Maintenance Assistant

Chainlink Recruitment; Kempton Park; On-site; ZAR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Chainlink Recruitment is seeking a Mechanical Maintenance Assistant in Kempton Park, South Africa. The role involves minimizing plant downtime and improving equipment reliability through effective mechanical support and lubrication activities.

The ideal candidate should have at least 2 years of maintenance experience in a heavy engineering environment and possess excellent communication skills. A forklift license is advantageous. This position offers an opportunity to grow and learn within a dynamic team.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years maintenance experience as a mechanical maintenance assistant in a heavy engineering environment.
• Willingness to learn and develop new skills.
• Responsible and professional demeanor.

Responsibilities

• Lubricate all machinery in the plant.
• Assist artisans with breakdown repairs and planned maintenance activities.
• Maintain the lubrication program/system.

Skills

Maintenance experience

Communication skills

Ability to identify lubrication needs

Energetic and motivated

Education

Matric or equivalent

Tools

Forklift license

Job description

We are seeking the services of a highly capable Mechanical Maintenance Assistant. The incumbent is responsible for minimizing plant downtime, improving equipment reliability and extending the operating life of machinery through the effective and efficient execution of all mechanical assistance activities.

Reporting to the Mechanical Maintenance Foreman. The incumbent must effectively liaise with maintenance assistants, production team leaders, engineering stores coordinator, maintenance planners and artisans to ensure that maximum plant and equipment availability is achieved. The incumbent must be proactive and take responsibility of supporting artisans and lubrication programs to ensure world‑class maintenance best practices are implemented and maintained.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Delivery:
  • Lubricate all machinery in the plant (i.e. Paper machines, Gearboxes, Motors, Compressors, Forklifts, Generators, etc.).
  • Maintain the lubrication program/system.
  • Assist artisans with breakdown repairs and planned maintenance activities.
  • Report any identified plant risks or equipment abnormalities (e.g., unusual motor noise).
  • Monitor the compressed air plants.
  • Follow instructions from the mechanical maintenance foreman.
  • Execute any reasonable tasks given from time to time.
  • Complete work according to the weekly maintenance plan.
  • Do general daily housekeeping tasks.
  • Perform any task that may be given to him from time to time by the engineering leadership team.
• Quality:
  • Ensure no maintenance rework by ensuring that mechanical maintenance assistance is provided to artisans for ease of executing quality repair activities on equipment in accordance with the agreed standard by adhering to World Class Manufacturing best practices.
  • Ensure no maintenance rework by ensuring that lubrication activities on equipment are executed correctly the first time in accordance with the agreed standard by adhering to World Class Manufacturing best practices.
• Cost:
  • Ensure that you do not increase maintenance cost by supporting artisans to reduce the Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) on equipment repairs.
  • Ensure that you do not increase maintenance cost by eliminating over greasing of equipment and lubricant spillages.
• Health, Safety and environmental:
  • Partake in on site Safety Program and attend regular safety talks, toolbox inspection, etc.
  • Ensure that all maintenance work is executed in a safe and efficient manner.
  • Maintain high work and safety standards within area of responsibility.
  • Ensure plant housekeeping is of a high standard by implementing 5S principles and practices in area of responsibility.
• People:
  • Maintain open channel communication with artisans, maintenance lubricator, engineering stores coordinator and production team leaders.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Matric or equivalent.
• Have a minimum of 2 years maintenance experience as a mechanical maintenance assistant in a heavy engineering and continuous manufacturing process environment.
• Willingness and ability to learn and develop new skills.
• Responsible and professional.
• Forklift license (advantageous).

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Self‑starter, energetic and highly motivated individual with a positive attitude.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to identify through touch, hearing, etc., when equipment requires lubrication during the run.
• Prepared to work outside normal working hours during shutdowns.
• Demonstrate good housekeeping practices and strong organisational skills.