Industrial Engineer: Production

Agri Technovation South Africa; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 360,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

Agri Technovation South Africa in Wellington is seeking an Industrial Engineer to optimise production, enhance operational efficiency, and uphold quality standards within our Production team.

The successful candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in industrial or manufacturing engineering, 1–2 years in process optimisation, and proficiency in Lean, Six Sigma, and process simulation; Afrikaans and English fluency are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in industrial or manufacturing engineering.
• 1–2 years experience in process optimisation.
• Experience in agriculture is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Improve production processes to boost efficiency.
• Ensure safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Develop SOPs and work instructions.
• Lead time studies and bottleneck analysis.
• Collaborate with production, quality, and supply chain.
• Train staff on new processes.
• Implement new technologies and automation.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Leadership

Data-driven decisions

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Communication

Decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering

Tools

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Process simulation software

MS Office

Job description

We are a leading AgTech and Input business that operates throughout selected international markets as part of a global group of Agri Technovation (AT) companies. As a fast-growing business, we are looking to expand our team with suitably qualified and experienced candidate/s looking for an opportunity to become part of our company and all it has to offer.

Science-based plant and soil health and nutrition is at the root of everything we do. Through our dynamic service offering (precision services, products and the use of our cloud-based data platform that supports informed decision making), we assist producers to increase their crop yields while reducing production costs. Our clients enjoy the benefit of one centralised access point for services, products and high-tech support. We also offer unique services to our clients, including MYSOIL CLASSIFICATION™, ITEST™ CARBOHYDRATES (first of its kind commercially available) and PICKLOGGER™, which offerings set us apart from our competitors.

A highly experienced leadership team drives the business with an acute ability to guide, inspire and lead all team members, ensuring strong focus on our mission - maximising grower profitability through science and technology.

We are immensely proud of what we have achieved so far and look forward to what’s to come - new challenges, new solutions, more innovation

Job Description

This is an ideal position for an individual searching for an exciting career opportunity in a dynamic and rapidly growing global Agtech company. The Industrial Engineer position is a permanent position based in Wellington. This position will form part of the Production team.

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Industrial Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will play a critical part in optimising our production processes, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring the highest standards of quality in our operations. The ideal candidate will bring a passion for continuous improvement and a strong ability to analyse complex systems and implement innovative solutions. The individual must have a strong people management skill set.

Main Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards in all operational activities.
• Drive the continuous improvement initiatives within the facility, striving for a World Class Manufacturing environment.
• Implement, optimise, and improve the plant processes to meet production goals and improve efficiency.
• Work with internal customers to solve their debottlenecking opportunities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify process improvement opportunities and implement solutions.
• Troubleshoot process issues and develop effective solutions to minimise downtime and ensure optimal production.
• Develop and maintain process documentation, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Work Instructions (WIs).
• Analyse existing production and operational processes to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement.
• Design and implement optimised workflows and processes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve productivity.
• Conduct time studies, capacity analyses, and root cause analyses to address bottlenecks and improve throughput.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including production, quality, and supply chain, to align operational objectives.
• Provide training and support to employees on process improvements and new systems.
• Assist in the quality control process with a strong view to do root cause analysis.
• Utilise data analysis tools and techniques to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and drive decision-making.
• Lead initiatives to integrate new technologies and automation into production processes.
• Ad Hoc or other related duties as assigned.

Skills and Capabilities

• Excellent work ethic and good attention to detail
• Maintain high standards under pressure
• Able to make timely decisions
• Thorough understanding of processes, procedures, and systems
• Ability to function well both individually and as part of a team
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment
• Demonstrated leadership ability
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on data-driven decision-making

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related field.
• 1-2 years of experience in process optimisation, manufacturing, or a similar role.

Experience

• Experience in the agricultural industry would be advantageous
• Proficiency in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with process simulation software and other industrial engineering tools.

Other specific requirements

• Full professional proficiency in Afrikaans and English (speaking and writing)
• High proficiency in Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)