Project & Plant Manager – Corrugated Packaging Manufacturing

In brief

**Overview** This role is for a Project & Plant Manager at a Textile Manufacturing and Retail client, recruited by Talent Candey. The position is based in Durban and involves leading the establishment of a new in-house corrugated packaging conversion facility. This is a greenfield project, offering a unique opportunity for a hands-on manufacturing specialist to take ownership from initial feasibility studies and machinery selection through to plant commissioning, production ramp-up, and ongoing operational management. **What you will do** * **Project Feasibility & Business Case Development** * Lead the technical and operational feasibility assessment for the proposed corrugated packaging conversion plant. * Conduct make-versus-buy assessments to determine which packaging products should be manufactured internally. * Evaluate manufacturing costs, production volumes, raw-material requirements, capacity and equipment suitability. * Develop CAPEX requirements, operating-cost assumptions, ROI, payback and financial feasibility inputs. * Identify operational, technical and commercial risks and present recommendations to senior management. * **Plant Design, Equipment Selection & Commissioning** * Determine machinery and tooling requirements for corrugated packaging conversion. * Evaluate equipment suppliers, technical specifications, production capabilities and procurement options. * Develop plant layouts, production workflows, material handling and infrastructure requirements. * Lead machinery installation, commissioning, testing and production ramp-up. * Establish production processes, SOPs, quality standards and preventative maintenance programmes. * Coordinate suppliers, contractors and internal stakeholders throughout project implementation. * **Manufacturing & Operational Management** * Assume full operational responsibility for the plant following commissioning. * Manage production output, manufacturing costs, quality, waste, efficiency and delivery performance. * Monitor OEE, downtime, machine utilisation, changeovers and production KPIs. * Establish and maintain accurate manufacturing conversion costs. * Drive Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement and operational excellence. * Ensure compliance with health, safety and quality standards. * **Leadership & Team Development** * Develop the plant's organisational structure and staffing requirements. * Recruit, train, mentor and manage production and technical personnel. * Establish performance management systems, operational procedures and accountability structures. * Promote a culture of safety, efficiency, quality and continuous improvement. **Requirements (from the original advert)** * **Minimum Requirements:** * Relevant qualification in Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Packaging or Production Engineering/Management. * Approximately 8–15+ years' relevant manufacturing experience advantageous. * Strong hands-on experience within corrugated packaging conversion, carton/box production or closely related industrial packaging manufacturing is essential. * Demonstrated experience in machinery selection, production-line installation, commissioning, plant expansion or greenfield manufacturing projects. * Strong technical knowledge of corrugated board specifications, flute profiles, manufacturing processes, tooling and converting machinery. * Experience with die-cutters, creasers, slotters, flexographic printing, folder-gluers, stitching equipment or related machinery. * Strong understanding of manufacturing costing, waste reduction, material yield, machine utilisation and operational efficiency. * Experience in production management, maintenance, quality systems and continuous improvement. * Proven ability to lead production teams and coordinate cross-functional projects. * Strong analytical, problem-solving, reporting and stakeholder management skills. * Ability to independently evaluate technical solutions and make commercially sound recommendations. * **Advantageous Experience:** * Greenfield manufacturing facility establishment. * CAPEX budgeting, ROI calculations and manufacturing feasibility studies. * Corrugated packaging product design and development. * Machinery procurement and supplier negotiations. * ERP/MRP implementation and production planning systems. * Lean manufacturing, TPM, OEE and preventative maintenance. * Experience presenting technical business cases to executive management. **Who should apply** This role is for a hands-on manufacturing specialist who is practical and commercially minded, with a deep understanding of corrugated packaging production from both technical and operational perspectives. The ideal candidate will be confident in evaluating machinery, developing manufacturing processes, controlling production costs, and building a high-performing production operation from the ground up. This specialist needs substantial corrugated packaging expertise to confidently lead both the technical project implementation and the eventual day-to-day plant operation, playing a critical role in evaluating commercial viability, determining correct manufacturing processes and equipment, and establishing a cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable production facility. **Deadline** Not specified **Reference** Original posting: https://www.jobmail.co.za/jobs/engineering/engineering-management/bluff/project-plant-manager-%E2%80%93-corrugated-packaging-manufacturing-id-7607184 Source: jobmail

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