Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Software
Interests
Work Availability
Quote
Timeline
Communityleadershiprole
Training
Communityleadershiprole
Training
BusinessDevelopmentManager
Jayraj Earnest

Jayraj Earnest

Manufacturing Manager
Centurion

Summary

An Industrious and forward-thinking Factory Operations Manager with skills and expertise to drive business strategy through managing change and end-to-end factory operations. A leader with a customer-centric approach who collaborates with cross-functional teams to fulfill market demands. Adopts an extremely methodical and systematic approach with proficiency in ERP, MS Office and data management systems, paired with outstanding communication ability. Vision and goal driven and comfortable working in fast paced environment and under highly pressurized conditions. Strong work ethics and principles coupled with excellent strategic planning and negotiation skills. Versatile and confident all-rounder.

Overview

36
36
years of professional experience
1
1
year of post-secondary education

Work History

Plant Production & Project Manager

Doors Galore
Gauteng
04.2019 - 01.2024
  • Responsible for day to day running of the plant and production output
  • Rationalize production plans to achieve outputs to meet customer demands (achieved 100% plan compliance)
  • Ensure & maintain efficiencies and cost-effectiveness of outputs whilst minimizing wastes throughout processes
  • Manage inventory (WIP) and stock taking processes
  • Implement best practices in production facilities – CIP, Drive quality and improvement initiatives (WCM: KPI's; 5s and 8 wastes) as well as Policies/ SOPs
  • Project Management: Consult with C-suite and management to provide services on strategy implementation to improve process flow, inventory management, quality and procedures on a production line (Lean & 5s)
  • Define goals
  • Conduct research
  • Map out risks
  • Schedule all milestones
  • Assign tasks
  • Allocate resources.

Factory Manager (Production, Facilities, Logistics and Procurement)

Dynamic Bedding
Gauteng
09.2015 - 03.2019
  • Planned factory and plant operations to meet production schedules and demands
  • Drove productivity and achieved financial and factory level metric goals
  • Evaluated equipment requirements based on capacity needs, making informed decisions about capital investments and upgrades
  • Analyzed production data and prepared reports for C-suite
  • Communicated factory operational and strategic objectives to C-suite
  • Reviewed manufacturing labor cost and price input for customer quotes
  • Managed budgets and resources effectively, ensuring optimal utilization of assets and human capital within facility
  • Conducted root cause analyses of production issues to identify areas requiring corrective action or continuous improvement efforts
  • Facilitated open communication between all factory departments, leading to increased collaboration and efficient problem-solving
  • Trained and developed staff members, enhancing overall workforce competency and productivity levels
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align production goals with market demands, increasing revenue potential
  • Responsible for plant expansions and renovations, ensuring seamless integration of new equipment and processes into existing operations
  • Streamlined inventory management, resulting in reduced waste, and improved cost control and working capital
  • Reduced machine downtime through preventive maintenance
  • Enhanced factory efficiency by implementing lean manufacturing principles, optimizing production processes
  • Negotiated contracts with vendors for cost-effective procurement of raw materials, parts, and services, essential to factory operations
  • Boosted employee morale by fostering positive work culture, providing mentoring and training, promoting open communication, and recognizing outstanding performance
  • Achieved on-time delivery of products by closely monitoring production schedules and coordinating with various departments (96-100% order fulfillment)
  • Implemented quality assurance measures that resulted in consistently meeting or exceeding customer expectations
  • Conducted research, market analysis, cross-referencing and testing and made independent judgments in applying guidelines for production
  • Spearheaded product and process quality initiatives with full compliance to internal, industry and customer quality standards
  • Managed compliance on environmental & social requirements (ESG)
  • Managed personnel by implementing company policies, procedures, work rules, and disciplinary action (HR/ IR)
  • Enforced health and safety protocols to promote safe work environment
  • Drove cost control initiatives
  • Trained in and implemented emergency response procedures
  • Customer Relationship Management w.r.t complaints, queries or returns
  • Reason for leaving: Retrenched.

Factory Manager: (Production, Facilities, Logistics and Procurement)

Saddler Belts & Leathercraft
Durban
12.2013 - 08.2015
  • Responsible for day to day running of the plant and production output
  • Rationalize production plans to achieve outputs to meet customer demands by effective line feed and balancing
  • Ensure & maintain efficiencies and cost-effectiveness of outputs whilst minimizing wastes throughout processes
  • Co-ordinate OH&S: adherence to rules and regulations
  • Applying lean management strategies in line with WCM principals
  • Ensure that hourly targets are met and reported on
  • Monitor execution of delivery schedules and deal with deviations in production as per changes in schedule
  • Ensure that staff are adequately motivated & trained to perform optimally
  • Ensure production facilities/ plant & machinery and equipment are adequately maintained
  • Measure machine and labour utilization – conduct time in motion study
  • Implement best practices in production facilities – CIP, Drive quality and improvement initiatives (WCM: KPI's; 5s and 8 wastes) as well as Policies/ SOPs
  • Managed Procurement and inventory (WIP stock/ working capital)
  • Workplace Skills Programs facilitation – ABET Program
  • Monitor and compile workplace skills plan and submit to SETA annually
  • Applications for mandatory and discretionary grants as outlined by SETA
  • Represent stats at Management Committee meetings
  • Reasons for leaving: Headhunted for better prospects.

Stores & Procurement Manager (Inventory/ Warehouse/Inbound Logistics)

Bravo Group Sleep Products
Durban
05.2013 - 12.2013
  • Responsible for entire strategic procurement function - ensuring that goods and services are procured at specified quantity, quality, on required date and at lowest cost to organization
  • Compiling and validating spend baselines, analysis of category-spend and commodity price index, and identification of sourcing opportunities in compiling and communicating category strategies
  • Contract management, RFP, RFQ, selection and supplier negotiations
  • Analyze and monitor commodity spend and manage rebates negotiated (achieved up to 10%)
  • Planning (forecasting) and scheduling of commodity group material requirements
  • Advise management on pricing and costing
  • Ensure Service Level Agreements are monitored with critical suppliers
  • Measure supplier performance in terms of product/service quality, cost, delivery reliability, flexibility and lead time – feeding back to suppliers to seek continuous improvement
  • Manage Inbound Logistics whilst facilitating corporate governance and adherence to procurement process controls
  • Regular liaison with Quality Assurance Manager to monitor supplier non-conformance & communicate same to suppliers
  • Manage cycle counts & stock take procedures
  • Interaction with MRP Controllers ensuring accurate capturing and validation in ERP
  • Report & present stats monthly at Management Committee meetings
  • Adhere to OH&S rules and regulations
  • Applying lean management strategies
  • Back-up to Production Manager.

Operations Manager (Source & Supply)

Eaglewings Supplies
Durban
01.2011 - 01.2013
  • Drove the strategic objective of Improved delivery efficiency to customers to meet specific needs and increased profits while managing the overall operations of the business
  • Source, supply and distribution of packaging materials & consumables to manufacturing, logistics and warehouse environments
  • Reason for re-entering job market: business closed due to unfavorable trading conditions.

Purchasing Manager (Local and Import)

SA Greetings
Durban
08.2006 - 12.2010
  • Responsible for entire strategic sourcing and procurement function for both local and foreign purchases of raw materials, finished product and spares
  • Store visits for tracking trends and report back
  • Involved in product development
  • Provide forecasts for budget setting
  • Maintain monthly & annual budgeted spend
  • Report on orders placed and SOH situation
  • Ensure safety stock is maintained at centralized & decentralized sites
  • Negotiate contracts/ prices/ terms/ delivery/ non-conformance & RFC
  • Negotiated freight rates & appointed forwarding agents
  • Expedite Indents & liaise with overseas suppliers, forwarding agents, clearing agents & transporters
  • Collaborated with teams on inventory movements – Issues & WIP
  • Inventory database management – BOM and pricing
  • Collaborated with engineering team on plant and machine requirement
  • Reason for leaving: Entrepreneurial opportunity.

Buyer (Local & Import)

Creative Productions/ SA Greetings
Durban
03.1993 - 08.2006
  • Planned orders with key suppliers to fulfill production demands
  • Review material requirement reports weekly and replenishment orders as required
  • Manage orders placed to ensure out of stock and overstocks are prevented by deferring or cancelling orders
  • Work with planners to re-schedule as necessary
  • Ensure safety stocks levels are achieved especially on critical products (raw materials and machine spares)
  • Expedite and follow up deliveries daily
  • Assisted Purchasing Manager with expediting of other ad-hoc functions
  • Capture onto ERP system and report on all orders placed
  • Promoted.

Buyer and Shipping Controller (Local, Import & Export)

Creative Productions/SA Greetings
Durban
06.1992 - 02.1993
  • Book imports with forwarders & liaise with agents
  • Liaison with suppliers with regards to indents
  • Update import register on system w.r.t ETD/ ETA and currency fluctuations
  • Communicate all documentation regarding foreign payments to banks & shipping agents
  • Establish letters of credit
  • Calculated and communicated landed costs of imported items
  • Determining feasibility of air vs sea consignments
  • Maintain records as per Customs/SARS accreditation requirement - ensuring that accreditation status is maintained
  • Also acquired knowledge of handling export shipments over the years
  • Export Orders were unfortunately lost after being taken over by American Greetings in 2001
  • Other job-related experience included: - Calculated machine & labour utilization to monitor efficiencies
  • Work Study and Time in Motion study
  • Report to management on solutions to poor efficiencies
  • Promoted.

Creditors Clerk

Creative Productions
Durban
03.1990 - 05.1992
  • Check/process/post all creditors documents
  • Run audit trails, reconcile accounts & run payments
  • Monthly provisions and accruals
  • Follow up on queries
  • Carry out other general admin functions in assisting financial management
  • Promoted.

Creditors Clerk

SA Clothing industries
Durban
01.1988 - 02.1990
  • Check, process and post Creditors documents on the system
  • Monthly reconciliation of Accounts
  • Processing of payments
  • Conduct necessary follow-up and queries with internal departments and Suppliers
  • Reason for leaving: better prospects and growth opportunities.

Education

Operations Management - undefined

PMI
08.2018 - 04.2019

Purchasing Management Diploma: Negotiating, Inventory and Contracts Management - undefined

Damelin Management School
01.1996 - 05.1996

Matric - undefined

Stanger Secondary School
01.1987 - 05.1987

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Accomplishments

Lean implementation increasing productivity by 20% and order fulfilment to 98%

Software

Sage, Syspro, MS Office

Interests

Travel, music, art

Work Availability

monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Quote

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.
Benjamin Franklin

Timeline

Plant Production & Project Manager

Doors Galore
04.2019 - 01.2024

Operations Management - undefined

PMI
08.2018 - 04.2019

Factory Manager (Production, Facilities, Logistics and Procurement)

Dynamic Bedding
09.2015 - 03.2019

Factory Manager: (Production, Facilities, Logistics and Procurement)

Saddler Belts & Leathercraft
12.2013 - 08.2015

Stores & Procurement Manager (Inventory/ Warehouse/Inbound Logistics)

Bravo Group Sleep Products
05.2013 - 12.2013

Operations Manager (Source & Supply)

Eaglewings Supplies
01.2011 - 01.2013

Purchasing Manager (Local and Import)

SA Greetings
08.2006 - 12.2010

Purchasing Management Diploma: Negotiating, Inventory and Contracts Management - undefined

Damelin Management School
01.1996 - 05.1996

Buyer (Local & Import)

Creative Productions/ SA Greetings
03.1993 - 08.2006

Buyer and Shipping Controller (Local, Import & Export)

Creative Productions/SA Greetings
06.1992 - 02.1993

Creditors Clerk

Creative Productions
03.1990 - 05.1992

Creditors Clerk

SA Clothing industries
01.1988 - 02.1990

Matric - undefined

Stanger Secondary School
01.1987 - 05.1987

Communityleadershiprole

School Governance: SGB Chairperson March 2015 – March 2018 (Lotusville Primary school & Mountview Secondary School)

Training

  • Diversity Management – PMI 2018
  • Chief Invigilation – Online 2018
  • Finance for Non-Financial Managers – KZN Business Training Centre 2017
  • Incident & Accident Investigation (H5) – Action Training Academy 2016
  • TRACE program through B&M Analysts: 8 modules aligned with WCM & production processes (SAQA accredited through FP&M Seta) 2015
  • Khuluma isiZulu Level 1 – KZN Business Training Centre 2015
  • Accpac – on the job 2014-2015
  • OH&S (H7) – Action Training Academy 2015
  • Quick Response/ Fast Fashion – B&M Analysts 2014
  • Disciplinary Skills – Telos Corporate Education 2013
  • Effective Negotiation Skills - Owen Ardendorff 2010
  • Syspro ver.6-8 – on the job since 2006
  • Excel XP 2000, Beginner and Intermediate Courses Careers IT
  • Impact Award Inventory Course – on site 2005
  • Impact Award Purchase Orders & GRN Course – on site 2005
  • VAT Workshop - Coopers & Lybrand – 1991

Communityleadershiprole

School Governance: SGB Chairperson March 2015 – March 2018 (Lotusville Primary school & Mountview Secondary School)

Training

  • Diversity Management – PMI 2018
  • Chief Invigilation – Online 2018
  • Finance for Non-Financial Managers – KZN Business Training Centre 2017
  • Incident & Accident Investigation (H5) – Action Training Academy 2016
  • TRACE program through B&M Analysts: 8 modules aligned with WCM & production processes (SAQA accredited through FP&M Seta) 2015
  • Khuluma isiZulu Level 1 – KZN Business Training Centre 2015
  • Accpac – on the job 2014-2015
  • OH&S (H7) – Action Training Academy 2015
  • Quick Response/ Fast Fashion – B&M Analysts 2014
  • Disciplinary Skills – Telos Corporate Education 2013
  • Effective Negotiation Skills - Owen Ardendorff 2010
  • Syspro ver.6-8 – on the job since 2006
  • Excel XP 2000, Beginner and Intermediate Courses Careers IT
  • Impact Award Inventory Course – on site 2005
  • Impact Award Purchase Orders & GRN Course – on site 2005
  • VAT Workshop - Coopers & Lybrand – 1991
Jayraj EarnestManufacturing Manager