Kabelo Thobejane

Background

About Kabelo Thobejane

Spearheaded the technical Unilever WCM and continuous improvement of the Magnum ice cream production line, focusing on excellence in safety, quality, and efficiency through data-driven performance analysis. The first phase of the role involved stabilizing daily operations and establishing robust process controls. As the Daily Operations Leader, I was responsible for conducting rigorous process plant checks, analyzing Material Usage Variance (MUV), and investigating Production Losses and Stock Take discrepancies to identify and eliminate key waste drivers. Played a role in enforced process integrity by authorizing and managing all technical modifications through the Management of Change (MOC) protocol. The second phase focused on performance optimization, innovation, and capability building. I drove line efficiency by meticulously calculating and analyzing Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) to pinpoint losses in availability, performance, and quality. This data-led approach targeted improvement projects that increased OEE by 35%. Paying a role as the key manufacturing lead for R&D, partnering on new product development and leading factory trials for new Magnum variants to ensure successful scale-up from lab to production. To build sustainable plant capability, I developed and delivered training programs on maintenance theory and daily operational routines for Process controllers, upskilling the team to enhance technical problem-solving and reduce downtime. Previous experience as a Laboratory Technician and Research Technician strengthened expertise in sample analysis, quality control, and sustainable solutions, including activated carbon production for wastewater treatment. Currently pursuing an Advanced Diploma in Chemical Engineering at Vaal University of Technology to deepen technical and analytical skills, with a strong motivation to drive operational excellence and innovation.