Fitter- (Brits)

Bridgestone; Brits; On-site; ZAR 320,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Bridgestone is seeking a skilled Maintenance Fitter for its Brits, ZA operation. This on-site, full-time role focuses on mechanical maintenance of tyre-building machines and related equipment, supporting a multi-disciplinary technical team during setups and changes.

You will read drawings, inspect components, and perform preventive and corrective work while maintaining records and upholding safety standards in a high-production environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years post-trade experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in tyre-manufacturing is advantageous.
• Proven maintenance, machine troubleshooting and equipment setup experience.
• Experience with drums, tooling, guides and production machinery is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Perform preventive and corrective mechanical maintenance on tyre-building machines and related equipment.
• Assist with installation, adjustment and alignment of machine components, guides, drums, and tooling.
• Read and interpret technical specifications, engineering drawings and setup requirements.
• Assist Technical team during machine setup and trial production to ensure readiness.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records and ensure good housekeeping in maintenance areas.
• Comply with safety procedures and lockout/tagout requirements; work with cross-functional teams.
• Participate in continuous improvement to reduce downtime and improve machine reliability.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Fault finding

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Safety awareness

Education

South African trade certificate (Fitter)

Tools

Mechanical drawings

Measurement tools

Pneumatic systems

Preventive maintenance

Job description

POSITION SNAPSHOT

Type of work: On site

Type of contract: Open-ended/permanent

Full/Part Time: Full time

Location: Brits, ZA

ABOUT US

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM), headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and Bridgestone Europe, Middle East and Africa (BSEMEA), headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, operate collectively as a “Bridgestone West” strategic region. This region services the strategic business needs of teams across the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa. BSAM and BSEMEA are subsidiaries of Bridgestone Corporation, globally headquartered in Japan. Bridgestone and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand products and solutions to address the needs of a broad range of customers and industries.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Job Purpose

You will provide mechanical maintenance and technical support to the tyre-manufacturing operation by ensuring that tyre-building machines, drums, tooling, guides, and associated equipment are maintained, adjusted, and available for safe and efficient production. The role supports Tyre Builders, the Workshop / Tool Manager, and the Technical team during machine setups, tyre-size changes, breakdowns, and equipment adjustments.

Responsibilities

• Perform preventive and corrective mechanical maintenance on tyre-building machines and associated equipment. Diagnose and repair mechanical faults to minimise machine downtime. Support Tyre Builders during tyre-size changes and machine setups.
• Assist with the installation, adjustment, and alignment of machine components, guides, drums, and tooling. Support the Workshop / Tool Manager with drum maintenance, tooling preparation, and tooling-related technical issues.
• Assist with the installation and adjustment of tooling required for new tyre sizes. Inspect drums, tooling, guides, and machine components for wear, damage, and correct operation.
• Read and interpret technical specifications, engineering drawings, manuals, and machine-setup requirements.
• Assist the Technical team with problems identified during machine setup and trial production. Ensure that machines are mechanically ready before production is handed over to the Production team.
• Perform machine adjustments and alignment to maintain product quality and production efficiency.
• Investigate recurring mechanical problems and recommend corrective actions. Carry out planned maintenance according to approved maintenance schedules and procedures.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records and report defects and outstanding work. Maintain good housekeeping standards in the maintenance, workshop, and production areas.
• Comply with all company safety procedures, lockout/tagout requirements, and applicable statutory requirements. Work closely with Production, Quality, Technical, and Engineering teams to resolve production-related problems.
• Participate in continuous improvement activities aimed at reducing downtime and improving machine reliability.

Qualifications & Experience Required

Education and Certifications

• Qualified Fitter with a recognised South African trade certificate.

Experience

• A minimum of three years’ relevant post-trade experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in a tyre-manufacturing environment will be highly advantageous.
• Proven experience in mechanical maintenance, machine troubleshooting, and equipment setup.
• Experience working with drums, tooling, guides, and production machinery will be advantageous.

Technical Skills

• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings and technical specifications.
• Good understanding of mechanical fitting, alignment, bearings, shafts, pneumatic systems, and machine components.
• Ability to use mechanical workshop tools and measuring equipment.
• Knowledge of preventive maintenance practices.

Language Skills

• Not specified in the source job description.

Soft and Behavioral Skills

Strong mechanical and technical aptitude. Excellent fault-finding and problem-solving skills. High attention to detail. Good understanding of machine alignment and setup. Ability to work under pressure and respond quickly to breakdowns. Strong teamwork and communication skills. Ability to work effectively across Production, Technical, Quality, and Engineering teams. Good planning and organisational skills. Strong safety and quality awareness. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision. Commitment to preventive maintenance and continuous improvement. Ability and willingness to work shifts and overtime, and to respond to breakdowns when required. Ability to work safely under pressure in a high-production environment.

WHAT WE OFFER

At Bridgestone, what really matter is to foster co-creation opportunities and empowering you to be creative and curious to make mobility safer, more efficient, and more sustainable for future generations. Whatever role you fill, when you represent Bridgestone, you are a valued teammate, and part of our larger mission to “Serve Society with Superior Quality”, for that, we offer you more than just a competitive payment; we will provide you:

• A supportive and engaging onboarding experience to ensure a smooth transition into our team.
• The opportunity to develop and grow, through training and regular mentorship.
• Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
• A truly global, dynamic and challenging work environment.
• Agility and work/life effectiveness and your long-term well-being.
• A diverse and inclusive team.

We are committed to create an even more inclusive culture that advances equity, embraces individuality, and helps our increasingly diverse teammates, customers, and communities thrive, by providing equal opportunities in employment. This means that all job applicants and members of staff will receive equal treatment and that we will not discriminate on grounds of gender, marital status, race, ethnicity, color, nationality, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, religion or age.