Purpose of the job:
The Process engineer is a technical specialist who reports to the Technical Services Manager and has the primary responsibilities to:
- Design and implement plant changes to minimize the need for maintenance shutdowns thus maximizing plant uptime and output.
- Provide specialized technical services, operations support, process control and effluent waste monitoring services for the organization.
- Lead the energy management framework and ensure its alignment to group policy.
- Implement world class systems and manage operational excellence to ensure operation performance is met in terms of both output and efficiency through effective production, engineering, and distribution.
- Support and optimize plant performance and energy balance via resources and projects.
- Deviations on plant quality, chemistry and operational processes are investigated and technical reports prepared with proposed preventative measures.
- Become the technical custodian on the Chlor-Alkali manufacturing knowledge base.
- Assist in ensuring business compliance with legal and SHERQ requirements in terms of the manufacturing process.
- The abovementioned activities shall be conducted in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, No. 85 of 1993 and all relevant policies and procedures.
- This position profile acts as a guide to the role only, and additional work outcomes may be required to be performed by the incumbent.
Key performance areas:
- Provide technical services on site.
- Ensure process control philosophy is developed and well understood.
- Ensure technical support to any process trains that require investigation and improvement.
- Repeat failures, incidents and customer complaints are investigated and preventative measures are implemented.
- Raw material and final product quality are monitored, and deviations acted upon accordingly.
- Provide reports on any process deviations on the system.
- Measure and evaluate and report on the effluent management on site and find opportunities for effluent reduction.
Standards and codes of good practice:
- Make use of site drawings, engineering standards and technical library to assist the plant operations to achieve the required standard.
- Responsible for the development and control of P&ID’s, HAZOP studies and design reviews for updates on the system as per the operational strategy development.
- Assist in the development of Electrolyser protection, manufacturing data and quality parameters according to OEM standards.
- Implement and monitor operating technology systems (i.e., MES, Track and Trace, SCADA, operational systems)
Continuous improvement and operational excellence:
- Provide technical input to ensure that the operations are legally compliant and adheres to certification requirements.
- Lead the energy management framework and ensure alignment to the Bud Groups energy policy.
- Become the technical custodian on Chlor-Alkali manufacturing and ensure knowledge management and technical expertise are embedded in the organisation.
- Find opportunities to improve the overall business through low-cost or agile processes through the development or change in processes to allow maximization of uptime and output.
- Design and implement a plant operational capability that allows for statutory maintenance to be completed without stopping production.
- Implement world class manufacturing principles.
Related SHERQ responsibilities:
Knowledge / skills/ Competencies:
- Extensive knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, No. 85 of 1993.
- Extensive knowledge of ISO 9001 and quality management system
- Extensive knowledge of hazardous chemical manufacturing and handling codes, preferably in a Chlor-Alkali plant.
- Knowledgeable on different types of equipment related to chemical manufacturing plants.
- Skilled in hazard identification, risk assessment and root cause analysis
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical databooks.
- Experience in working with operational excellence, energy management and world class manufacturing principles.
- Experience in managing and coordinating projects, and continuous improvement activities.
- Experience in using SharePoint and Corrective Action Systems (i.e., Digilex)
- Knowledge on Operations Technology (i.e., SCADA, PLC, SAP IM and MES)
- Experienced in relationship building and cross collaboration at a senior level.
- Extensive knowledge of the OHS Act and legal appointments.
- In-depth knowledge of Operations Technology (OT), MES systems, SCADA database, ERP software and Dashboard reporting
- Sound understanding of project management, contractor management, supplier management, change principles and continuous improvement.
- Computer literacy in SAP and MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
- In-depth knowledge of process engineering, HAZOP studies and LOPA.
- Strategic management, planning, co-ordination, and control
- Technical custodian and ability to travel locally and internationally to technical conferences.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Leadership and Team player
- Concern for standards
- Thorough and attention to detail
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Highly Analytical and Innovative
Experience:
- 15 years in a chemical manufacturing plant environment (chlor-alkali manufacturing)
- Experience on quality management and laboratory operations.
- Experiencing in world class systems and operational excellence implementation
- Experience in developing and using an MES system for analysis of operational data.
- Familiar with financial budgeting and capex management
Qualifications:
- Matric
- BSc or BEng Chemical Engineering (regrettably no BTech)
- Project management / PRINCE II certification and/or experience
- Professional Engineer (PR Eng)
Reporting structure:
This position reports to the Process Technical Services Manager.