Thembinkosi Shabalala
Senior Manager
97 Crawford Crescent, Strubenvale, Springs
Summary
Accomplished senior manager with 17+ years of experience in industrial research and development of new products. Skilled in managing and guiding development projects from inception to completion. Excels in fostering team collaboration and achieving targets in dynamic environments. Recognized for problem-solving abilities and adaptability to evolving project needs. Flexible, hard-working, strategic, self-driven, and reliable leader with a results-oriented mindset and a can-do attitude.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
12
12
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Languages
Work History
New Product Introduction and Development Manager
Element Six Production (Pty) Ltd
08.2020 - Current
- My role includes taking full operational and strategic management of a department that deals with new product introduction (NPI) and development of products and solutions
- This includes overseeing all initiatives and activities relating to product development, process improvements and new technology introduction
- I manage a team of highly qualified and flexible engineers, scientists and technicians
- I work closely with innovation, production and commercial teams to fast track productionization and commercialization of new products to either maintain or gain market share with our customers
- I am leading a department that plays a central key role in a multinational company, working with teams in the UK, Germany, Ireland and US of America
Senior Principal Scientist /Team Manager
Element Six Production (Pty) Ltd
11.2016 - 08.2020
- My role included managing a team of scientists and engineers focusing on new product introduction and development
- Overseeing production transfers of new products which are now commercial
- This included finding cost effective ways to produce materials and carry out process improvements focusing on yield and product performance
- In addition, I played an interface role between innovation and production teams
- I was an advisor on product development and product improvements
- The role included regular visits to international customers to improve collaboration and reinforce development initiatives for mutual sustainability and continuous improvements
- Summary of duties included project management, project planning, product supply scheduling, customer interface, model development (MSPB), advisor on product development, mentoring and coaching
- Mentor for P1/P2 students/Interns: 20+ learners from different universities
Principal Scientist
Element Six Production (Pty) Ltd
12.2013 - 10.2016
- Managed several key research and development projects working closely with innovation and application teams
- Focused on short term development involving scale-up, production transfers and commercialization of new products in collaboration with product managers and commercial teams
- Mentor for P1/P2 students: 20+ learners from different universities
Senior Researcher
Council for Science and Industrial Research (CSIR)
05.2012 - 11.2013
- My role focused on research and development in the areas of light metals for Automotive, Aerospace and Energy applications
- Summary of duties and responsibilities:
- Research on powder metallurgy of light metals and alloys, e.g
- Titanium, Aluminium and Magnesium
- Research on metal powder technologies such as solid-state alloying using high energy ball milling (HEBM), consolidation of metal powders into net or near-net shapes and mill products for aerospace and automotive industries
- Research and development of light metal alloys for fuel cells and hydrogen storage (energy application)
- Research on powder rolling techniques and rolled mill products
- I was also responsible to source funding through writing credible and fundable project proposals - I managed to get funding of R1.05M
- Supervisor: 1 MSc student
Senior Researcher
Element Six Production (Pty) Ltd
01.2011 - 05.2012
- My role was mainly about management of multiple projects focusing on improving the properties and behavior of polycrystalline materials for drilling of Oil and Gas
- This included prototype supply scheduling and delivery to customers
- I played a strategic central role linking Innovation and production teams
- In addition, the role involved process improvements, production transfers and customer interactions
- Supervisor for P1/P2 students: Assisted > 10 learners from different universities during their training (WIL)
Researcher
Element Six Production (Pty) Ltd
01.2007 - 12.2010
- I managed a portfolio of activities involving the integration of aspects of material science and technology in order to support business unit R & D programmes
- Played a key role in development of new products with better thermal stability and spall resistant, and also in improving production capabilities
- Written a number of technical reports and patents (2 granted)
- Supervisor for P1/P2 students: Assisted > 20 learners from different universities during their training (WIL)
- Supervisor for international students: Supervised 5 students from Turkey (WIL)
- External Examiner: Metallurgical Engineering, University of Witwatersrand
Education
Advanced Diploma in Financial Management -
Regent Business School
01.2022 - 12.2022
PhD - Material Science
University of Witwatersrand
01.2003 - 12.2007
BSc Hons Degree - Physics
University of KwaZulu Natal
01.2002 - 12.2002
BSc Degree - Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biosciences
University of KwaZulu Natal (Pmb)
01.1999 - 12.2001
Science Foundation Programme - undefined
University of Natal
01.1998 - 12.1998
Matric - undefined
Nobomi High School
01.1997 - 12.1997
Skills
Leadership
Coaching and mentoring
Analytical mindset
Materials preparation
Performance monitoring
Resource coordination
Product development skills
Innovation management
Teamwork and collaboration
Customer service
Decision-making
Analytical thinking
Staff development plans
Supply coordination
Awardsmembership
Membership: Golden Key International Honour Society
Publications, patents and articles
- BORON SUBOXIDE COMPOSITE MATERIAL, EP 1 928 806 B1, 2012, granted
- METHOD OF PRODUCING A BORON SUBOXIDE MATERIAL, US 8197780 B2, 2012, granted
- POLYCRYSTALLINE DIAMOND, PCT/US 20100300764 A1, Dec 2010
- ULTRAHARD DIAMOND COMPOSITE, PCT/US 20100199573 A1, Aug 2010
- POLYCRYSTALLINE DIAMOND STRUCTURE, PCT/EP2012/058659, May 2012
- POLYCRYSTALLINE SUPERHARD CONSTRUCTION, PCT/US2013000093A1, June 2012
- PICK TOOL, PCT/EP2012/058584, May 2012
- Hard and Tough Boron Suboxide based Composites, Advances in Science and Technology, 45, 1745-1750, 2006
- Hard and Tough Boron Suboxide based Composites, Ceramic International, 34[7], 1713-1717, 2008
- B6O: A Correlation Between Mechanical Properties and Microstructure Evolution Upon Al2O3 Addition During Hot-Pressing, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 91[2], 569-574, 2008
- Liquid phase assisted hot pressing of boron suboxide-materials, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 28, 1613-1621, 2008
- Effect of particle morphology and size on roll compaction of Ti-based powders, Powder Technology, 264, 310–319, 2014
- Analysis of the Cold Compaction Behaviour of TiH2-316L Nanocomposite Powder Blend using Compaction Models, Materials Science Forum, 828-829, 121-128, 2015
- Densification and structural transformation during spark plasma sintering of WC-Co-YSZ-cBN systems, International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials, 72, 341-348, 2018
Certificates, short courses and awards
- Moderator, Pmads, 2021
- Assessor, Pmads, 2021
- Operational Risk Management Process (ORM), 2021
- General Management Programme (GMP) – GIBS, 2016
- Finance for Non-financial Managers – GIBS, 2016
- Work-based Risk Assessments (WRAC), 2016
- First Aid Training, 2016
- Legal Liability, 2015
- Research and Innovation Core Skills (RICS) – CSIR, 2012
- Situational Leadership Course, 2011
- Influential Business Communication Course, Sept 2008
- TRIZ: Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, 2007 -BMG
- Advanced DOE Training (Design of Experiments), 2007 –BMG
- Basic operation of Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) AND EDAX Microanalysis course (SEM-EDS)
- Six Sigma Green Belt Training – BMG
- 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Timeline
Advanced Diploma in Financial Management -
Regent Business School
01.2022 - 12.2022
New Product Introduction and Development Manager
Element Six Production (Pty) Ltd
08.2020 - Current
Senior Principal Scientist /Team Manager
Element Six Production (Pty) Ltd
11.2016 - 08.2020
Principal Scientist
Element Six Production (Pty) Ltd
12.2013 - 10.2016
Senior Researcher
Council for Science and Industrial Research (CSIR)
05.2012 - 11.2013
Senior Researcher
Element Six Production (Pty) Ltd
01.2011 - 05.2012
Researcher
Element Six Production (Pty) Ltd
01.2007 - 12.2010
PhD - Material Science
University of Witwatersrand
01.2003 - 12.2007
BSc Hons Degree - Physics
University of KwaZulu Natal
01.2002 - 12.2002
BSc Degree - Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biosciences
University of KwaZulu Natal (Pmb)
01.1999 - 12.2001
Science Foundation Programme - undefined
University of Natal
01.1998 - 12.1998
Matric - undefined
Nobomi High School
01.1997 - 12.1997