Lean Process Improvement Engineer – FMCG (Coastal)

Placements24; Mossel Bay; Hybrid; ZAR 420,000 - 750,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Performance-based incentives

Training & career progression

Generous annual leave

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Process Improvement Engineer for its Mossel Bay FMCG facility. You will apply lean methods to optimize production lines, packaging, and material flow, driving waste reduction and quality improvements.

Collaborate with production and quality teams to implement sustainable improvements and ensure safety compliance. The ideal candidate has a 3–5 year track record in process improvement within manufacturing, with strong analytical skills and proficiency in Excel/Minitab.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in process improvement or industrial engineering in FMCG/manufacturing.
• Lean principles and tools experience must have been demonstrated.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Proficient in data analysis and visualization tools such as Excel and Minitab.

Responsibilities

• Analyze existing manufacturing processes to identify efficiency, cost, and quality improvements.
• Design and implement process changes using lean tools (VSM, 5S, Kaizen).
• Perform time studies and data analysis to set benchmarks and find bottlenecks.
• Develop SOPs and work instructions for optimized processes.
• Collaborate with production to sustain process improvements and ensure safety compliance.
• Support quality by addressing root causes of defects and corrective actions.
• Evaluate new manufacturing technologies and equipment for potential adoption.
• Monitor KPIs related to output, waste reduction, and efficiency.
• Train staff on new procedures and best practices.
• Participate in cross-functional teams for new product introductions and process validation.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Data analysis

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Tools

Excel

Minitab

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Process Improvement Engineer for its Mossel Bay FMCG facility. You will apply lean methods to optimize production lines, packaging, and material flow, driving waste reduction and quality improvements.

Collaborate with production and quality teams to implement sustainable improvements and ensure safety compliance. The ideal candidate has a 3–5 year track record in process improvement within manufacturing, with strong analytical skills and proficiency in Excel/Minitab.