Machine Shop Manager

SUMMARY:
Our client is a well-established South African manufacturer of heavy mineral processing equipment, supplying mining operations around the world. They are known in the industry for quality engineering and robust designs, and they handle the whole process in-house, from design and fabrication to precision machining, assembly and testing. They're a stable, growing business with an ISO 9001 quality system, and they value skilled people and offer long-term career growth.


The role
Our client is looking for an experienced Machine Shop Manager to run their machining department. You'll make sure heavy, precision-machined parts for mining equipment are delivered on time, within specification and within budget. You'll report to the Production/Operations Manager and work closely with engineering, fabrication, assembly and quality control.

POSITION INFO:
Key Performance Areas (KPAs) Production planning and delivery Plan, schedule and load machines according to project deadlines and the production plan Hit on-time delivery targets for machined parts going to fabrication, assembly and final dispatch Track work-in-progress and flag bottlenecks and delays early Quality and ISO 9001 compliance Make sure all parts are machined to drawing, tolerance and surface-finish requirements Keep scrap, rework and non-conformances (NCRs) low, and run root-cause and corrective action Keep ISO 9001 records in order: inspection records, calibration of measuring equipment, and job traceability Machine and equipment management Get the most out of the machines (OEE) and keep unplanned downtime low Work with maintenance on preventive maintenance schedules for CNC and conventional machines Manage tooling, fixtures and consumables to control cost and availability People leadership Manage, coach and develop the setters, machinists, turners and CNC operators Handle shift allocation, attendance, performance management and discipline in line with labour law Build skills through training, and support apprentices and trade testing Cost control and reporting Manage the department budget, labour hours and overtime Check machining times and costs against quoted hours, and give input on quotes and job costing Report weekly and monthly on output, efficiency, quality and cost Health and safety Enforce Occupational Health and Safety (OHS Act) compliance, safe machine operation and good housekeeping Run risk assessments, toolbox talks and incident investigations Aim for zero lost-time injuries Continuous improvement and engineering support Improve machining methods, cycle times and setups (lean \/ 5S) Work with the design engineers on whether parts can be machined practically, and on reading drawings Help evaluate investment in new machines or CNC technology Qualifications Trade-tested Fitter and Turner or Turner Machinist (Red Seal) - essential National Diploma (N6) in Mechanical Engineering or Production Management - strongly preferred A management or supervisory development qualification - advantageous Working knowledge of ISO 9001 quality systems Valid driver's licence Experience At least 8-10 years in a heavy engineering machine shop, with at least 5 years managing one Experience machining large, heavy parts such as mill shells, trunnions, girth gears, pinions, shafts and housings Hands-on experience with CNC and conventional machines, such as vertical borers, CNC lathes, horizontal borers and milling machines Able to read and interpret complex engineering drawings, including geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) Experience in a job-shop or OEM (made-to-order) setting, ideally supplying the mining, mineral processing or heavy industrial sectors Comfortable using an ERP\/MRP system for job cards, scheduling and costing What makes a strong candidate A hands-on leader who spends time on the shop floor Strong at planning and staying organised when deadlines are tight Pays close attention to quality and precision Takes safety seriously Communicates clearly with the team and with other departments Makes decisions based on data