Eastern Cape: Factory Technical Manager – PE posted by Impact HR

About the Role

The Factory Technical Manager is a key leadership position responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality products that meet the required specifications. This role requires a strong technical background, excellent communication skills, and the ability to lead and manage a team. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing all activities related to product quality control, managing laboratory operations, and collaborating with various departments to achieve business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure timely testing of products (raw materials and manufactured goods) against QC specifications as specified by Research & Development.
• Oversee the capture and accurate reporting of results from quality inspection.
• Manage sample inventory and process orders for release from quality inspection timeously.
• Address technical issues raised by Axalta on the company system.
• Align new recipes issued by Axalta for the SB manufacturing plant.
• Monitor staff performance, provide support to achieve team objectives, and contribute towards budgeting for QC laboratory requirements.
• Compile time keeping information on SAP Time and Attendance Module system and complete exceptions, overtime, etc.
• Maintain high standards of QC laboratory facilities housekeeping and process-related standards.
• Coordinate maintenance of standards/reference materials/databases in the laboratory.
• Ensure equipment/consumables are calibrated and in good working order to support production.
• Coordinate creation and release of batch test certificates on time and in compliance with agreed specifications.
• Monitor and report relevant QC statistics daily, weekly, and monthly as required by the Head of Technical and/or Site Manager.
• Analyze batch amendment trends and recommend permanent changes to the formulation to the R&D team.
• Conduct problem-solving and root cause analysis on objectives (KPIs, customer complaints, QC trends, etc.).
• Initiate and coordinate recall of non-conforming batches and investigate works off routes.
• Assist with investigation, documentation, and feedback of customer complaints within the allocated time-frame on the HEAT system.
• Analyze recipes, processes, and equipment to recommend continual improvement to achieve strategic efficiency plans.
• Liaise with Procurement in preparing feedback to suppliers on all non-conforming raw material deliveries as per laid down procedures.
• Ensure a traceable system is in place for maintenance of all appropriate records including test results, retained samples, batch cards, draw-downs, brush-outs, etc.
• Identify and assist with the improvement of test methods and SOPs.

Requirements

• 5 years’ experience in a chemical/paint laboratory.
• 3 years’ management/supervisory experience and formulating experience (ideal to have completed a management development program).
• Knowledge of Paint formulation and Paint manufacturing processes.
• Experience using SPC (Statistical Process Control) to improve processes.
• Excellent communication (written & verbal) and interpersonal skills.
• Good understanding of operational and quality management processes (manufacturing, HR, action request, risk assessment, document management & complaints management).
• Operation of all relevant QC and Colour equipment, software, and processes.
• Good knowledge of colour and ability to help with colour adjustments.
• Excellent MS Office (Excel and Word) skills.
• Ability to apply Plant health and safety protocol to the workplace to ensure compliance.
• Excellent problem-solving and time management skills.
• Relationship building/networking skills.
• People management and leadership skills (achieving through others, strong coaching and empowering).
• Technical Report Writing, Reading, and Correction Skills.
• Ability to interpret and scrutinize results.
• Data compilation from SAP/equivalent and excellent ability to analyze/scrutinize/interpret data; able to identify trends and make decisions.

Qualifications

• BSC in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering (ideal MSc in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering)