Industrial Engineer - Lean Manufacturing Implementation

Placements24; East London; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pension fund

Paid vacation time

Certification opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Industrial Engineer in East London to lead Lean initiatives across our client’s manufacturing plant. You will drive waste reduction, optimize flow, and train teams in Kaizen, 5S, VSM, Kanban, and Poka-Yoke to improve quality and costs.

You’ll collaborate with production, engineering, and quality teams, establish KPIs, and champion visual management. A hands-on leader with strong analytics and change management will fit well.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial/Mechanical Engineering required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in industrial engineering with Lean implementations.
• Proven Lean tooling expertise (VSM, 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, Poka-Yoke).
• Manufacturing experience essential; strong facilitation and change management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and sustain Lean Manufacturing across production areas.
• Conduct Value Stream Mapping to identify wastes and improvements.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and team problem-solving sessions.
• Implement 5S programs for a clean, efficient workplace.
• Develop production flow and material handling using Lean concepts.
• Set up and monitor KPIs for Lean performance and operational efficiency.
• Train and mentor staff on Lean methods and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with production, eng, and quality teams to ensure adoption.
• Support visual management systems and share best practices in waste reduction.

Skills

Facilitation

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Value Stream Mapping

5S

Kaizen

Kanban

Poka-Yoke

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a well-established manufacturing firm located in East London, is seeking an experienced Industrial Engineer to lead and drive Lean Manufacturing initiatives. This role is fundamental to transforming our production processes, eliminating waste, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across the organization. You will be responsible for implementing Lean tools and methodologies such as 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, and Kanban. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in enhancing operational efficiency, product quality, and cost-effectiveness within the East London manufacturing plant. This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on engineer passionate about Lean principles to make a substantial impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation and sustainment of Lean Manufacturing principles and tools across all production areas.
• Conduct Value Stream Mapping (VSM) to identify waste and opportunities for process improvement.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and team-based problem-solving sessions.
• Implement and manage 5S programs to ensure a clean, organized, and efficient workplace.
• Develop and optimize production flow and material handling systems using Lean concepts.
• Establish and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to Lean implementation and operational efficiency.
• Train and mentor employees at all levels on Lean methodologies and continuous improvement practices.
• Collaborate with production, engineering, and quality teams to ensure effective adoption of Lean principles.
• Support the development and implementation of visual management systems.
• Identify and champion best practices in waste reduction and efficiency gains.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in industrial engineering, with a strong focus on implementing Lean Manufacturing principles.
• Demonstrated expertise in applying Lean tools such as VSM, 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, and Poka-Yoke.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment is essential.
• Excellent facilitation, training, and change management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficiency in process mapping and data analysis tools.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive projects to completion.
• Must be based in or able to commute to East London.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary package up to R .
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Pension fund contribution.
• Opportunities for advanced Lean certifications and training.
• Generous paid vacation time.
• A significant role in driving operational transformation in East London.
• Collaborative and results-oriented work environment.