Siemens PCS7
Kenneth Tokollo Mokgabudi
Oos Elinde,GP
Summary
I am a Maintenance Practitioner – Instrumentation at Samancor Chrome TC Smelters, responsible for the maintenance of process control systems, industrial communication networks, and the execution of instrumentation projects. I support the instrumentation team through breakdown response, maintenance planning, Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA), and safety management, ensuring consistent and reliable plant performance.
With over 18 years of experience in industrial and mining environments, I have advanced from apprentice to senior technician, gaining broad exposure across utilities systems, PGM flotation plants, crusher plants, chrome recovery and palletizer plants, batching systems, auxiliaries, smelter furnaces, and filter press operations. I have strong technical expertise in PLC and control systems, including Siemens PCS 7, TIA Portal, and Rockwell Studio 5000, as well as industrial networks such as Profibus, Profinet, Ethernet/IP, AS-i, and IO-Link.
I am appointed under MHSA Regulation 2.9.2, have acted as Maintenance Specialist – Instrumentation, and routinely perform official and engineer on-standby duties, contributing to safe, stable, and reliable operations.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
30
30
Certifications
Work History
Maintenance Practitioner Instrumentation
Samancor Chrome
01.2025 - Current
- To safely maintain all electrical and instrumentation related equipment to ensure minimal production down time and maximized production while utilizing automation technology to improve safety and efficiency
- Health, safety, environment and quality
- Identify and assess level of continuous risk exposures in area of responsibility by considering exposures to business, financial, legal issues, people, equipment, material, environment, processes, etc.
- Consider the level of risk, apply mitigation and implement control measures for residual risk (set objectives, minimum requirements, etc.)
- Comply with SHEQ requirements (SHEQ Toolbox)
- Utilise the Integrated Management System (IMS) to initiate, investigate and report SHEQ status us
- Plant Availability
- Compile preventative maintenance schedules on electrical and instrumentation equipment
- Authenticate PLC programs and ensure adequate back up facilities are available
- Provide advice, training and support to team members with regards to troubleshooting and suspected automation related defects
- Plant Reliability
- Perform mean time between failures calculations and take steps to solve down-time problems
- Facilitate the implementation of modifications according to procedures
- Optimise plant/process/control performance
- Development
- Develop and present training modules to HRD standards
- Provide specialist technical advise/assistance to team members
- Projects and Commissioning
- Plan, implement, order spares and commission assigned projects
- Keep abreast with latest equipment/technologies/trends
- Write specifications for stock item spares
- Write software programs for assigned projects
- Develop relevant reports on installed automation and reporting systems
- Standby
- Perform intrumentation senior standby duties
- Report any bridging or plant stoppages during call outs immediately to the Engineer on standby
- Inform the Maintenance Superintendent of any stoppages longer than 2 hours relating to electrical and instrumentation equipment and/or automation systems after hours
- Provide specialized on-site assistance to electrical and instrumentation standby personnel if request should a call out extend longer than 3 hours
- Reason for leaving: Career growth (CU band to DL band)
Instrumentation Technician - Foreman
Sibanye Stillwater
02.2022 - 12.2024
- Supervising day-to-day work, planned and preventative maintenance
- Site contractors, projects, and schedule management
- Technicians, Artisan PTOs, CRA, SOP, SIR, and safety enhancement
- Legal inspections, shutdown planning, and critical spares inventory control
- PLC, SCADA, network maintenance and management (PSC7, GE Fanuc, and Allen Bradley)
- Safety, compliance, operations, OPEX, and CAPEX meetings
- Attend standby callouts, overtime, and execution of 2.9.2 legal appointment duties
- Manage control room WiFi, Cell phone, Radios, landline, PLC, Servers, and Network
- Organise internal and external training for the instrumentation department
- Improve reliability, availability, and optimization of the plant instrumentation
- Install and perform troubleshooting on drives (Siemens and WEG)
- Perform and maintain control system back-ups.
- Calibration and maintenance of all equipment within the operation.
- Involvement in required reporting.
- Reason for leaving: Career growth [CU (C4 to C5)]
Facilities Maintenance Planner & Senior Technician
South African Bureau of Standards SOC
08.2013 - 07.2022
- Create and send service quotations
- Planning and executing LECO laboratory equipment service
- Installation and commission of the new equipment
- Cold calls, presentations, and marketing of new LECO products and instrumentation
- Attending safety meetings and inductions
- Traveling to African countries to service or install new LECO laboratory equipment
- Traveling to USA - Michigan State for training
- Management of the Kwa-Zulu Natal branch
- Reason for leaving: Section 189
KZN Branch management, Service Engineer, Sales Service Representative
LECO Africa (Pty) Ltd
01.2009 - 07.2013
- Repaires and service LECO laboratory equipment
- Sale and service LECO laboratory equipment
- Management of Kwa-Zulu natal branch
- Planning and scheduling maintenance activities
- Faultfinding of instruments
- Managing spare parts for equipment
- Training customers on equipment
- Reason for leaving: Career growth (Standards, Auditing and Testing equipment Laboratory and Plant instrumentation)
Apprentice and Internal Sales Consultant
Burkert Africa (Pty) Ltd
09.2005 - 12.2008
- Design, build, and wiring control panels
- Assembling of pneumatic and solenoid valves
- Install and commission control systems and Burkert instrumentation
- Install and commission FESTO valves and controls
- Creating quote
- Preparing courier parcels that go to the customers
- Creating Pro-forma invoices
- Customer services
- Internal sales order processing
- Reason for leaving: Career growth (From Internal Sales to Service Engineer)
Education
BEng Hons - Engineering & Technology Management
Candidate Engineering Technologist - Electrical Engineering
Advance Diploma - Electrical Engineering
National Diploma - Process Instrumentation
N6 Diploma - Electronics Engineering
Trade Test - Instrument Mechanician
Senior Certificate - Physical Science Stream
BSc Hons - Engineering and Technology Management
University of Pretoria
01.2025
Advanced Diploma - Electrical Engineering
University of South Africa
01.2021
National Diploma - Electrical Engineering – Process Instrumentation
University of South Africa (UNISA)
01.2019
N6 Diploma - Electrical Engineering – Light Current
Tshwane South TVET College
01.2008
Trade Test - Instrumentation
Olifantsfontein Training Centre
01.2008
Senior Certificate - undefined
Umqhele Comprehensive High School
01.2000
Skills
Instrumentation: Pneumatic & solenoid valves, actuators, sensors, transducers, transmitters (Flow, Level, Density(SG), Pressure, Temperature and PID)
Certification
2025 Certified PROFINET Engineer IDX
References
- Phemelo, E&I Specialist, 061 588 1430
- Percival, Mlambo, Engineering Superintendent, Sibanye Stillwater, 067 691 6929
- Martin, Masiela, Snr Engineer, LECO Africa, 011 974 1681
- Zoleka, Maki, Accountant, Burkert Africa, 011 574 6017
General Details
- Benefits: 13ths Cheque, Pension fund, Overtime, Standby, Housing, and Quaterly bonus
- Availability: 30 days
- Salary Expectation: Market related
Software
Siemens TIA Portal
Siemens S7 300
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
swipe to browse
Accomplishments
- Supervised team of 6 staff members.
- Documented and resolved plant instrumentation issue which led to improved production at Sibanye Stillwater PMC floatation plant
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop spares inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Collaborated with team of 5 in the development of chrome recovery plant project
Languages
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Timeline
Maintenance Practitioner Instrumentation
Samancor Chrome
01.2025 - Current
Instrumentation Technician - Foreman
Sibanye Stillwater
02.2022 - 12.2024
Facilities Maintenance Planner & Senior Technician
South African Bureau of Standards SOC
08.2013 - 07.2022
KZN Branch management, Service Engineer, Sales Service Representative
LECO Africa (Pty) Ltd
01.2009 - 07.2013
Apprentice and Internal Sales Consultant
Burkert Africa (Pty) Ltd
09.2005 - 12.2008
Candidate Engineering Technologist - Electrical Engineering
Advance Diploma - Electrical Engineering
National Diploma - Process Instrumentation
N6 Diploma - Electronics Engineering
Trade Test - Instrument Mechanician
Senior Certificate - Physical Science Stream
BSc Hons - Engineering and Technology Management
University of Pretoria
Advanced Diploma - Electrical Engineering
University of South Africa
National Diploma - Electrical Engineering – Process Instrumentation
University of South Africa (UNISA)
N6 Diploma - Electrical Engineering – Light Current
Tshwane South TVET College
Trade Test - Instrumentation
Olifantsfontein Training Centre
Senior Certificate - undefined
Umqhele Comprehensive High School