Sewing Machine Technician / Team Leader (Production / Maintenance Controller)

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:

Overview

Ensuring the overall operation and maintenance of sewing machines and equipment. Supervise, lead and control production team in accordance with the production plan.

Minimum Requirements

• Grade 12 / Matric 
• Certificate in Lockstitch Machines and Industrial Sewing Machine will be advantageous. Proven track record with experience in Industrial
• 5+ years’ experience on a similar role.

Job Responsibilities 

Sewing Machine Mechanic Responsibilities:

Tools and Measuring Instruments:

• Identify, inspect, use, maintain and care for sewing machinery and equipment
• Select, use and care for engineering power tools, motors, pneumatic tools, conveyor systems
• Select, use and care for marking off/out equipment: routine shapes

Knowledge:

• Product and process knowledge
• Proven track record with experience in Industrial sewing machine (Walking Foot)
• Demonstrate an understanding of the uses and safety aspect associated with Sewing Machines and associated equipment

SHE:

• Identify potential hazards and critical safety issues in the workplace
• Address workplace hazards and risks
• Work safely and use safety equipment

Financial Control:

• Protect company assets (working capital & fixed assets)
• Detect and prevent fraud
• Promote good corporate governance

Quality Management Systems:

• Protect company assets (working capital & fixed assets)
• Detect and prevent fraud
• Promote good corporate governance

Customer relations:

• Interact with internal customers

Processes:

Maintenance Process (Scheduled):

• Transport tools, equipment and spares to the work site
• Isolate equipment, perform lockouts and make the work area safe
• Removing defective parts by dismantling devices, using hand and power tools
• Adjust functional parts of sewing machines and control instruments by using hand tools

Mechanical Maintenance of sewing machines:

• Perform routine maintenance on sewing machines
• Align machines and equipment and ensure that sewing machines are in good working order
• Complete preventative maintenance requirements on all sewing machinery
• Attend to sewing machine breakdowns
• Identify root cause and locate sources of sewing technical problems by observing sewing machines in operation
• Identifying defective parts by dismantling sewing machinery, using hand and power tools, examining form and texture of parts
• Controls downtime by planning for and informing production of routine preventative maintenance
• Responsible for identifying wear and tear in machine parts and placing order on time
• Provides mechanical maintenance information to internal customers

Sewing Team Leader Responsibilities:

SHE:

• Identify potential hazards and critical safety issues in the workplace
• Address workplace hazards and risks
• Apply safety, health and environment practices and legal requirements when working on machines and equipment

Quality Management System:

• Improve employees awareness within the Section of Quality Targets and Objectives
• Comply with the requirements of the Manufacturing Quality Systems
• Achieve KPI targets
• Produce highest quality samples as per Kanban, or written request
• Monitor FIRST- OFF / LAST – OFF Production parts in conjunction with the Quality Assurance dept
• Resolve quality problems, utilising previous experience as well as the technical expertise of the quality/control department
• Assist the Quality Assurance Manager in performing Process Capability studies, FMEAs and new product FMEAs
• Display the latest level of work instruction sheets

Policies and Procedures:

• Ensure implementation and compliance of Manufacturing Policies and Procedures
• Comply with the Company Policies and Procedures

Financial Control:

• Participate in the Audit process
• Adhere to Financial Policies and Procedures
• Protect company assets (working capital & fixed assets)
• Detect and prevent fraud
• Promote good Corporate Governance

Customer Relations:

• Communicate and liaise with internal customers

Supplier Relations:

• Communicate and liaise with internal suppliers

Process:

• Makes out requisition for raw material from stores as per daily production plan
• Requests sub assemblies from Production Controller at cut parts department.
• Ensures continuity of workflow at each workstation by visually checking that sub assemblies are available.
• Monitors hourly output rates to ensure that production targets are met. Corrects any deviations and consults with the production supervisor. Motivates workers continuously of correct practices.
• Trains new operators on the job whenever the occasion arises
• Ensures that all electrical equipment is available by regularly inspecting equipment at the workstations
• Ensures that workmanship of the finishing department meets quality standards by visually checking on products manufactured and correcting any deviations.
• Ensures all job sheets are filled in correctly at the end of each shift for productivity calculations.
• Reports daily to production supervisor on key performances areas such as labour productivity, absenteeism, progress against production plan, rejects, breakdowns and downtime.
• Undertakes to work at other workstations whenever required to do so.
• Prepare and counts stock monthly and enters stock sheets for production’s stock report.
• Initiates discipline by informing production supervisor of poor labour practices such as late coming, unsafe acts and poor performance.
• Ensure that rework is undertaken to defective parts and investigates the reasons and proposes methods to eliminate a re-occurrence.
• Notifies Q.C and Despatch to move assembled parts whenever a batch is completed.
• Makes suggestions to improve working conditions
• Undertakes minor repairs to plant and equipment when the need arises.
• Continuously supervise and leads production teams to achieve the production plan.
• Monitor production outputs hourly and takes appropriate action to ensure production standards are being met. Reports output hourly to production supervisor.
• Responsible for ensuring that the quality system requirements and product quality standards are achieved and maintained at all times by the production teams. Leads quality improvement efforts and enforces compliance from production teams. Responsible for quality reports on waste and rejects.
• Plans and provides multi-skilling of production teams on a continuous basis.
• Completes and submits production records hourly. Full explanation must be provided for not meeting production and quality standards. Production records must be properly maintained and stored.
• Ensures start-up, running and shut-down procedures are adhered to. Reports any abnormalities to the production supervisor immediately.
• Raises store requisitions through production supervisor for all parts required in production, also responsible for receiving of raw materials.
• Machines and areas must be kept clean and tidy at all times. Finished parts must be stacked neatly to facilitate counting and product identification.
• Ensures that all safe working procedures are adhered to at all times. Also endures protective clothing, shoes and glasses are worn correctly and at all time in designated areas.
• Ensures that all safety devices on the plant are operating correctly
• Monitors time and attendance daily.

People Supervision:

• Ensure an enabling climate/culture
• Supervise the team to achieve work unit objectives
• Plan allocation of labour within area of responsibility
• Achieve HDSA/Female targets for the Department
• Obtain approval for and recruit and select employees in the area of responsibility
• Conduct outcomes-based assessments
• Coach and counsel people to ensure improved performance levels
• Ensure discipline is maintained in department (absenteeism, lateness, overtime, misconduct, etc.)
• Resolve grievances and disputes

Competencies: (Knowledge, skills and attributes)

• Welding experience
• Identify, inspect, use, maintain and care for welding machine/torch.
• Good Housekeeping skills
• Product and Process Knowledge
• ISO Procedures
• H&S Procedures