Mechanical Fitter

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:

Reports To: Mechanical Maintenance Foreman

Purpose of the Role

The Maintenance Fitter is responsible for minimising plant downtime, maximising equipment reliability and extending the operating life of plant machinery and equipment through the effective execution of corrective, preventive and proactive mechanical maintenance activities.

The role is responsible for ensuring equipment repairs, inspections, scheduled maintenance and breakdown work are carried out safely, timeously and to the required standard, with minimal impact on production and operational activities.

This is a hands-on mechanical trade role suited to a qualified Fitter with strong plant maintenance experience, practical fault-finding ability, and the discipline to work safely and accurately in a high-volume manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Plant Maintenance, Repairs & Fault Finding
  • Inspect all assigned plant sections and equipment to identify defects, risks and maintenance requirements.
  • Ensure all equipment defects are recorded on inspection forms for immediate repair or future maintenance shutdowns.
  • Ensure job cards are created on the CMMS by the Foreman or Planner for all identified defects.
  • Repair equipment identified through job card requests, breakdowns, inspections and improvement projects.
  • Respond immediately to equipment breakdowns and restore failed equipment to working condition as quickly and safely as possible.
  • Conduct fault finding after breakdown repairs, with strong focus on identifying and eliminating root causes.
  • Report all temporary repairs immediately to the Mechanical Maintenance Foreman and ensure follow-up job cards are raised.
  • Inform plant management of any situations or conditions that could result in downtime.
  • Take appropriate remedial action to minimise downtime and support equipment availability.
  • Complete maintenance job cards timeously, before the end of shift, and ensure work is completed to the correct standard.
  • Ensure production signs off completed job cards where required.
• Preventive, Corrective & Proactive Maintenance
  • Execute corrective, preventive and proactive maintenance activities to reduce downtime and improve equipment reliability.
  • Support scheduled maintenance work in line with maintenance plans and production requirements.
  • Assist with the development of maintenance plans, maintenance work instructions and risk assessments.
  • Contribute to audits and maintenance improvement activities to support clarity, compliance and understanding among staff.
  • Participate in daily maintenance morning meetings.
  • Support the implementation of practical maintenance improvement solutions.
  • Help ensure plant equipment and machinery remain safe, reliable and available for production.
• Workshop, Tools & Equipment Care
  • Maintain workshop machinery and ensure it remains fit and safe for use.
  • Maintain and check equipment such as pedestal grinders, welding machines, ladders and related workshop assets.
  • Ensure the workshop and maintenance assets are maintained to a high standard of professionalism, cleanliness and safety.
  • Maintain good housekeeping standards within the workshop and areas of responsibility.
  • Use tools, equipment and maintenance resources responsibly and safely.
• Mechanical Fitting & Technical Duties
  • Perform mechanical fitting, repairs, installation, alignment and maintenance work across plant machinery and equipment.
  • Perform basic welding tasks where required.
  • Conduct alignment of rotating elements using a dial gauge.
  • Fit tyre, Bibby, spring, spider and direct couplings.
  • Mount and remove bearings and perform bearing maintenance.
  • Manufacture and fit bushings from various materials.
  • Perform lubrication using oils and greases.
  • Manufacture and fit taper keys.
  • Identify, maintain and support basic hydraulic components.
  • Identify, maintain and support basic pneumatic components.
  • Fit and align belts, including V-pulley and timing belts.
  • Fit and align chain and sprocket systems.
  • Read mechanical component drawings.
  • Mark off according to drawing specifications.
  • Perform conveyor belt splicing and tracking.
  • Install, align and track conveyor roller assemblies.
  • Make up and install threaded pipe systems.
  • Install and maintain pumps, including peristaltic, mono, diaphragm, centrifugal, submerged and gear pumps.
  • Install and maintain valves, including globe, gate, slide, diaphragm, ball, pinch and butterfly valves.
  • Maintain mixers and agitators.
  • Support bulk material handling equipment including screw conveyors and bucket elevators.
  • Maintain mechanical cutting machines.
  • Work on gearboxes, including backlash, alignment and floats.
  • Maintain milling machines, including vertical spindle centrifugal milling machines.
• Documentation, CMMS & Reporting
  • Report daily on problems experienced during the shift.
  • Complete required maintenance documentation accurately and timeously.
  • Complete RCFA page 1 documentation where required.
  • Complete job cards and related maintenance records properly.
  • Ensure job card information reflects work performed, issues identified and follow-up actions required.
  • Support accurate maintenance history and equipment reliability information through proper documentation.
• Health, Safety, Quality & Compliance
  • Perform all duties in accordance with relevant workplace health and safety requirements.
  • Comply with Occupational Health and Safety policies and procedures.
  • Ensure all maintenance work is performed safely, efficiently and in line with company standards.
  • Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures and operational requirements.
  • Maintain high standards of safety, professionalism, cleanliness and housekeeping in all areas of responsibility.
  • Report unsafe conditions, equipment risks or operational issues to the relevant maintenance or plant leadership.
  • Represent the company in a professional, ethical and positive manner at all times, both in communication and appearance.
• Team Support, Standby & Development
  • Perform standby duties and overtime when authorised by the Mechanical Maintenance Foreman.
  • Work outside normal working hours when required by operational or maintenance requirements.
  • Assist with the training and development of apprentices.
  • Communicate effectively with maintenance leadership, production teams and other stakeholders.
  • Support the Mechanical Maintenance Foreman and broader maintenance team in achieving plant reliability and production availability targets.

Experience & Qualifications

• Matric / Grade 12.
• Recognised Fitter trade qualification.
• Minimum N3 Mechanical Engineering.
• At least 5 years’ relevant mechanical and plant maintenance experience.
• Experience in a manufacturing, FMCG, continuous-process or industrial plant maintenance environment.
• Basic welding skills.
• Skilled in alignment of rotating equipment using a dial gauge.
• Skilled in the fitment of tyre, Bibby, spring, spider and direct couplings.
• Experience with bearing removal, fitment, maintenance, bushings manufacture and fitment.
• Experience with lubrication using oils and greases.
• Experience with hydraulics and pneumatics at basic component identification, function and maintenance level.
• Experience with belts, chains, sprockets, conveyors, pumps, valves, mixers, agitators, bulk material handling equipment, gearboxes and related plant machinery.
• Ability to read mechanical component drawings and mark off according to drawing specifications.
• Exposure to coal and gas boilers will be advantageous.
• Pulp and paper industry experience will be advantageous.

Knowledge, Skills & Technical Competencies

• Strong mechanical fitting and plant maintenance skills.
• Strong breakdown repair and fault-finding ability.
• Strong understanding of corrective, preventive and proactive maintenance.
• Ability to identify equipment defects and support root cause elimination.
• Ability to complete job cards, inspection forms and basic RCFA documentation.
• Good understanding of CMMS job card processes.
• Practical knowledge of workshop machinery, tools and safe equipment use.
• Ability to perform alignment, fitting, lubrication, bearing work, coupling fitment, belt and chain alignment, conveyor maintenance, pump and valve maintenance.
• Ability to work safely and effectively in a production-driven manufacturing environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively across different levels.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality maintenance workmanship.
• Strong housekeeping and organisational ability.

Personal Attributes

• Self-starter who is energetic, highly motivated and proactive.
• Strong analytical ability and a practical problem-solving mindset.
• Strong desire to identify and resolve mechanical problems properly.
• Able to identify, visualise, articulate and support plant maintenance improvement solutions.
• High level of integrity.
• Reliable, disciplined and safety-conscious.
• Willing to work outside normal working hours when required.
• Neat, organised and professional in conduct and appearance.
• Able to work under pressure during breakdowns and production-critical maintenance situations.

Working Relationships

• Internal Stakeholders
  • Mechanical Maintenance Foreman
  • Maintenance Planner
  • Production Teams
  • Plant Management
  • Maintenance Artisans
  • Engineering and Maintenance Team
  • Apprentices
  • Safety and Risk Personnel
  • Stores Personnel
• External Stakeholders
  • Approved technical suppliers
  • Maintenance contractors
  • Equipment service providers
  • External technical support providers where required

Other Requirements

• Must be based in, or willing to work in, the Spartan / Kempton Park area.
• Must be comfortable working in a high-volume FMCG or continuous manufacturing environment.
• Must be willing to perform standby duties and authorised overtime when required.
• Must be able to work outside normal working hours when required.
• Must be able to work safely around operating plant machinery and equipment.
• Must be able to perform hands-on mechanical fitting and plant maintenance work.
• Must be able to support production-critical breakdowns and urgent maintenance requirements.

Benefits

• A competitive, market-related Total Cost to Company package aligned with the scope and level of the role will be offered.
• Opportunity to work in a high-volume FMCG manufacturing environment where mechanical maintenance, equipment reliability and production uptime are business-critical.
• Exposure to plant machinery, mechanical systems, preventive maintenance, breakdown response and continuous improvement within a dynamic manufacturing operation.