Lerato Raganya
Senior Researcher/ Engineer
Pretoria
Summary
With a passion for driving innovation and solving complex challenges, I leverage my expertise as a research engineer to bridge the gap between research and industrial application. My experience at Pinter Guss Foundry (Germany) and South African Foundries has enabled me to deliver tangible results through process development and optimisation. My tenure as a Project Engineer equipped me with a strong foundation in project management, cross-functional collaboration, and technical problem-solving. Transitioning into a research-focused role, I have further refined my analytical skills, leading and participating in multiple R&D initiatives from concept through to implementation. I've successfully secured research funding, mentored students, and driven measurable improvements in efficiency and quality. I am a collaborative professional dedicated to achieving shared objectives with diverse stakeholders. Additionally, I'm committed to promoting STEM education and access to underprivileged learners from rural areas, believing that everyone deserves opportunities to thrive in these fields.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
2031
2031
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Languages
Work History
Senior Researcher/Engineer
Council for Scientific & Industrial Research
Pretoria
06.2018 - Current
- Research & Development: Led initiatives that developed and implemented new processes and technologies.
- Project Management: Consistently managed projects to successful completion, meeting deadlines, budget targets.
- Process Improvement: Implemented improvements that increased operational efficiency, reduced costs, and drove productivity gains.
- Funding Success: Secured research/ project funding, driving project sustainability and growth through effective proposal development.
- Technical Knowledge Transfer: Communicated complex research results through presentations, reports, and collaborations, driving knowledge exchange within the scientific and industrial fields.
- Mentorship & Supervision: Provided guidance and mentorship to postgraduate students and junior researchers/ engineers, supporting their academic and professional growth.
- Designed custom surveys and questionnaires for targeted data gathering efforts tailored to specific project objectives.
- Contributed significantly to the development of organizational strategies based on thorough market analysis and competitor assessments.
Metallurgical Engineer
Copper Tubing Africa
03.2018 - 05.2018
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions for complex engineering challenges.
- Developed tests and analytical determinations to assess properties of raw materials and finished products.
- Increased customer satisfaction by providing technical expertise and support on metallurgical matters.
- Mentored junior engineers, fostering their growth as professionals while enhancing overall team performance.
- Improved plant efficiency with the implementation of advanced process control strategies.
- Conducted failure analysis investigations to identify root causes, recommend corrective actions, and prevent future occurrences.
- Gathered and organized material samples to use in third-party testing, evaluated results and reported on findings to optimize materials choices.
Project Engineer
University of Johannesburg & S. African Foundries
Johannesburg
01.2015 - 02.2018
- Provided technical expertise throughout all phases of the project, ensuring accurate execution of designs and specifications.
- Identified technical risks within managed projects.
- Ensured quality control for all aspects of the project, reducing defects and rework.
- Developed detailed project plans to ensure timely completion and deliverables were met.
- Identified risks and implemented mitigation strategies, minimizing potential issues during the project lifecycle.
- Recommended improvements for design, construction means and materials based on field or changing conditions.
- Fostered culture of continuous improvement, leading to adoption of innovative solutions that addressed complex challenges.
- Facilitated training sessions for project team members, boosting their skills and performance.
- Engaged in industry forums and workshops to stay abreast of new trends and technologies, applying insights to enhance project performance.
- Documented and developed engineering procedures and processes.
Process Engineer in Training
Pinter Guss Foundry
Bavaria
08.2014 - 12.2014
- Conducted root cause analysis to identify, prioritize and eliminate process losses.
- Designed and executed experiments to identify process improvements, leading to reduced costs and increased efficiency.
- Provided technical assistance to production team when issues arose.
- Optimized manufacturing processes by implementing continuous improvement initiatives and lean methodologies.
- Identified bottlenecks in the production line through capacity analysis studies, increasing overall throughput rates as a result.
- Supported new product development efforts through scale-up activities from pilot-scale testing to full-scale production implementation.
- Implemented standardized work instructions, enhancing operator understanding of critical tasks and improving workflow consistency.
- Conducted root cause analyses for process failures, implementing solutions to prevent recurrence.
- Designed and executed experiments to test process improvements, documenting results for future reference.
Intern
Council for Scientific & Industrial Research
Pretoria
04.2010 - 03.2011
Education
PhD - Engineering Metallurgy
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, GautengMSc - Materials Science and Engineering
TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Munich, BavariaGerman Intensive Language (DSH 3) - undefined
TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Munich, BavariaBachelor of Technology - Engineering Metallurgy
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, Gauteng 04.2001 - 03.2010
Skills
Research & Development
undefinedAwards
- NRF Honours Bursary
- CSIR Master Studentship
- DSI/ German Master Scholarship
- NRF Thuthuka Doctoral Funding
- NRF Thuthuka Post-Doctoral Funding
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Senior Researcher/Engineer
Council for Scientific & Industrial Research
06.2018 - Current
Metallurgical Engineer
Copper Tubing Africa
03.2018 - 05.2018
Project Engineer
University of Johannesburg & S. African Foundries
01.2015 - 02.2018
Process Engineer in Training
Pinter Guss Foundry
08.2014 - 12.2014
Intern
Council for Scientific & Industrial Research
04.2010 - 03.2011
Bachelor of Technology - Engineering Metallurgy
University of Johannesburg
04.2001 - 03.2010
MSc - Materials Science and Engineering
TU Bergakademie Freiberg
German Intensive Language (DSH 3) - undefined
TU Bergakademie Freiberg
PhD - Engineering Metallurgy
University of Johannesburg
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