Asset Strategy and Reliability (AS&R) is more than the maintenance or care of physical assets; it is a part of the core business of the organization to ensure the assets perform their required function and allow Thungela to meet its strategic, operational and compliance requirements.

By looking after our assets, you’ll become an asset too.

Thungela Resources [Thungela means “to ignite” in isiZulu] is a leading South African thermal coal business, focused exclusively on thermal coal production.  It is one of the largest pure-play producers and exporters of thermal coal in South Africa based on aggregate coal reserves and marketable coal production. Thungela focuses on exporting its thermal coal portfolio mainly to the Indian, Asian, Southeast Asian, Middle East and North African markets.

The Group AS&R’s purpose is to optimize plant and equipment life-cycle performance to improve Group production performance.  The Reliability Engineer is a technical advisor and provides support to the Engineering Manager, Section Engineer or Project Engineer To achieve this, Group AS&R expectations for the global function are:

• Establish and manage the reliability of systems and processes at the operation in line with the Thungela Resources AS&R guidelines that includes the following: (Maintenance Tactics, Condition Monitoring, Total Fluid Management, Defect Elimination, Quality assurance, Life cycle costing and business improvement)
• Manage the development of asset tactics across the operation and ensure that these tactics are effectively followed by operational personnel
• Manage condition monitoring and total fluid management by ensuring that the required strategies are applied to identify and manage equipment risk
• Manage repairable sub-assemblies (rotable), including ensuring that all standards and processes related to these elements are followed
• Manage Reliability team including Planning Department, Condition Monitoring Department and Rotables Management Department
• Manage the effective use of the ERP and Tactics Development systems at the operation
  • Act as the data steward for all the data in the maintenance management system to ensure that data is used as inputs in monitoring the effectiveness of asset tactics, maintenance planning and execution, and condition monitoring of assets through the compilation of reports and analysis
• Completing RAM (Reliability, Availability & Maintainability) / LCC (Life-cycle cost) analyses on new projects or installations.  Ensures optimisation of systems and resources through providing the operations with relevant data and best practices
• Monitor the performance and condition of key assets to identify opportunities for improvement
• Compile business cases to motivate and justify the value of improvement ideas and Coordinate defect elimination activities
• Use life cycle costing to support financial decision-making i.e. repair-replace decisions or investment in upgrades
• Liaison with project engineer to ensure operational readiness is applied during the project phase for all new assets
• Ensure effective leadership routines and engagement:
  • Develop a set of leadership routines, under guidance from your line manager and deploy those leadership routines effectively (critical routines are coaching, attending lower-level meetings, driving ORM and continuous improvement)
  • Show value for leadership routines and use them as a means to engage the organization, highlight focus areas, share and address challenges and recognise achievements
  • Accordingly, agree a set of leadership routines for your subordinates (where appropriate) based on their role and hold them accountable for compliance to routines and using them to drive outputs which support organisational and departmental strategy
• Manage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, understand and deliver on their operational needs, and identify and resolve issues timeously
• Demonstrate behavior in line with Thungela Resources’ values, standards and control maintenance a professional workplace across all sites
• Participate as an effective team member and work collaboratively with leaders, peers and others to achieve business goals
• Contribute to the broader business by working with other leaders and teams in such a way that it optimizes the overall business results
• This role is in the Technical Department at Band 6 and reports indirectly to the Principal AS&R

• B Tech/ BSC in Engineering (NQF 7)
• Safety Course (advantageous)
• Registered as a member of SACEA (advantageous)
• Registered as a professional Engineer with the ECSA (advantageous)
• Government Certificate of Competence for Mines & Works (GCC) (advantageous)
• Reliability Engineers Program or equivalent (advantageous)
• Failure analysis/RCA Program equivalent (advantageous)
• Condition Monitoring Program or equivalent (advantageous)

Experience

• Minimum of 6-8 years of experience with the maintenance of OC, UG Machinery and Processing Plants, preferably in a coal mining environment
• Extensive experience in asset management tactics, maintenance planning, condition monitoring or rotable management.
• Mining or operational experience would be advantageous
• Extensive experience in the use of the applicable ERP system (SAP)
• Experience in Reliability Engineering
• Experience in data analysis techniques related to reliability engineering

• In depth understanding of relevant safety and mining legislation including: The Mine Health and Safety Act and Minerals and Energy Act
• An in-depth knowledge and understanding of technical engineering aspects such as OEM’s and SANS standards
• good knowledge of machinery and equipment used on the relevant operations solid understanding of the broader mining business
• Understanding of engineering best practices and new technologies relating to engineering principles & processes

What we offer

When you join Thungela, you can expect to enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package. But more than this, you’ll find yourself in an environment where the opportunities for learning and growth are second to none. From technical training to leadership programmes, we bring out the best in our people. There are plenty of opportunities to move onwards and upwards too. We’re a large, successful multinational company – and we’re still growing all the time.

Who we are?

Thungela is a pure play coal mining business. Our portfolio of world-class mining operations provides the metals and minerals that make modern life possible. We use innovative practices and the latest technologies to discover new resources and mine, process, move and market our products to our customers around the world.

Inclusion and Diversity

Thungela is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace where we value and respect every colleague for who they are and provide equality of opportunity so that everyone can fulfil their potential.

How we are committed to your safety

Nothing is more important to us than ensuring you return home safely after a day’s work. To make that happen, we have the most rigorous safety standards in the industry. Not only that, we’re also continually investing in new technologies – from drones to data analytics – that are helping to make mining safer

How to apply

To apply for this role, please complete our online application form. You will have the opportunity to upload your CV and other relevant documentation as part of this process.

Closing Date: 05/09/2024