Factory Manager – Steel Fabrication

Cre8work!; Germiston; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Cre8work! in Germiston is seeking a seasoned Steel Fabrication Factory Manager to lead our steel fabrication factory and workshop. You will oversee day-to-day operations, plan production schedules, allocate resources, and drive continuous improvement to meet tight deadlines.

The ideal candidate has at least 10 years in steel fabrication, 5+ years in a plant or workshop, and qualifications in Boilermaking or Production Management, with strong leadership and safety and quality focus.

Qualifications

• 10 years' experience in steel fabrication.
• 5 years' experience in a plant, factory, or workshop.
• Qualification in Boilermaking and/or Production Management.
• 5+ years' proven experience managing shopfloor operations within: Heavy engineering, Structural steel fabrication, Metal components manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of production scheduling, workflow optimisation, bottleneck analysis, and deadline-driven resource allocation.
• Ability to read and interpret complex structural and engineering drawings.
• Strong understanding of: Steel cutting processes, Press brake operations, Welding processes, General fabrication and workshop processes.
• Knowledge of South African Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and workplace compliance requirements.
• Familiarity with quality management systems.
• Experience managing and motivating production teams in a busy workshop environment.
• Strong labour relations, conflict resolution, and people-management skills.
• Tekla Steel Detailing Software knowledge will be an advantage

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the steel fabrication factory and workshop.
• Plan and coordinate production schedules to ensure deadlines and customer requirements are met.
• Allocate labour, machinery, materials, and other resources effectively.
• Monitor production output, quality, efficiency, and turnaround times.
• Identify and address production bottlenecks and workflow inefficiencies.
• Ensure that fabrication activities are carried out according to drawings, specifications, and quality standards.
• Oversee cutting, press brake, welding, fabrication, and related production processes.
• Implement and maintain effective health, safety, and quality procedures.
• Ensure compliance with applicable South African OHS requirements.
• Lead, manage, and develop workshop and production staff.
• Manage employee performance, attendance, discipline, and labour-related matters.
• Resolve workplace conflicts and maintain a productive working environment.
• Monitor wastage, downtime, productivity, and overall factory performance.
• Coordinate with management, engineering, procurement, and other departments to ensure smooth production flow.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve productivity, efficiency, quality, and cost control.

Skills

Production scheduling

Workflow optimization

Bottleneck analysis

People management

Leadership

Reading engineering drawings

Quality management

Health and safety

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Boilermaking

Production Management

Tools

Tekla

Job description

Position: Factory Manager – Steel Fabrication

Location: Germiston

Employment Type: Full-time

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Steel Fabrication Factory Manager to

oversee daily plant and workshop operations. The successful candidate will have extensive

experience in steel fabrication, strong production management capabilities, and a proven

track record of managing shopfloor operations within a heavy engineering or structural

steel environment.

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in steel fabrication
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a plant, factory, or workshop

leadership/management role

• Qualification in Boilermaking and/or Production Management
• Minimum 5 years’ proven experience managing shopfloor operations within:

• Heavy engineering
• Structural steel fabrication
• Metal components manufacturing

• Strong knowledge of production scheduling, workflow optimisation, bottleneck analysis, and deadline-driven resource allocation
• Ability to read and interpret complex structural and engineering drawings
• Strong understanding of:

• Steel cutting processes
• Press brake operations
• Welding processes
• General fabrication and workshop processes

• Knowledge of South African Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and workplace compliance requirements

• Familiarity with quality management systems
• Experience managing and motivating production teams in a busy workshop environment
• Strong labour relations, conflict resolution, and people-management skills
• Ability to work under pressure and consistently meet production deadlines
• Tekla Steel Detailing Software knowledge will be an advantage

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the steel fabrication factory and workshop
• Plan and coordinate production schedules to ensure deadlines and customer requirements are met
• Allocate labour, machinery, materials, and other resources effectively
• Monitor production output, quality, efficiency, and turnaround times
• Identify and address production bottlenecks and workflow inefficiencies
• Ensure that fabrication activities are carried out according to drawings, specifications, and quality standards
• Oversee cutting, press brake, welding, fabrication, and related production processes
• Implement and maintain effective health, safety, and quality procedures
• Ensure compliance with applicable South African OHS requirements
• Lead, manage, and develop workshop and production staff
• Manage employee performance, attendance, discipline, and labour-related matters
• Resolve workplace conflicts and maintain a productive working environment
• Monitor wastage, downtime, productivity, and overall factory performance
• Coordinate with management, engineering, procurement, and other departments to ensure smooth production flow
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve productivity, efficiency, quality, and cost control

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a strong, hands-on factory leader with extensive steel

fabrication experience and the ability to manage both people and production effectively.

They must be comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment, have strong technical

knowledge of fabrication processes, and be capable of identifying problems on the

shopfloor and implementing practical solutions.