Senamile Khanyile
Packaging Technologist
Boksburg
Summary
Results-driven Packaging Technologist with expertise in packaging design, development, specifications control, and supplier management in FMCG environments. Proficient in packaging materials, printing processes, BOM creation, and SAP systems. Demonstrates technical problem-solving skills, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives while supporting Marketing, Quality, Production, Procurement, and Engineering teams. Committed to sustainable packaging and innovation, ensuring alignment with consumer expectations and business strategy.
Overview
2
2
Languages
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Packaging technologist
Siqalo Foods
04.2025 - Current
- Design and develop packaging materials in line with marketing briefs considering feasibility, cost, safety, and timelines.
- Provide technical packaging guidance across Marketing, Procurement, Production and Quality.
- Coordinate packaging trials and manage all packaging-related project requirements.
- Drafted, maintained, and controlled packaging specifications, drawings, pallet configurations, and artworks to ensure compliance with project requirements.
- Evaluated new materials, technologies, and suppliers while conducting packaging risk assessments to enhance product safety and performance.
- Participate in shelf-life predictive modelling and quality testing.
- Supported zero-waste initiatives and optimized packaging processes to reduce environmental impact.
- Benchmark packaging quality standards and identify cost-saving opportunities.
- Work on packaging specification requirements for primary and secondary packaging.
- Relevant packaging testing for primary and secondary.
- Ensured quality assurance by executing relevant packaging tests for both primary and secondary materials.
- Artwork and colour management, plate making & print production.
Packaging Development Engineer
Colgate-Palmolive
11.2022 - 03.2025
- New Product Development, Creation of Materials and BOM on SAP
- Qualified physical materials by conducting factory trials to validate functionality
- Develop product data in catalogue, pallet configuration as well as barcode in line with SKUs
- Preparation of trade samples for commercial review
- Coordinating the development of printing equipment with material suppliers
- Initiating a roadmap for implementing sustainable, cost effective and reliable packaging materials
- Preparation of plant trials for validation of new material
- Coordinated in-house trials to align with manufacturing standards and executed packaging stability testing
- Liaised with material suppliers to ensure readiness of planned raw materials and developed technical data sheets
- Perform supplier management, developing SOPs, online proofing to approve new packaging material manufacturing process and sign off standards
- Cross functional documentation, and safety support
- Approval of positive release forms and online management
- Support the quality team on key release specifications which are implemented on finished goods produced post industrial trial completion
- Reviewing CAPA (Corrective action & Preventive action) reports from suppliers and monitoring of the improvement actions implemented for any gaps
- Identification and validation of alternative packaging materials based on force-majeure conditions and Packaging material supply chain security
Maintenance Planner
Colgate-Palmolive
06.2021 - 10.2022
- Coordinating maintenance on Krones Labeler machine and Thimonier filler (AM & PM)
- Plan and schedule corrective and preventive maintenance activities by task and priority level
- Managed spare parts inventory and ensured alignment between maintenance department and engineering stores for efficient operations
- Managing work orders, documentation, and assets within SAP PM and SAP EAM
- Training technicians on how to use SAP for work orders
- Coordinate plant-wide shutdowns
- Coordinated shutdowns across the entire plant to ensure thorough maintenance.
- Conducting Site monthly Inspections
- Compiled inspection reports in collaboration with the safety officer to ensure compliance.
- Prepared and utilized daily, weekly, and monthly pareto analyses to develop action plans addressing major breakdowns
- Expedite quotations from suppliers
- Analyze and assess equipment for root cause failure determination
- Completion of Occupational Health and Safety Incident Reports
- Determine and recommend staffing needs for CEB projects
Junior Mechanical Engineer
Colgate-Palmolive
05.2020 - 05.2021
- Worked closely with Quality, Engineering and Operations groups to ensure strict compliance with GMP guidelines
- Construction of bill of materials for plant equipment
- Asset identification of plant equipment
- Loading of downtime and production data on Shop Floor reporting software (OPERA)
- Release of monthly engineering reports for asset utilization, unplanned downtime, SAP/EAM notifications and SAP PM Reports
- Completion of Safety files (Lockout/Tagout, Confined space, SWIs document) and safety assessments
- Collaborated with contractors to oversee project progress
- Oversaw calibration processes for precision equipment
- Coordinating maintenance on Krones Labeler machine and Thimonier filler (AM & PM)
- Plan and schedule corrective and preventive maintenance activities by task and priority level
- Manage spare parts and alignment between the maintenance department and engineering stores
- Developed standard operating procedures for maintenance, operation, and installation of water plant and Thimonier filling machine to enhance operational consistency
- Managing work orders, documentation, and assets within SAP PM and SAP EAM
- Training technicians on how to use SAP for work orders
- Coordinate plant-wide shutdowns
- Conducting Site monthly Inspections
- Compile Reports of Site Inspections with a safety officer
- Led root cause failure analysis on equipment breakdowns, identifying root causes to prevent future occurrences
- Preparation and Utilization daily, weekly and monthly pareto to develop action plans on major breakdowns
- Expedite quotations from suppliers
- Ensuring an optimal stock of spare parts and materials
- Completion of Occupational Health and Safety Incident Reports
- Analyze and assess equipment for root cause failure determination
- Determine and recommend staffing needs for CEB projects
Mechanical Engineering Trainee
Colgate-Palmolive
03.2019 - 04.2020
- Created purchase orders on eBuy and SAP, coordinating with suppliers to ensure timely procurement.
- Creating purchase orders on eBuy and SAP (also dealing with suppliers)
- Issued work orders to artisans to facilitate efficient task closure and project progression.
- Constructed centralized engineering stores with the team.
- Received and issued spare parts for projects, ensuring timely availability.
- Planning for Autonomous Maintenance with the Team Leaders
- Preparation for the safety audit
- Completion of the Standard Operation Procedure and One Point Lesson
- Completed design, installation, operational, and performance qualification documents for Kallfass VAP wrapper, ensuring compliance with project specifications.
- Communicate verbally and through electronic media (Email, SAP)
Junior Design Draughtsman
Veolia Water Technologies
03.2018 - 02.2019
- Full design of the plant equipment for the mechanical design of water treatment plants
- Complete 3D modeling including P&ID, GA, Layouts, and manufacturing drawings according to drawing office standards and project specific requirements
- Maintained design database for design engineers, ensuring up-to-date access to critical information
- Issuing correct documents, DFX and bill of material (BOM) for manufacturing/quoting purposes
- Issued accurate documents, DFX, and bill of material (BOM) for manufacturing and quoting processes
- Managed document transfer between departments to ensure smooth communication
- Analyzing documents for clarity and accuracy
- Indexing scanned records and analyzing for clarity and accuracy
- Updating of P&IDs (for contractual as well as tendering purposes)
Education
One Year Diploma - Packaging
IPSA
12-2023
Higher Certificate - Project Management
MANCOSA
Johannesburg12-2022
Bachelor of Technology - Mechanical Engineering
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg12-2017
National Diploma - Mechanical Engineering
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg12-2016
Skills
Packaging design
3D Packaging Design
Packaging CAD Software
Material testing
Packaging materials knowledge
Packaging trials management
Packaging Efficiency Tools
Project management
SAP
SAP expertise
Interests
HIKING
Timeline
Packaging technologist
Siqalo Foods
04.2025 - Current
Packaging Development Engineer
Colgate-Palmolive
11.2022 - 03.2025
Maintenance Planner
Colgate-Palmolive
06.2021 - 10.2022
Junior Mechanical Engineer
Colgate-Palmolive
05.2020 - 05.2021
Mechanical Engineering Trainee
Colgate-Palmolive
03.2019 - 04.2020
Junior Design Draughtsman
Veolia Water Technologies
03.2018 - 02.2019
National Diploma - Mechanical Engineering
University of Johannesburg
Bachelor of Technology - Mechanical Engineering
University of Johannesburg
Higher Certificate - Project Management
MANCOSA
One Year Diploma - Packaging
IPSA
Courses
Generic Management Mar 2020