronic and Light Current
• 4 years’ relevant experience

Additional Qualifications:

• PLC Training and experience
• 10 years relevant experience, 5 managerial experience 
• Siemens PC7 
• CCNA
• Project Management Qualification – advantageous