Seelan Venketraju
Durban
Summary
I am a Process Control /ProjectsEngineer with in excess of 20 years’ experience in FMCG, Construction and Mining sectors. My extensive experience and knowledge of managing projects and driving change initiatives to optimise efficiency and productivity in a technology environment is due to the extensive technical knowledge and leadership experience I have gained in process control & IT systems environments. I have extensive experience with complex problem identification, solution development and action implementation. Furthermore, I have an in depth knowledge of process control and IT systems and have kept abreast with emerging technology and industry trends within the manufacturing and mining industry. My key strength lies in adopting a strategic, logical and analytical approach to complex problem solving and identifying opportunities and solutions to automate and streamline processes without compromising productivity, quality or safety. I am a commercially astute professional with the ability to formulate business strategies aligned with the overall business vision and objectives. Furthermore, as an inspirational manager, I have extensive experience of coaching and empowering individuals to enable them to achieve their potential whilst ensuring that they make a positive contribution to the achievement of targets and objectives.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Operational Technology Engineer(Projects)
Rio Tinto
01.2020 - Current
- Provided leadership to the OT and PCS technology team.
- Developed and implemented projects based on the technology strategy in collaboration with internal and external technology stakeholders.
- Collaborated with all technology partners and introduce value adding technological advancement initiatives to RBM.
- Involved in Technical & Asset Management Strategy and business objectives.
- Developed and executed the Information and Operational Technology strategies and developed specifications and standards for Information and Operational Technology.
- Provided a service oriented approach to project implementation.
- Provided direction in the implementation of industry best practices and standards.
- Developed business case and motivation for technology projects.
- Ensured that all related capital projects are completed within scope and budget.
- Take ownership, review and amend where required all relevant procedures.
- Provide governance on radiation management systems (man-made nuclides only).
- Design and align KPIs for profitable business growth that drive the teams toward achievements and foster collaboration across the business units.
- Provide the necessary support and infrastructure for corporate goal attainment.
- Provide guidance and leadership to enable project team to carry out tasks safely and professionally.
- Maintain and improve safety, health and environmental standards and practices.
- Supervise and control the activities, standards of performance and behavior of designated support staff.
- Prepare and control projects budget by forecasting operational costs and monitoring expenditure on a monthly basis.
- Prepare and control the technology 5 year CAPEX plan by forecasting operational requirements and monitoring/driving progress on a monthly basis.
- Compile monthly technical and progress reports as required, in accordance with standard procedures.
- Actively involved in leading automation projects, modifications and upgrades within the area.
- Provide governance on radiation management systems ( ARPO).
- Provided solutions and support in line with the Technology strategy and business objectives.
- Constantly ensuring safe practices, systems and processes that are applicable and compliant with Mine, Health and Safety legislation and RT policies and procedures.
- Performed audits on PCS Infrastructure.
- Assessed risk and developed mitigation strategies.
Process Control System Engineer(Projects)
Rio Tinto
07.2015 - 01.2019
- Developed and implemented Technology Strategy for RBM.
- Provided technical leadership to the engineering and production departments.
- Actively involved in leading automation projects, modifications and upgrades within the area.
- Provide governance on radiation management systems.
- Design and align KPIs for profitable business growth that drive the teams toward achievements and foster collaboration across the business units.
- Optimised plant/ process control.
- Lead Sustainable development projects.
- Ensured that costs are effectively managed for operational assets throughout their life cycle.
- Provided solutions and support in line with the Technology strategy and business objectives.
- Lead, managed and motivated, safe and productive teams.
- Constantly ensuring safe practices, systems and processes that are applicable and compliant with Mine, Health and Safety legislation and RT policies and procedures.
- Perform audits on PCS Infrastructure.
- Assess risk and develop mitigation strategies.
- Responsible for skills development framework.
- Design and develop process control systems architecture.
- Prepared and managed the department’s annual budget.
- Responsible for forecasting operational costs and monitoring expenditure on a monthly basis.
- Ensure the application of safe practices, systems and processes whilst ensuring compliance with Mine, Health and Safety legislation and RT policies and procedures.
- Collaborated with outside stakeholders including distributed PCS plant teams under the RMM management sections, RioTinto I&OT teams, RioTinto IS&T teams and other BU’s, for optimised productivity and operations.
Process Control Specialist – Technical development
Rio Tinto
11.2014 - 06.2015
- Identified HRD needs and prepared and delivered individual training and development plans based on analysis of training needs across the business.
- Developed learning solutions & processes in the context of human performance improvement.
- Facilitate learning solutions in C&A and IT space.
- Responsible for the management of training resources and budgets as well as managing and implementing capital investments.
- Managed and support process control training infrastructure.
- Developed competency- based assessments for IT and Automation for mining sectors.
- Support team with problem solving and project management.
Project Manager
CV Projects
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Company Overview: CV Projects is a diverse and highly reputable construction, process automation business that specialises in the manufacture and supply of construction work and automation products and services.
- Managed the daily operations of the business (projects, finance, human resources).
- Led and managed project teams across multiple sites.
- Focussed on the continuous operations improvement and successfully identified opportunities to reduce costs and increase efficiencies locally and nationally.
- Leveraged strong commercial awareness to successfully manage multiple projects valued up to R 80 million nationally.
- Identified and maximised new business development opportunities to facilitate profitable growth.
- CV Projects is a diverse and highly reputable construction, process automation business that specialises in the manufacture and supply of construction work and automation products and services.
Process Control and IS Manager
Coca Cola
01.2008 - 01.2011
- Fully accountable for the management of the IT and Automations systems services which included software deployment, licensing, infrastructure planning and project management.
- Leveraged expertise in IT and Automation systems and technology to provide leadership to the team.
- Proactively identified and motivated technical CAPIN justification to drive improved systems.
- Business partnering across all functional teams.
- Managed and maintained a sustainable skill pipeline through the development and coaching of Trainees.
- Led and managed the application of the IMP process to ensure effective management and development of human resources.
- Ensured a strong interface between the local systems team and central teams.
- Maintained awareness of the latest innovations in the IT and Automation space through attendance of workshops and conferences.
- Ensured IT and Automation compliance and that DRP is in place for the various technology platforms.
- Managed all outsourced vendors at local and centralised levels.
- Participated in team problem solving and derived solutions for business problems.
- Participated in the review of IT and Automation SLA’s with central teams and vendors.
- Analysed IT service reports and initiated relevant changes to improve service levels and customer satisfaction.
- Business partnering and interaction with BIS and COF.
Control & Automation specialist
SABMILLER
01.2004 - 01.2007
- Identified HRD needs and prepared and delivered individual training and development plans based on analysis of training needs across the business.
- Developed learning solutions & processes in the context of human performance improvement.
- Facilitated learning led OD processes in manufacturing systems.
- Responsible for the management of training resources and budgets as well as managing and implementing capital investment projects.
- Instrumental role in the management and support of the brewing and packaging process control infrastructure.
- Managed and supported process control training infrastructure.
- Developed competency based assessments (CAP) for IT and Automation for beer and soft drinks division.
- Business partnering and interaction with BIS and COF.
Process Control Manager
SABMILLER
01.2003 - 01.2004
- Managed and Led the Automation department including formulating strategy, managing capital investment projects and controlling associated budgets.
- Managed technical personnel.
- Managed the development of maintenance programs.
- Managed the development of students and trainees.
- Overall accountability of Instrumentation & Process Control infrastructure.
- Managed site operational excellence wrt Process Control.
- Managed and supported automation projects/modifications/upgrades.
- Managed maintenance /asset care for instrumentation and automation.
- Business partnering and interaction with BIS and COF.
Manufacturing Systems Specialist
SABMILLER
01.1997 - 01.2002
- Provided technical support to the engineering and product departments including after-hours standby support as required.
- Actively involved in supporting automation projects, modifications and upgrades within the area.
- Developed process control software.
- Optimised plant/ process control.
- Managed/Supported automation projects/modifications/upgrades.
- Optimised plant/ process control.
- Provided technical support to Engineering and Production departments.
Process Control Technician
SABMILLER
01.1990 - 01.1996
- Provided technical support to the engineering and product departments including after-hours standby support as required.
- Actively involved in supporting automation projects, modifications and upgrades within the area.
- Developed process control software.
- Optimised plant/ process control.
- Provided technical support to Engineering and Production departments.
- Managed/Supported automation projects/modifications/upgrades.
- Maintenance of instrumentation plant equipment.
- Development of asset care maintenance schedules for instrumentation and electrical.
- Optimised plant/ process control.
- Problem solving.
Education
Diploma - undefined
Process Control
Radiation Protection Officer - undefined
PMP - Project Management Professional
Project Management Institute
01.2018
MSc - Process Engineering Management
Brunel University
01.2011
Certificate - Project Management
PM Ideas
01.2009
MDP - Management Development Programme
University of Cape Town
01.2007
ETDP Certificate - Education, Training and Development Practitioner
01.2005
Qualified Assessor & Moderator - undefined
01.2004
National Diploma - undefined
Electrical Engineering
01.1994
Skills
Developed and implemented Technology Strategy for RBM
IT leadership & Management
Extensive technical knowledge/experience in IT systems within process control and traditional ICT systems
Cost management
Control & Automation business unit Leadership & Management (Standards, governance, maintenance support)
Maintenance management(Process Instrumentation and Electrical)
Building positive and trusting relationships across the Group and Business Unit
Programme and Project Management
Risk Management
Training and Development
Development and Implementation of Instrumentation and Control/Automation Strategy
Development and Implementation of Training strategy
Development and Implementation of IT strategy
Management of cross – functional and multidiscipline teams and building positive relationships across Group and Business unit
A flexible approach and ability to prioritise workload and respond to competing priorities
Strong analytical skills whilst adopting a creative and innovative approach to problem solving and conflict resolution
Excellent knowledge of MS Office Suite and SAP
Stakeholder engagement and Management
Excellent project and risk management skills
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact, build and develop relationships at all levels within the organization
Ability to lead, develop and motivate a team
Ability to work independently using initiative and with minimal supervision
Process control software development and Process Optimisation
Business partnering with across all industry sectors and disciplines (SETA, Vendors, Government, etc)
Problem solving and conflict resolution skills
Sustainable development (Industrial applications)
Business Case and CAPEX motivation
Ensured that costs are effectively managed for operational assets throughout their life cycle
Accomplishments
- Development of Technology strategy /Framework for RBM.
- Motivation of technology upgrades at RBM.
Experience And Knowledge
- Developed and implemented Technology Strategy for RBM.
- IT leadership & Management
- Extensive technical knowledge/experience in IT systems within process control and traditional ICT systems.
- Cost management
- Control & Automation business unit Leadership & Management (Standards, governance, maintenance support)
- Maintenance management(Process Instrumentation and Electrical)
- Building positive and trusting relationships across the Group and Business Unit.
- Programme and Project Management
- Risk Management
- Training and Development
- Development and Implementation of Instrumentation and Control/Automation Strategy
- Development and Implementation of Training strategy
- Development and Implementation of IT strategy
- Management of cross – functional and multidiscipline teams and building positive relationships across Group and Business unit.
- A flexible approach and ability to prioritise workload and respond to competing priorities.
- Strong analytical skills whilst adopting a creative and innovative approach to problem solving and conflict resolution
- Excellent knowledge of MS Office Suite and SAP
- Stakeholder engagement and Management
- Excellent project and risk management skills
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact, build and develop relationships at all levels within the organization
- Ability to lead, develop and motivate a team
- Ability to work independently using initiative and with minimal supervision
- Process control software development and Process Optimisation
- Business partnering with across all industry sectors and disciplines. (SETA, Vendors, Government, etc.)
- Problem solving and conflict resolution skills
- Sustainable development (Industrial applications)
- Business Case and CAPEX motivation
- Ensured that costs are effectively managed for operational assets throughout their life cycle.
References
- Moses Lubisi, Manufacturing Manager – Coca Cola, 0716721511
- Shannon Castle, IT Director (Unilever – ex SABMILLER), shannon.castle@unilever.com
- Tanya Hulse, Head Process Engineering, 0829217539
- Praveen Balgobind, Head Packaging SABMILLER, 0799848985
- Sanjeev Parbhu, Head Engineering SABMILLER, 0718574961
- Tony Cole, Engineering consultant, 0829242176
- Garth Basson, IT CIO Coca Cola, 0829217721
- Jacques Venter, GM : AM and Technical, 0730070644
References
- Moses Lubisi, Manufacturing Manager – Coca Cola, 0716721511
- Shannon Castle, IT Director (Unilever – ex SABMILLER), shannon.castle@unilever.com
- Tanya Hulse, Head Process Engineering, 0829217539
- Praveen Balgobind, Head Packaging SABMILLER, 0799848985
- Sanjeev Parbhu, Head Engineering SABMILLER, 0718574961
- Tony Cole, Engineering consultant, 0829242176
- Garth Basson, IT CIO Coca Cola, 0829217721
- Jacques Venter, GM : AM and Technical, 0730070644
Timeline
Operational Technology Engineer(Projects)
Rio Tinto
01.2020 - Current
Process Control System Engineer(Projects)
Rio Tinto
07.2015 - 01.2019
Process Control Specialist – Technical development
Rio Tinto
11.2014 - 06.2015
Project Manager
CV Projects
01.2011 - 01.2014
Process Control and IS Manager
Coca Cola
01.2008 - 01.2011
Control & Automation specialist
SABMILLER
01.2004 - 01.2007
Process Control Manager
SABMILLER
01.2003 - 01.2004
Manufacturing Systems Specialist
SABMILLER
01.1997 - 01.2002
Process Control Technician
SABMILLER
01.1990 - 01.1996
Diploma - undefined
Process Control
Radiation Protection Officer - undefined
PMP - Project Management Professional
Project Management Institute
MSc - Process Engineering Management
Brunel University
Certificate - Project Management
PM Ideas
MDP - Management Development Programme
University of Cape Town
ETDP Certificate - Education, Training and Development Practitioner
Qualified Assessor & Moderator - undefined
National Diploma - undefined
Electrical Engineering