Dry Pressing Tile Specialist

Unique Personnel Ltd; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 360,000 - 480,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in ceramic tile manufacturing seeks an experienced professional to enhance the availability and reliability of their tile production equipment. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in quality assurance and process control, with at least 10 years of expertise in handling Italian-designed ceramic manufacturing equipment like SACMI and SITI B&T. This role involves coaching, training staff, and ensuring compliance with quality standards while adapting to a dynamic work environment.

Qualifications

• 10 years of experience with SACMI and SITI B&T equipment.
• Experience in high-gloss ceramic and porcelain tile glaze production.
• Ability to develop process control systems.

Responsibilities

• Improve reliability of tile presses and glaze lines for production KPIs.
• Coach and train technical staff on equipment setup.
• Implement a preventative maintenance program.

Skills

Quality Control

Quality Assurance

Mechanical Skills

Process Control

Training and Coaching

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Mechanical or Process Engineering Qualification

Job description

Key Responsibilities:

1. Improve the availability and reliability of SACMI and SITI B&T tile presses, driers, glaze lines, kilns, and selection equipment to support factory KPI targets for production.
2. Conduct tests on dry pressed tile biscuits and fired tiles, ensuring yields of >95%.
3. Prepare and perform quality assurance on glossy glazes for ceramic tiles.
4. Assess and improve process controls to ensure 95% first-grade production.
5. Perform periodic random process control checks to ensure the integrity of production controls.
6. Coach and train process controllers and technical staff in process parameter setup for ceramic and porcelain tile presses, glaze lines, and handling equipment, focusing on die box machining, installation, and filling adjustments.
7. Centralize and decentralize punches to ensure defect-free product edges.
8. Set up press input control parameters to achieve the required green and dry modulus of rupture in biscuits.
9. Adjust to achieve homogeneous apparent density in green tiles and ensure correct charge in all accumulators.
10. Set up Grouper, Spacer, and Tile Accumulator equipment.
11. Perform electronic upgrades and train staff on new upgrades.
12. Train staff on safe operating procedures for all relevant equipment.
13. Implement and maintain a preventative maintenance program within the department.
14. Housekeeping and Health & Safety.

Requirements:

1. Minimum 10 years of experience with Italian-designed ceramic and porcelain tile manufacturing equipment, including SACMI, SITI B&T, SYSTEM, Ceramics, and KEDA.
2. Extensive experience in preparing and producing ceramic and porcelain spray-dried clay.
3. Extensive experience in preparing and producing high-gloss ceramic and porcelain tile glaze.
4. Strong understanding of ceramic and porcelain tile manufacturing processes and ability to diagnose defects.
5. Deep knowledge of quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) standards according to SANS and ISO, with experience in setup and control of manufacturing equipment to meet these standards.
6. Ability to teach peers and subordinates in managing the tile-making process.
7. Mechanical or process engineering qualification or demonstrated expert knowledge of the listed equipment and processes.
8. Effective communication skills and good interpersonal skills.
9. Hands-on approach with pride in work performed.
10. Ability to develop and implement process control systems.
11. Positive attitude, willingness to work long hours, and adaptability to a rapidly changing environment.