Cornelius Koch
Cape Town,Western Cape
Summary
Operations management expert with a strong background in strategic planning and process optimisation. Experienced in stakeholder engagement and budget oversight, driving efficiency and continuous improvement. Proficient in Microsoft D365 and Power BI, dedicated to enhancing organisational performance through innovative solutions.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
8001
8001
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Business Consultant
Braintree
2023.07 - 2026.02
- Project-managed migration to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, serving as functional consultant throughout implementation.
- Designed and documented end-to-end operational process flows to align with new ERP environment.
- Developed Functional Design Documents (FDDs) for system integration and configuration projects.
- Delivered user training, onboarding, and post-go-live support to ensure successful adoption.
- Supported organisation through complex systems transformation, ensuring alignment between business processes and ERP capabilities.
Logistics Manager Design and Manufacturing
TFG
2022.09 - 2023.06
- Established a new Logistics department within the TFG Design & Manufacturing Centre, establishing the full operational systems, and reporting framework.
- Designed and deployed data-driven dashboards to manage national transport partners, improving visibility of Cost-to-Budget and SLA compliance.
- Developed comprehensive stock-holding and capacity dashboards for all South African Distribution Centres, enabling proactive management of inbound and outbound container flows.
- Converted the Prestige Durban plant’s first floor into a fully operational Raw Material Distribution Centre, including staffing, processes, systems, and controls.
- Led the rollout of a second Raw Material Distribution Centre in Cape Town to strengthen national supply chain resilience.
- Delivered significant cost savings by centralising fleet management, redeploying vehicles, and establishing an in-house KZN fleet—avoiding R1.5m in Capex and generating R1.6m in annual savings.
- Established a new Trims Distribution Centre in KZN, reducing lead times from four days to one and achieving R3.8m in annual savings.
Head of Manufacturing Prestige Maitland
TFG
2022.03 - 2022.08
- Strengthened operational performance by defining clear roles, mapping processes, and formalising Standard Operating Procedures.
- Led major quality and skills-development initiatives, including training 1,073 operators in 10 days.
- Built information platforms that improved decision-making and increased management floor presence by 22%.
- Implemented leaner management structure and managed departmental budgets to drive efficiency and accountability.
- Shifted senior leadership culture toward proactive problem-solving and continuous improvement.
- Oversaw Industrial Relations for Manufacturing Division, ensuring stability and compliance.
- Introduced strategic raw-material control measures that improved On-Time delivery from 3% to 78% and In-Full delivery from 23% to 83% within three months.
Executive Operations
Pepclo (PTY) Limited
2018.10 - 2022.02
- Developed and implemented strategies to establish world-class manufacturing environment focused on productivity, cost competitiveness, quality, and customer delivery.
- Led nine business units operating as independent factories, each with full production, staffing, and performance accountability.
- Built strong leadership capability through structured training, succession planning, performance management, and team development.
- Formalised SOPs, mapped processes, and implemented comprehensive operational dashboards, manning plans, and efficiency reporting at line level.
- Managed departmental budgeting, expenditure approval, and drove disciplined low-cost culture across all units.
- Oversaw Industrial Relations for Manufacturing Division and ensured full compliance with statutory and legislative requirements.
- Introduced advanced development programmes including multi-skilling, rotational planning, natural attrition planning, and leadership development pathways.
- Reduced multi-skill operator training time from six weeks to four days, enabling value-adding output from day five and significantly improving recoveries.
- Implemented LEAP (Line Efficiency Action Plan), cross-functional improvement team focused on diagnosing and resolving underperformance through root-cause analysis and structured action plans.
- Strengthened organisational culture by promoting accountability, collaboration, and high-performance behaviours across all levels of management and operations.
- Note: Reduced training time for multi-skilled operator from six weeks in training department (where no value was added) to four days. Operators began contributing to recoveries from day five. On average, this training method delivers approximately R240k in recoveries (depending on product), compared to zero under previous method.
Operations Director
Truprobe
2015.05 - 2018.10
- Consulted for numerous factories and businesses, providing guidance and support to effectively resolve and streamline operational issues.
- Identified vandalized or properties in poor condition and coordinated purchase of houses which were then restored and marketed for sale.
- Managed staff members, recruited employees, managed work schedules, processed payroll, and attended to disciplinary team development issues.
- Managed all financial aspects of business, including cost control, budget management, and inventory management.
- Oversaw administration related activities, as well as advertising, public relations, online marketing, and networking to generate new business.
Operations and Plant Manager
Thermopac / Plastform (Astrapak)
2011.02 - 2015.04
- Directed full plant operations, establishing and managing standards, systems, and procedures while driving continuous improvement and World Class Manufacturing practices.
- Oversaw production processes, quality controls, raw-material usage, and performance targets, and served on Quality System Management Team and Steercom Committee.
- Key Achievements:
- Resolved major operational crisis, leading to promotion to Operations Manager.
- Improved Health & Safety performance from 43% to 81% across two plants.
- Reduced quality-related losses from R327k to R170k per month.
- Enhanced operational performance through revised SOPs, cutting roll-change times from 42 to 8 minutes and mould-change times from 4.5 to 2.5 hours.
- Increased uptime from 76% to 87%, efficiency from 82% to 94%, extrusion output from 577 to 774 tons per month, and forming output from 38.2m to 43.6m units.
- Achieved major cultural and performance improvements: IOD reduced from 9 per month to 1 every two months, absenteeism dropped from 14% to under 2%, substance abuse declined sharply, and union membership reduced from 89% to 46% due to restored trust and leadership stability.
Senior Production Manager and Planner
Zibo Containers
2010.01 - 2011.01
- Managed production processes, workforce allocation, and plant maintenance.
- Controlled raw-material usage and ensured compliance with safety standards.
- Coordinated shifts schedules, ensuring 24 and 7 operation coverage.
- Facilitated communication between departments, improving process transparency.
Operations Manager
J C Pack
2008.01 - 2010.01
- Led operations to meet production targets, improve efficiency, and manage waste.
- Oversaw Health & Safety and HR functions, including coaching and training.
Managing Director
Nu Office Furniture Group (Pty) Limited
2002.01 - 2008.01
- Oversaw full business operations including sales, production, finance, and strategy.
- Key Achievements:
- Delivered major commercial projects including office furniture for the Bill Gates AIDS Foundation and Baby City.
- Designed, manufactured and installed kitchens for a 25-storey apartment building.
Operations Manager
Exacto Craft
2000.01 - 2002.01
- Led operations to improve productivity, efficiency, and profitability.
- Promoted from Senior Production Manager to Operations Manager.
Production and Quality Manager
Libra Bathroom Ware
1998.01 - 2000.01
Factory Manager
Durata Shoe Works
1996.01 - 1998.01
Millwright / Electro-Mechanical Technician
Transnet
1991.01 - 1995.01
Education
Post Graduate Diploma - Business Administration (PDBA)
Graduate School of Business University of Cape Town
Cape TownSome College (No Degree) - Management
University of Stellenbosch
Cape TownNational Diploma - Mechanical Engineering
W.P. Technical College
Cape TownMillwright - Electro-mechanical Technician
Transnet
Cape TownSkills
- Operational efficiency Quality assurance
- Business process analysis
- Performance optimisation
- Microsoft Power BI
- Distribution management
Websites
Languages
English and Afrikaans
Proficient (C2)
Additional information
- Computer Literacy: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel and PowerPoint, MS Power BI, MS Dynamics 365 Business Central
- Nationality: South African
Timeline
Business Consultant
Braintree
2023.07 - 2026.02
Logistics Manager Design and Manufacturing
TFG
2022.09 - 2023.06
Head of Manufacturing Prestige Maitland
TFG
2022.03 - 2022.08
Executive Operations
Pepclo (PTY) Limited
2018.10 - 2022.02
Operations Director
Truprobe
2015.05 - 2018.10
Operations and Plant Manager
Thermopac / Plastform (Astrapak)
2011.02 - 2015.04
Senior Production Manager and Planner
Zibo Containers
2010.01 - 2011.01
Operations Manager
J C Pack
2008.01 - 2010.01
Managing Director
Nu Office Furniture Group (Pty) Limited
2002.01 - 2008.01
Operations Manager
Exacto Craft
2000.01 - 2002.01
Production and Quality Manager
Libra Bathroom Ware
1998.01 - 2000.01
Factory Manager
Durata Shoe Works
1996.01 - 1998.01
Millwright / Electro-Mechanical Technician
Transnet
1991.01 - 1995.01
Post Graduate Diploma - Business Administration (PDBA)
Graduate School of Business University of Cape Town
Some College (No Degree) - Management
University of Stellenbosch
National Diploma - Mechanical Engineering
W.P. Technical College
Millwright - Electro-mechanical Technician
Transnet