Xolane Mahlaba
Process Support Technician
Durban,KwaZulu Natal
Summary
- I am a Chemical Engineering graduate with a National Diploma from the Durban University of Technology, I completed my studies in 2018 after having done my in-service training with Unilever SA in the Research and Development Department under the Personal Care Category.
- Since 2019 I have been employed by Intertek, contracting for Unilever in their Research and Development Department now working in all the categories (Personal Care, Home Care and Foods).
- To seek and maintain full-time position that offers professional challenges utilizing interpersonal skills, excellent time management and problem-solving skills.
- Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
- Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
- Hardworking and passionate job seeker with strong organizational skills eager to secure entry-level Process Technician position.
- Ready to help team achieve company goals.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Process Support Technician
Intertek Testing Services
Durban
11.2018 - Current
- Check available Raw Materials against LIMS to see what needs to be ordered and delivered
- Complete the findings from the audits and notify stakeholders
- Host one 5S and one Deep Compliance Audits and one Inventory audit per month
- Daily walk to check all safety showers and all pallets in place
- Ordering of tools needed
- Send out weekly schedule to Directors, managers and teams
- Approve or decline trial requests
- Inventory management Stock Control
- Weekly schedule planner Trial booking approval
- Invoice submissions Maintaining equipment
- Collecting Raw materials
- Co-ordinating functions and Trials within the plant Scheduling and hosting 5S safety audits
- Preventative maintenance in Plant 2
- Lab Testing
- Loading Materials into equipment
- Supervising temp employees
- Soaps Pilot Plant Operator
- 50L Liquids
- Organized work to meet demanding production goals.
- Maintained quality assurance and customer satisfaction objectives.
- Tested components and systems to evaluate performance and identify concerns.
- Applied critical thinking and research to address complex issues.
- Performed troubleshooting and diagnosis on malfunctioning equipment.
- Scheduled maintenance and repair tasks in alignment with production deadlines to reduce bottlenecks.
- Mentored junior technicians in maintenance, repair and reporting duties.
- Observed equipment operation to diagnose and troubleshoot reported issues.
- Inspected equipment to identify areas of wear or causes of malfunctions.
- Suggested specialized fixtures, test equipment and procedures for failure analysis.
- Addressed routine equipment maintenance according to established schedule.
- Maintained compliance with regulatory standards and safety requirements.
- Managed maintenance activities, supervised staff and inspected equipment.
- Checked, repaired and repacked survival equipment to meet specifications.
- Tested systems, noting issues and completing preventive maintenance.
- Efficiently read and interpreted blueprints.
- Fed raw materials into machines.
- Kept accurate records of defective units or products.
- Performed quality checks to identify finish discrepancies.
- Fed raw materials and components into semi-automated machines according to production needs.
- Recognized upset conditions, determining cause, and took appropriate corrective action.
- Analyzed and measured final products with precision tools to confirm compliance to specifications and standards.
- Assisted with equipment startups and machine installation tasks.
- Performed quality assurance tasks to promote accuracy and minimize mistakes.
- Conducted inspection of in-process or finished product.
- Maintained knowledge of industry policies and procedures to set up and operate equipment safely.
- Performed inspections and routine maintenance on equipment.
- Drafted reports detailing machine production outputs and material quantities.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Paid attention to detail while completing assignments.
SERVICE TRAINEE
UNILEVER SA
01.2018 - 12.2018
Education
Chemical Engineering - Chemical Engineering
02.2016 - 12.2018
the theory part of the curriculum in
Skills
CommunicationProblem-solvingTeamworkInventory Management – LIMSTroubleshootingLab testsElectric Boiler OperatorSoaps makingSalt curvesOrganizationSelf-regulationLearningNumerous Plant OperationPlanningFirst AidFire FightingLotions and Creams makingMicrosoft Office
Technician support
Technician support
Product development support
Production processes
Issue Analysis
Safety Equipment
Plant Operations Support
Team Training
Troubleshooting
Inventory oversight
Project support
Time management
Project Management
Equipment calibration
Production work
Equipment Maintenance
Equipment operation
Materials handling
Ingredient calculations
Material handling
Storage vessel sanitation
Raw materials
Batch mixing
Equipment assembly
Quality control
Troubleshooting abilities
Mixer operation
Recordkeeping expertise
Operation monitoring
Blending skills
Process flow analysis
Root Cause Analysis
PPE Compliance
Accomplishments
- Achieved successful launches of a range of products such as lifebuoy bodywash (Total 10, Lemon and Herbal ranges, Sunlight foam bath and Lifebuoy black bar by completing trail batching with accuracy and efficiency.
- Collaborated with a team in the development projects such as SLES reductions, Fragrance reductions, innovations of various brands, color matching etc.
- Documented and resolved material wastage which led to optimum operation and cost saving when running the soaps line.
- Supervised team of 8 temporary staff members.
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
References
- Sadhana Jagath, Unilever Senior R&D Process & Formulation Manager
- Cell Number: 082 443 4617
- Keith Reddy, Unilever Senior R&D Process & Formulation Manager
- Cell Number: 082 928 9129
- Nelly Yimbo, Unilever Technical Project Lead and Senior Engineer
Timeline
Process Support Technician - Intertek Testing Services
11.2018 - Current
SERVICE TRAINEE - UNILEVER SA
01.2018 - 12.2018
Durban University Of Technology - Chemical Engineering , Chemical Engineering
02.2016 - 12.2018