Permanent - Dry Pressing Tile Specialist - Vereeniging - South Africa

Key Responsibilities:

• Improving SACMI and SITI B&T tile presses, driers, glaze lines, kilns and selection equipment dry pressed tile driers and glaze lines area equipment availability and reliability to a level that supports the factory in producing KPI target square meters of product in a 24-hour cycle.
• Conduct tests on dry pressed tile biscuits and fired tiles, ensuring yields of >95% is attained.
• Prepare and perform quality assurance on glossy glazes for ceramic tiles.
• Assessing and improving on process controls to ensure production of 95% first grade.
• Performing periodic random process control checks to assess the integrity of production controls.
• Coaching and training of process controllers as well as technical staff in the process parameter setup of ceramic and porcelain tile presses, glaze line application and handling equipment to achieve:
• Correct die box machining and installation.
• Filling adjustment optimisation to avoid any planarity and sizing defects originating from the pressing process.
• The centralising and deliberate calculated decentralising of punches to ensure defect-free product edges.
• Setup of press input control parameters to ensure the forming of biscuit with the required green and dry modulus of rupture.
• The checking and subsequent adjustments to achieve a homogenous apparent density in the green tile.
• The correct charge in all accumulators.
• Setup of Grouper, Spacer and Tile Accumulator equipment.
• Perform electronic upgrades on equipment and training on new upgrades.
• Safe operating procedures training on all relevant equipment.
• Implementing and maintaining a preventative maintenance program in the department.
• Housekeeping and Health & Safety.

Requirements:

• Must have 10+ years of experience on Italian-designed ceramic and porcelain tile manufacturing equipment, namely:
• SACMI
• SITI B&T
• SYSTEM Ceramics
• KEDA
• Must have 10+ years of experience in preparing and producing ceramic and porcelain spray-dried clay.
• Must have 10+ years of experience in preparing and producing high-gloss ceramic and porcelain tile glaze.
• Demonstrate high levels of understanding of the ceramic and porcelain tile making process, and be able to diagnose the source of ceramic and porcelain tile defects.
• Deep understanding of quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) of SANS1449:2012 and ISO13006:2018 ceramic and porcelain tile manufacturing standards process, and setup and control manufacturing equipment to produce products according to standards.
• Ability to teach peers and subordinates to manage the ceramic and porcelain tile-making process.
• Be in a position of a mechanical or process engineer or similar qualification, or demonstrate during the interview process expert knowledge of the equipment listed above and a deep understanding of the ceramic and porcelain tile manufacturing process.
• Being able to communicate effectively and have good interpersonal skills.
• Have a hands-on approach and pride in work performed.
• Have the ability to develop and implement systems to control the ceramic or tile making process.
• A positive attitude, willing to work long hours and the ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment.