Mukovhe Mathivha

In my role, I evaluate current production activities, recommend improvements while adhering to safety procedures and good housekeeping standards to comply with regulations. I perform project commissioning work and assist with coordinating new equipment installation and implementation. Additionally, I investigate plant operations problems, analyse root causes, and derive resolutions. My responsibilities include preparing standard reports and documentation to communicate results to senior management, monitoring projects to identify areas and processes needing improvement, and supporting the production team to ensure timely achievement of targets through engineering analysis to reduce downtime and outages. I report faults, abnormalities, and breakdowns to supervisors and production engineers, and I utilize SCADA to monitor plant operations and EPS for process data analysis and required parameter adjustments. I conduct hot and cold commissioning of new plants and train new controllers to operate equipment. I also shadow designers and engineers to learn and implement methodologies, participate in regular progress meetings with project stakeholders, and deliver public presentations to provide plans and updates on projects. Supporting metallurgists on test work, projects, and technical troubleshooting is another key part of my role. I maintain accurate records of all relevant project information for future reference, ensure safe and efficient plant processes to meet quality and quantity targets, and collaborate with engineers, designers, and project managers in a multi-disciplinary project delivery team. Additionally, I aid in mass and energy balance, flowsheet development, and process-related calculations, participate in equipment testing both in-house and on client sites, and contribute to process optimization. I liaise with clients, contractor representatives, and project field personnel to meet key project deliverables while maintaining a professional approach and positive communication to reflect a positive image personally and project-wise. Notably, I was part of the team that achieved 80% compliance in the plant using daily prescribed prescriptions/parameters through a stability project.

As a Quality Inspector at Ford Motor Company, my role involved inspecting car hoods to ensure all components were in place and properly sealed, resolving quality-related issues, efficiently minimizing production delays and reporting any defects to the process coach if they could not be quickly addressed. Additionally, I worked on the production line as a line operator, assembling various car components including dashboards, and installing and fastening safety features such as seatbelts, hand assists, and handbrakes. I conducted frequent visual inspections to identify tolerance and compliance issues, and utilized sophisticated measurement tools, including the Embedded Configurable Operating System (eCos), for precise quality assessments. My responsibilities also included inspecting promptly initiating corrective actions for non-conforming products to reduce the risk of customer dissatisfaction or returns. Additionally, I discarded and rejected products, materials, and equipment that did not conform to specifications, and actively participated in training programs to stay updated with industry trends and best practices.

As a Trainee at Mintek, I conducted laboratory-scale smelting and leaching tests, evaluating and interpreting data from various sources, including XRD and XRF analysis, for a research project on the beneficiation of waste slag to determine the effectiveness of processes in the extraction of Titania from the waste slag. I operated and maintained laboratory equipment, such as furnaces, pH meters, drying ovens, reactors, and fume hoods, ensuring proper calibration and functionality. I assisted with monthly safety inspections, identifying and mitigating potential hazards to ensure a safe working environment. Additionally, I actively contributed to the operation of acid mine drainage treatment systems through the utilization of processes like ettringite precipitation and carbonation, aligning with environmental regulations and sustainability practices.