Operator – Annealing at Mabati Rolling Mills Limited (MRM) – A Member of the Safal Group

Job Description

Reference Number: 002SO18017

OPERATOR – ANNEALING

MRM Mariakani is seeking to recruit a professional and experienced individual to fill the position of an Annealing Operator. The Operator will be responsible for the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of batch annealing furnaces to produce high-quality Cold Rolled Close Annealed (CRCA) steel coils that meet customer specifications, quality standards, and production requirements.

Reference Number: 002SO18017

Key responsibilities:

Operations & Process Control

• Operate and monitor annealing furnaces and associated equipment to achieve production targets while maintaining quality, safety and equipment reliability.
• Prepare furnace charges and process materials in accordance with approved operating procedures and production schedules.
• Monitor furnace parameters and process performance to ensure product quality and operational efficiency.
• Maintain accurate production, inspection, downtime, quality and traceability records.
• Support preventive,planned and breakdown maintenance activities.
• Perform Autonomous Maintenance activities including inspection, cleaning, lubrication and early identification of abnormalities.
• Monitor operational performance and identify opportunities to improve productivity and reduce downtime.
• Support onboarding and coaching of new operators.

Quality Management

• Ensure all annealed coils comply with customer specifications, metallurgical requirements and established quality standards.
• Conduct routine quality inspections and identify product defects, process deviations and non-conformities.
• Escalate process abnormalities and quality issues for corrective action.
• Maintain product traceability through accurate production and quality records.
• Participate in Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) and quality improvement initiatives.
• Drive right-first-time production and reduction of defects, rework and quality losses.

Safety, Health, Environment & Housekeeping

• Comply with all Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) requirements, statutory regulations and company procedures.
• Operate equipment in accordance with approved SOPs, Risk Assessments, Permit-to-Work systems and LOTOTO requirements.
• Identify, report and address unsafe conditions, hazards, near misses and environmental concerns.
• Participate in safety inspections, toolbox talks, emergency drills and safety improvement initiatives.
• Ensure proper use of PPE and compliance with 6S housekeeping standards.
• Exercise stop-work authority where activities present a risk to people, equipment or product quality.
• Promote a proactive safety culture through adherence to Zero Harm principles.

Continuous Improvement

• Participate in TPM, Kaizen and Operational Excellence initiatives.
• Support achievement of productivity, quality, energy efficiency and cost improvement targets.
• Participate in problem-solving initiatives including 5 Why Analysis and Root Cause Analysis.
• Contribute ideas aimed at improving safety, quality, efficiency and equipment reliability.
• Support implementation of Manufacturing Excellence initiatives across the department.

Requirements

Qualifications required:

Minimum academic qualification:

• KCSE Certificate
• Government Grade Test III in General Fitting, Mechanical Engineering Craft Certificate, or equivalent technical qualification.

Added advantage:

• Certificate in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering or related technical discipline.
• knowledge of Batch Annealing Furnace Operations.
• Knowledge of Heat Treatment Processes.
• Training in 6S, TPM and Autonomous Maintenance.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 Management Systems

Experience required:

• General work experience (years): Minimum of three (3) years’ relevant work experience in machine operations in a similar manufacturing environment.
• Specific to the position (level/discipline/years):
  Minimum one (1) year of experience in annealing furnace operations or similar heat-treatment/steel processing operations.
• Experience in continuous manufacturing operations will be an added advantage.
• Industry experience: Minimum of three (3) years’ experience within a manufacturing, steel processing or heavy industrial environment.