Industrial Engineer - Lean Manufacturing Implementation

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance-based incentives

Health benefits

Retirement fund contributions

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 seeks an Industrial Engineer to lead lean manufacturing initiatives across its Nelspruit operations, working remotely from anywhere in South Africa. The role focuses on waste reduction, process flow, and building a culture of continuous improvement with cross‑functional teams.

The ideal candidate has 4+ years in industrial engineering, solid experience with 5S, VSM, Kaizen, TPM, Six Sigma, and a proven ability to drive Kaizen events while coaching staff and managing projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering or related field
• 4+ years in industrial engineering with strong focus on lean implementation
• Experience with lean tools: 5S, VSM, Kaizen, TPM, Six Sigma
• Proven ability to lead Kaizen events and drive process improvements
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving and project management skills
• Strong training, facilitation and coaching abilities
• Effective communication and ability to work remotely with diverse teams
• Manufacturing environment experience and SA remote work eligibility

Responsibilities

• Lead lean manufacturing initiatives across facilities (5S, Kaizen, VSM, Kanban, Poka‑Yoke)
• Conduct waste walks and facilitate Kaizen events to drive improvements
• Develop and execute VSM for key product lines to identify bottlenecks
• Train and coach employees on lean principles and tools
• Establish and monitor KPIs (lead time, inventory turns, productivity)
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams for adoption and sustainability
• Support standardized work and operational excellence programs
• Document and drive continuous improvement projects and knowledge sharing
• Promote a culture of problem‑solving and continuous improvement

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Kaizen events

Value Stream Mapping (VSM)

5S

Kanban

Poka‑Yoke

Six Sigma

Project management

Training & coaching

Analytical skills

Manufacturing experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a well-established manufacturing company in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, is seeking a dedicated Industrial Engineer to lead the implementation and continuous improvement of lean manufacturing principles across their facilities. This role is critical for driving waste reduction, improving process flow, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization. The successful candidate will work closely with production teams, management, and other stakeholders to identify opportunities, develop strategies, and implement lean tools and methodologies. This is an exciting opportunity to significantly impact operational efficiency and competitiveness within the region. The position is offered as fully remote, allowing the engineer to contribute to the transformation of operations in Nelspruit from any location.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of lean manufacturing initiatives, including 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Kanban, and Poka-Yoke.
• Conduct waste identification (Muda) walks and facilitate Kaizen events to drive incremental improvements.
• Develop and execute VSM for key product lines to identify non-value-added activities and bottlenecks.
• Train and coach employees at all levels on lean principles and tools.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to lean implementation, such as lead time, inventory turns, and productivity.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure effective adoption and sustainability of lean practices.
• Support the development of standardized work and operational excellence programs.
• Facilitate and document continuous improvement projects, ensuring successful outcomes and knowledge sharing.
• Promote a culture of problem-solving and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in industrial engineering, with a strong focus on lean manufacturing implementation and continuous improvement.
• Proven experience with various lean tools and methodologies (5S, VSM, Kaizen, TPM, Six Sigma).
• Demonstrated ability to lead Kaizen events and drive process improvements.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Strong training, facilitation, and coaching abilities.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, capable of working remotely and engaging diverse teams.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment is essential.
• Must be eligible to work remotely within South Africa.

Benefits

This fully remote position offers a competitive salary, performance-based incentives, comprehensive health benefits, and retirement fund contributions. The company is committed to employee development and provides access to ongoing training and professional growth opportunities. The flexibility of this role allows for significant impact on operational efficiency in Nelspruit while maintaining a work-life balance.