Kwena Julie Mabe
Vanderbijlpark,Gauteng
Summary
Industrial Engineering professional with over 9 years of combined experience in the steel industry-8 years specialising in flat steel coated products and 1 year in Refractory Services for Steel Making at ArcelorMittal South Africa. Holds a Master's degree in industrial engineering and a B-Tech Degree in Metallurgical Engineering, combining academic excellence with hands-on, results-oriented engineering expertise. Adept in Quality Management, Process Improvement, and New Product Development, with a proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives that enhance product performance and reduce quality defects. In her current role, leverages process data to predict refractory vessel lifespan, proactively engaging with production teams to optimise refractory usage and extend asset life. Applies deep knowledge of plant operations to monitor key performance indicators and implement corrective actions when needed. Recognised for driving supplier quality improvements, cost-saving product changes, and technical solutions that consistently meet customer requirements.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Engineer, Refractory Services Steel Making
ArcelorMittal SA
11.2023 - Current
- Analyse refractory failures to determine root causes, implementing corrective actions and improvements to prevent future failures.
- Conduct regular process data analysis for predictive life of refractory materials in vessels used by steel making production.
- Operational support to steel making production to ensure availability, reliability, safety and efficiencies in vessels usage.
- Development of strategic and innovative products to improve refractories quality and performance.
- Strategic sourcing and usage optimization to achieve total cost reductions in refractories.
Technologist, Quality Management Coated Products
ArcelorMittal SA
01.2022 - 10.2023
- Managed daily quality operations to ensure timely release of compliant materials.
- Led Quality improvement projects using tools such as Ishikawa, Pareto, SPC Charts.
- Provided technical support to production by identifying improvement areas.
- Developed products quality standards in line with customer requirements.
- Collaborated with paint suppliers to make tactical decisions concerning product changes.
- Provided technical support during customer complaint investigations and implemented corrective actions to prevent recurrence and improve product performance.
- Collaborated with Market Development, Global R&D, and IMMRI teams to drive the development and introduction of new products in response to evolving market demands.
Technician, Quality Management Coated Products
ArcelorMittal SA
09.2017 - 12.2021
- Performed post-mortem analyses on defective products to determine root causes and make final decisions on material disposition and reclassification.
- Conducted metallurgical tests in laboratory for failure investigations on coated products.
- Managed coil stock with a focus on ageing control to ensure optimal cash flow.
Graduate in Training
ArcelorMittal SA
09.2014 - 07.2017
In-service Training
ArcelorMittal SA
07.2013 - 08.2014
Education
Masters Degree - Industrial Eng.
University of Witwatersrand
04.2024
PostGrad Diploma - Industrial Eng.
University of Witwatersrand
07.2022
B-Tech Degree - Metallurgical Eng.
Vaal University of Technology
04.2018
National Diploma - Metallurgical Eng.
Vaal University of Technology
09.2014
Skills
- Communication skills
- Negotiation Skills
- Quality Management Methods and Tools (ISO9001)
- Strategic Planning and execution
- Microsoft Office and ERP System (SAP)
- Teams and Relationships Building
Core Competences And Skills
- Communication skills
- Negotiation Skills
- Quality Management Methods and Tools (ISO9001)
- Strategic Planning and execution
- Microsoft Office and ERP System (SAP)
- Teams and Relationships Building
- Lean Operations
- Cost Management
- Technical reporting
Major Highlights
- Led a comprehensive FMEA of the paintline process, identifying critical failure points and assessing parameter-induced defects. Implemented corrective measures and revised SOP's, resulting in a 35% reduction in product defects and improving product quality.
- Developed a 100% bend paint system for Donn Products without coating peeling on profiled ceiling strips made with Chromadek. The solution improved coating flexibility, resulting in a significant reduction in customer complaints.
- Collaborated with internal stakeholders to evaluate and qualify alternative supplier product achieving R23/ton (R1.2M annual) cost savings without compromising quality.
- Led the development of a RoHS-compliant Cr-free primer compatible with the Global-Duro topcoat system, aligning with ArcelorMittal's commitment to environmental compliance and enabling supply to markets with hazardous substance restrictions.
- Partnered with commercial and technical teams in securing a 3-star EcoStandard certification for Chromadek, driving technical compliance and sustainability alignment.
Summary Of Earlier Roles
- Graduate in Training, ArcelorMittal SA, 2014-09-01, 2017-07-31
- In-service Training, ArcelorMittal SA, 2013-07-01, 2014-08-31
Ethnicity
African
Personal Information
- Title: Product/Process Engineer | Industrial Engineer | Customer Technical Support
- Date of Birth: 1992/06/22
- Gender: Female
- Nationality: African
Timeline
Engineer, Refractory Services Steel Making
ArcelorMittal SA
11.2023 - Current
Technologist, Quality Management Coated Products
ArcelorMittal SA
01.2022 - 10.2023
Technician, Quality Management Coated Products
ArcelorMittal SA
09.2017 - 12.2021
Graduate in Training
ArcelorMittal SA
09.2014 - 07.2017
In-service Training
ArcelorMittal SA
07.2013 - 08.2014
Masters Degree - Industrial Eng.
University of Witwatersrand
PostGrad Diploma - Industrial Eng.
University of Witwatersrand
B-Tech Degree - Metallurgical Eng.
Vaal University of Technology
National Diploma - Metallurgical Eng.
Vaal University of Technology