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ARMANDO LOUW NAKWAFILA

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Home: Welcome

MY DREAM

My DREAM - Empower teams to be highly efficient, AGILE and Lead by example, nurturing a culture of a 100% mindset. Teams that grow the organization in which we operate through implementation of lean methodologies and strategies. Managing resources at the bottom line, guaranteeing top line growth. My legacy, is that of continuous growth, never being satisfied with the results.

Home: About Me

PROCESS OPERATOR

April 2002 - July 2005

Process – Solvent Extraction, electro wining, Hydrochloric Acid production and Demineralised Water Purification (Reverse Osmosis)  

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  • Maintaining health and safety conditions at all times

  • Maintaining KPI’s and improving the process

  • Planning of shut down work and preventative maintenance

  • Coordination and supervising of contract labour and subordinates 

  • Day to day running of chemical process plant

  • Ensuring the availability of reagents and parts

  • Performing cleaning in process (CIP) of reverse  osmosis plant

  • Managing performance and development of subordinates

  • Data logging for efficiency analysis

  • Identifying KPI’s

  • Reporting plant performance to senior manager

  • Identifying possible cost-saving opportunities in the plant

  • Managing plant efficiency and throughput quality

PROCESS IMPROVEMENT ANALYST

July 2005 - May 2007

Business Improvement Analyst - CI (Lean Six Sigma)


  • Drawing up driver trees and decision trees

  • Drafting Capital application 

  • Facilitating root cause analysis and Risk assessments with technical audience

  • Facilitating idea generation sessions and Implementing ideas

  • Coordination and management of projects  

  • Extracting data from the process database and analyzing for cost-saving opportunities  

  • Presenting cost reports to senior management

  • Conducting training for meeting effectiveness, root cause analysis, and risk assessments

  • Daily calculation and updates of cost-saving for publishing sitewide

  • Doing research for different ideas – the whole process from mining through to administration.  

  • Drafting modules, operational procedure, and functional specs  

  • Modifying and updating of process flow diagrams (PFD) and plant identifications (PID)

INSTRUMENTATION MECHANIC TRAINEE

May 2007 - June 2010

Instrumentation – Process, Reverse Osmosis Plant and Laboratory     instruments


  • Adhering to C&I code of conduct at all times

  • Ensuring high availability of plant equipment

  • Calibration and maintaining continuous accuracy of measuring instruments

  • Flowmeters, conductivity, pH meters, turbidity, levels, pressure

  • Installing new instruments

  • Running of a small Ion Exchange plant for laboratory – low conductivity

  • Overhauling instrument and fault finding

  • Assisting technical stuff with problem-solving

PROCESS SUPERVISOR

June 2010 - October 2015

Seawater Desalination – Operations Process Supervisor


  • Set out production targets based on client demands

  • Identify key performance Indicators

  • Maintain productivity and ensure availability

  • Creating a supportive work relationship

  • Providing opportunities for future growth and advancement

  • Evaluating plant performance against set standards

  • Responsible for quality control. Make adjustments as necessary during shift to produce     product within specifications.  

  • Schedule shutdown jobs and reduce breakdowns

  • Train and coach production line employees. 

PROCESS ARTISAN

June 2017 - January 2019

SAB Miller ABInBev – Utility Operator (CO2, NH3 Refrigeration, Boilers,    Water Treatment Plant)

  • Coordinate with utility clients for predicted daily demands

  • Adhere and Identify improvement opportunities for key performance Indicators  

  • Maintain productivity and ensure availability

  • Sensitize fellow employees about Continuous improvement and VPO 

  • Providing advice for professional growth and advancement in the workplace  

  • Evaluating plant performance against set parameters

  • Sampling to ensure Quality remains in spec and make adjustments promptly  

  • Identify preventative and corrective maintenance opportunities 

  • Continuous 5s, Gemba audits to identify GAPs for growth

  • Train and coach production line employees 

ENERGY AND FLUIDS TRAINEE

January 2019 - Present

Energy and fluid's trainees, go through an 18 month intense and comprehensive training program conducted in-house through the ABInbev University, The program is structured in such a way to expose candidates to all aspects of the business. This done to prepare the candidates for appointment into managerial or specialist positions at the end of their training, given they have successfully checked out, Assessment done by all stakeholders in senior and zone level.

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Below are the Modules covered for the 18 months

Engineering Safety

  •  Pressurized Systems & Boilers - Legal Compliance

  • Electrical Safety

  • Dust Plant Safety Management

  • Steam Plant Safety Management

  • Ammonia Plant Safety Management

Brewing Plant & Process Overview

Packaging Process Overview

Management Information Systems

Finance (EBITA, VIC, VILC, FIC and budgeting)

Energy & Fluids (Boilers, Refrigeration, CO2 Recovery, Compressed Air,  Effluent Treatment and Reverse Osmosis)

ZiTEC (New Product development)

Technical Support (Control and Automation)

Auditing (Internal, external and verification)

Production Planning & Logistics (Warehousing, Distribution, Sales and Marketing)

Electrical Reticulation

Self Generation & Cogeneration

Solar Energy

E&F Business Processes (SWEEP & LEVERS), KPI & PI trees 

Co-product & Waste Management

Incident Management

Environmental Legal Compliance & Aspects & Impacts

Management of Change & Contractor Management

Use of Natural Resources Block

Hazardous Chemical Management

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SITE SAFETY COORDINATOR (SECONDMENT)

January 2019 - Present

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  • Site Ammonia Safety Management System Coordinator

  • Site Steam Safety Management System Coordinator

  • Site Permit to Work Training Coordinator

  • Energy and Fluids Quality Coordinator (HACCP, TACCP & VACCP)

SITE MAINTENANCE PLANNER (SECONDMENT)

January 2020 - Present

  • Long, Medium - and short-term Maintenance Planning (COSWIN - CMMS)

  • Maintenance KPI and PI performance Auditing

  • Problem Solving Facilitation through Loss and Waste Analysis

Home: Experience
Keyboard and Mouse

VALUE ADDITION INITIATIVES - BREWERY

1. Thermal Reduction (MJ/HL) of Beer Produced
2. Wort Cooling Ratio Reduction (HL/HL) of Beer Cooled
3. RO Reject Percentage Reduction 18% to 12%

Home: Projects
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REVERSE OSMOSIS PLANT

Reduce Reject Rate of Permeate Production

I was assigned the project for reducing Reverse Osmosis Reject water from 18% to 12% as per the design. My first approach was to look at all the data to ascertain if all the components were as per design. During this quest, I had to look at the integrity of the data that I will be used to make decisions on. I learned through this that the 18% is indeed inaccurate since this is being entered manually by the operators from a calculated flow quantifier. We have a separate flow meter installed and this is quantifying accurately at 12%. I had this discrepancy resolved and my focus was now on optimizing the process efficiency.
The process efficiency I am alluding to is that of the reverse osmosis within the pressure vessels. We need to make it more effective to leverage longer production run-time per CCD to reduce the amounts of flushes per hour, and thus reducing the amount of water going to waste. It is unfortunate that we had to go into lockdown. I am liaising with the supplier to do some experiments to increase productivity

Contact
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WORT COOLER - BEER HEAT EXCHANGE

Wort Cooler (HL/HL) of Beer Cooled

Wort Cooler was one of the VA projects assigned to me for implementation. after 3 weeks of scrutinizing the data started using the PDCA methodology to have a structured way of implementing and tracking progress. I reduce wort cooler water usage per brew cooled from 1.26 hl/hl to 1.04 hl/hl. Intern, I saved the company US$ 13K for the C19
Wort Cooler temperature, that affects the customer's water usage per brew cooled. I had a look at the process as per the VPO strategy, understanding the process through process maps and going back to basics and identifying the standard deviation. The energy and fluids department is responsible for supplying ice water at a certain temperature. The temperatures were at 6dC and can be controlled lower at 3dC, this however will increase the electricity usage in the engine room, so I had to look at a win-win for both sides and simply reduce the flowrate. Wort Cooler Ratio went from 1.25Hl/HL to 1.03Hl/HL

Contact
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FIRE TUBE BOILER

Thermal Reduction (MJ/HL) Beer Produced

I reduced site thermal usage from 75.12MJ/hl on average to 65MJ/hl, saving the company at least US$ 15k for C19. My approach has always been one of going back to basics to understand the scope of design and how that compares to present-day production. I then use the VPO tool to formulate a process map to understand each subprocess, through outlining all the PIMPS and POMS. Only then can one paint a clear picture of the process and isolate the standard deviation. I identified the following deviations

  • The boiler was over-designed for the production capacity 

  • Maintenance on the nozzles was ineffective 

  • Firing rates when not optimized for the firing conditions being a modulating burner

  • KPI's were not understood by the operators

  • No formal training of operators and Maintenence staff

  • Maintenance was performed by an external contractor 

  • Starting and end off production was not synchronized and thus boiler was kept on idle for too long.

I considered all of the above and formulated an action plan and a weekly and monthly tracker.

I referred back to the OEM for maintenance frequencies and aligned accordingly, however with the nozzles i had to reduce the size to ensure we can still accommodate the peak production demands.

I had the service provider come in and recalibrate the PID controller for a smoother change in setpoints.

I had the operators and maintenance staff undergo training for operating and maintaining the boilers.

We revamped ATO on the boiler with a better understanding.

We reevaluated our KPI's and PI's being tracked on the OWS and team room.

Generated QFR's to ensure longer MTBF and shorter MTTR

The other opportunities on the boiler are, one, extra points that need to be added to the PID to run the boiler at different setpoints for different production scenarios, secondly our service provider is unable to get our EGA working, this we use to optimize boiler efficiency managing flue gas temp and oxygen content to minimize waste heat loss to the atmosphere. 

I have made changes to the bottom line to ensure top-line growth

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EDUCATION

My Studies

UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA

Year Completed 2007

Professional Certificate in Operations Improvement (Lean Six Sigma - Greenbelt)

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• Business Improvement Principles • Core Business Improvement Processes • Improvement Ideas Processes • Change and Team Management • Operating and Sustaining Disciplines • High Performance and Continuous Improvement • Communication and Influencing Skills

SIEMENS SOUTH AFRICA

Year Completed 2009

Completed Instrumentation Communications training.

Pro 2 - PLC Programming

Serv 2 - Communication

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TOWER STONE SOUTH  AFRICA

Year Completed 2011

Advance Supervisory development program

  • Enhance team performance and analyze team dynamics

  • Apply management function in an organization

  • Create Job descriptions for the roles of team leaders and operators functions

NATIONAL VOCATIONAL CERTIFICATE

Year Completed 2020

Vocational Certificate in wastewater treatment and reticulation systems

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Water Care programme aims to introduce trainees to developing knowledge and skills focusing on water quality and treatment, the usage of water, water sources, supplies and the environment, waste water and sanitation.

ADVANCE DIPLOMA IN PLANT ENGINEERING

Year Completed 2019

  1. Overview and where the Plant Engineer fits into the 21st-century production sphere

  2. Engineering technologies in detail

  3. Skills for a project, process, environmental and energy management

  4. Maintenance management

  5. Safety management; with corresponding legal knowledge

August 2020 - August 2023

- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the supply chain management environment within an
organisation.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the influence of performance and risk within a
supply chain management environment
- Contribute to the development of a supply chain strategy for an organisation.
- Contribute to operational plans for supply chain management
- Implement elements of a supply chain strategy

September 2020 - April 2022

  • Electrical engineering

  • Instrumentation and Control engineering

  • General Oil and Gas engineering

  • Sub-sea Instrumentation and Control

  • Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Facilities

Home: Education

MY SKILLS

Certificates

1. Boiler Plant Supervision and Management

2. CAT A Ammonia Certificate

3. CAT B Ammonia Certificate (Registration with SAQCC GAS registration Pending)

4. Initiation and Chairing of Disciplinary  Hearing

5. Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt

6. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

7. Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

8. Environmental Management System

9. Safety Management System

10. Quality Management System

11. Maintenance Management System

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LEAN SIX SIGMA

Thermal Energy Savings

I am very versatile in the chemical processing industry. The fact that I have experience and skills that support the process I have to enhance my analytical and technical capabilities to problem solve and find the root cause in a structured and systematic way. I had to use my skill and ability to reduce thermal usage by 20% as a saving for the company. This positioned our company from 7th place to 2nd place in the whole of Africa

LEAN SIX SIGMA

A Valuable Skill - Voyager Plant Optimization

As a new employee that joins the Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry, moving from a mining industry that is somewhat slow in the process. I had to rely on my skills and education acquired I had to adopt quickly to the setting. I headed the transformation in my department in terms of implementing lean manufacturing systems. Our department transitioned swiftly, and now we competing against the best in industry, even though we are the smallest brewery in Africa.

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OPERATIONS IMPROVEMENT CONSULTANCY (PARTNERS IN PERFORMANCE)

I assumed the role of operational Business analyst and Implementation Facilitator representing the clients interest in this case, Skorpion zinc mine (Namibia)

Context / Scope of project  

  • Cost of production significantly higher than design  

  • ‘Production at all costs’ culture  

  • Reactive maintenance  

  • Service functions not performing (supply chain and HR)  

  • Talent and People gaps owing to severe recruiting challenges

Client achieved  

  • US$4m savings delivered

  • US$9.5m in implementation

  • US$3m zinc recovered  

  • 10% increase in plant availability to >98%  

  • 21% reduction in off-catalogue spend  

  • Successful design and implementation of site-wide KPIs, HR & recruitment processes, continuous improvement team, project management office, and community cricket tournament 

What we did 

  •  Value driver trees – where’s the money  

  • Root cause analysis throughout the organization  

  • Changed from breakdown to preventative maintenance regime

  • Negotiated and put in place contracts for large spend items

  • Created recycling and refurbishment program for cathodes  

  • Established site-wide and departmental KPIs and targets

  • Created management accountability through Result-Action-Reviews 

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Home: Skills
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"Do not go where the path may lead. Instead, go where there is no path and leave a trail"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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LET’S CONNECT

882 David Hambuda Ave, Walvis Bay, Namibia

+264 81 4811 283

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+264 81 4811 283

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