Ronald Van Der Merwe

Experience

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  Manganese Metal Company (Pty) Ltd

  Sept 2014 - Aug 2015

  Business Development Intern

  I oversaw a number of projects which involved the analyses and optimization of the involved processes using the Six Sigma DMAIC methodology. Within the period I also underwent Six Sigma Green Belt training and gained extensive experience using the statistical analysis software package Minitab.

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  Green Dot Advisors

  Sept 2015 - Apr 2019

  Foundry Manager

  Anode Repair Project:Responsible for the development of a business plan, start-up, implementation, and management of the resultant project. The project involved the repair of anodes used within Manganese Metal Company’s (MMC) cell house, which forms an integral part of the electrolytic manganese metal (ElMn) process. Involved in managing the process production, quality control, HSEQ aspects, supervising a team of 6 employees, liaising with the client and service providers.Cathode Frame Repair Project:Similarly, responsible for the implementation and management of a project to repair cathode frames used within MMC’s cell house.Kingstonvale Dam Bench Clean-up Project:This project involved the cleanup of sediment from the Kingstonvale Waste Facility’s storm water dam. Responsible for the development of the project proposal, hiring and training of temporary workers, acquiring equipment to be used, supervising the project progress, and tracking the project expenditure. Show less

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  Manganese Metal Company (Pty) Ltd

  Apr 2019 - Mar 2022

  Junior Data Engineer

  Led the team (Feb '21 - Oct '21) that was responsible for ensuring data integrity, final round modelling, testing, implementation and hand-over to the MMC Production team of the PRESCRIBE machine learning tool. Modelling was done by Machine Learning specialists Data Prophet (DP); handled communication with the DP team and ensured all goals were met to ensure successful modelling completion.Provided technical support to systems generating production data. Contributed to the improvement of production processes that generate data and managed in-house process-related projects related to data generation.Projects implemented:- Spearheaded the implementation of multiple tools which enabled the company to track its performance to the Machine Learning PRESCRIBE application.- Implemented a tool which allowed the company to track and action analysis deviations.- Implemented a tool which allowed the company to track its compliance to ESKOM Load Curtailment requirements. Show less

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  GREEN DOT ADVISORS

  Mar 2022 - Feb 2023

  Senior Data Engineer

  • Managed a team of 12 graduate engineers, with the purpose of stabilising the MMC production process using short-interval control to achieve the set target production, using the outputs of a Machine Learning initiative recently undertaken by MMC (of which I was also a pivotal part in implementing).• As Project Manager; provided regular feedback on project progress to the Executive Committee and MMC Board. Also handled stakeholder relations; facilitated the organisational transformation initiative to implement the project; managed project planning, budgeting, hiring, etc.• Trained the involved graduates in MMC’s processes, procedures, systems, etc.• Ensured graduates were provided with development opportunities through occupational personality and psychometric testing and feedback (for both professional & personal growth), as well as ECSA registration as candidate engineers. Show less

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  Blue Coral Innovations

  Mar 2023 - May 2024

  Project Manager

  Currently providing Project Management services to BCI, includes development of new Project Definition Documents, Requirements Playback for customers, Effort Estimates for Agile Sprint User Stories, etc.In the process of reviewing BCI’s BA and PM methods/approaches, frameworks, document control, etc. to ensure best practices are applied going forward.In June 2023, I led the client (Sasol's) audit of BCI’s management processes, ensuring strict compliance to ISO 9001 standards from the bottom-up, implementing outstanding processes, procedures, governance, etc.I am involved in several projects.Responsibilities:• Daily tracking of tasks completed and projected time to completion.• Engage with clients for requirements gathering.• Draw up the Project Definition Documents.• Initiate and run requirements gathering sessions, production sprints and final UAT and handover.• Draw up the Requirements Playback presentation for presentation to the client and additional requirements clarification.• Facilitate sessions with the client to update on progress, identify areas for improvement, note and mitigate impediments, etc. Show less

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  Private Sector

  Jun 2024 - now

  Project Manager