Manufacturing Process Engineer: Lean & RFT Leader

Dana Incorporated; Kariega; Presencial; ZAR 420.000 - 660.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Dana Spicer Axle South Africa (Pty) Ltd is seeking a Process Engineer to optimize manufacturing processes, ensure safety, and support APQP-driven product launches across the plant. You will drive continuous improvement, manage change control, and collaborate with maintenance, quality, and production teams to achieve performance targets.

Ideal candidates will have a degree in engineering, extensive experience with PFMEA, APQP, PPAP, and SAP, and a strong track record in high-volume automotive

Formación

• A Degree educated and time served process engineer with hands on experience that uses a systematic approach to problem solving (DMAIC, Red X, 5 Why).
• Experience with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, and process capability analysis.
• Working knowledge of SAP manufacturing systems.
• AutoCAD experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Visio, and Project.
• Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills.
• Experience within an automotive or high-volume manufacturing environment preferably in driveline assembly.

Responsabilidades

• Maintain all PPAP documentation, including PFMEAs, Process Flow Diagrams, Control Plans, Process Sheets, Operator Instructions, and associated manufacturing documentation.
• Develop, specify, implement, and continuously improve manufacturing control systems to ensure safe, robust, and efficient production processes.
• Create, update, and maintain SAP process routings for new product introductions, engineering changes, and model releases.
• Drive continuous improvement of Right First Time (RFT) performance through data analysis, root cause investigation, and process optimisation activities.
• Manage and document process changes in accordance with the site's formal change management procedures and control systems.
• Implement and maintain equipment safety standards, controls, and procedures to ensure safe operation of both new and existing production equipment.
• Develop, maintain, and monitor project timing plans to ensure successful and timely delivery of assigned projects.
• Support departmental objectives through active collaboration and technical assistance to other team members.
• Participate in and contribute to cross-functional APQP activities, design reviews, feasibility studies, and project launch meetings.
• Collaborate with Project Management, Applications Engineering, Design Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Production teams to ensure products are designed for manufacture and successfully introduced into production.
• Develop, implement, validate, and industrialise new product variants on existing production lines, ensuring successful completion of APQP gateways from concept validation through PPAP/PSW approval, including customer run-at-rate events.
• Analyse, document, and monitor process capacity, identifying opportunities to improve bottlenecks, cycle times, throughput, and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Ensure all process technical requirements identified within PFMEAs, Control Plans, customer specifications, and project documentation are successfully implemented, validated, and reflected in production processes.
• Maintain action plans, project trackers, and improvement plans to support RFT, safety, quality, productivity, and cost-reduction objectives.
• Attend regular performance review meetings and report progress on safety, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Conduct Gauge R&R studies, process capability studies, and poka-yoke validation activities to ensure robust manufacturing processes capable of consistently meeting customer and plant quality requirements.
• Lead and support root cause investigations using structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, 5 Why, and Fishbone Analysis.
• Work closely with Maintenance, Controls, and Production teams to improve equipment reliability, eliminate recurring downtime, and enhance process performance.
• Provide technical process support to maintenance and production teams in the diagnosis, troubleshooting, and resolution of equipment and process-related issues.
• Design, develop, and implement simple manufacturing aids, jigs, fixtures, error-proofing solutions, and tooling modifications to improve safety, quality, and productivity.
• Support operator training and process validation activities to ensure adherence to defined manufacturing standards.
• Participate in customer, internal, and third-party audits and support the implementation of resulting corrective actions.
• Lead continuous improvement and cost-reduction initiatives focused on quality, productivity, waste elimination, and operational excellence.

Conocimientos

Problem solving

Effective communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Continuous improvement

DMAIC / 8D methodologies

Educación

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Herramientas

SAP

AutoCAD

Excel

Visio

Project

Descripción del empleo

Dana Spicer Axle South Africa (Pty) Ltd is seeking a Process Engineer to optimize manufacturing processes, ensure safety, and support APQP-driven product launches across the plant. You will drive continuous improvement, manage change control, and collaborate with maintenance, quality, and production teams to achieve performance targets.

Ideal candidates will have a degree in engineering, extensive experience with PFMEA, APQP, PPAP, and SAP, and a strong track record in high-volume automotive