Description:
MANUFACTURING PROJECT LEAD
Manufacturing
Job Purpose
The Manufacturing Project Lead is responsible for leading, executing, and supporting key
manufacturing projects in Gauteng. . This includes PET bottling, canning, preform injection moulding, and closure manufacturing lines for carbonated soft drinks (CSD). The role ensures that new installations, line upgrades, commissioning, and capacity expansion projects are delivered safely, on time, on budget, and to quality standards, while embedding technical best practices and driving operational readiness. A support role that will enable the plant leads to execute special projects effectively.
Key Accountabilities and Outputs
Project Leadership & Execution
Lead end-to-end project delivery for major manufacturing investments (new line installations, upgrades, expansions, or relocations).
Manage project scope, schedule, CAPEX budget, resources, risk, and quality compliance.
Ensure line performance targets (OEE, throughput, yields) are achieved at handover to Operations.
Drive Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) with OEMs and local engineering teams.
Technical Expertise & Line Readiness
Provide hands-on technical support during commissioning and ramp-up of PET, canning, preform injection moulding, and closure compression/ injection systems.
Validate equipment specifications, layouts, utilities, and capacity calculations for bottling and packaging lines.
Ensure integration of upstream (preforms, closures) and downstream (packaging, palletising) systems.
Support changeover optimisation, line balancing, and performance improvement activities.
Compliance & Standards
Ensure adherence to FMCG manufacturing standards, food safety (HACCP, ISO 22000), and local regulatory requirements.
Comply with OEM guidelines, engineering standards, and health & safety legislation (OSH Act, machine guarding, pressure systems).
Apply global corporate engineering standards and ensure quality documentation (IQ/OQ/PQ, validation records) is completed.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Act as the technical liaison between corporate engineering, plant operations, OEM suppliers, and contractors.
Support plant teams with skills transfer, training, and SOP development for new equipment.
Engage with procurement for vendor selection, spare parts strategy, and service-level agreements
Continuous Improvement
Benchmark emerging technologies in PET and canning to drive cost savings, energy efficiency, and sustainability.
Identify and lead process optimisation initiatives to reduce downtime, waste, and carbon footprint. Contribute to best practice sharing and standardisation across manufacturing sites.
Adherence to the Quality, Food Safety, Health, Safety and Environmental Standards
Enforce health, safety, and e