Reliability Engineer, Instrumentation

Job description

At First Quantum, we free the talent of our people by taking a very different approach which is underpinned by a very different, very definite culture – the “First Quantum Way”.

Working with us is not like working anywhere else, which is why we recruit people who will take a bolder, smarter approach to spot opportunities, solve problems and deliver results.

Our culture is all about encouraging you to think independently and to challenge convention to deliver the best result. That’s how we continue to achieve extraordinary things in extraordinary locations.

Job description:

Overall Job Purpose

Efficiently and effectively delivering complete and appropriate strategic inputs which include Planned Preventative Maintenance, Continuous Improvement, Failure and Fault Analysis on the entire Plant for Control & Instrumentation Systems.

Specific Job Responsibility

The specific tasks to be performed by the position holder will include;

• Ensuring that both Company and Vendor Safety and Quality standards are adhered to during Installation / Maintenance, Configuring of Field Bus Systems (Profibus / Ethernet) / Fiber Optical Systems, whilst ensuring minimum disruption to the Process Plant Operation or Production
• Performing Fault Analysis/Fault Finding on Field Bus Systems (Profibus/Ethernet) / Fibre Optical Systems in order to eliminate re-occurrences of repetitive faults and improve Process Control Systems reliability and efficiency
• An understanding of the Network Drawings of the Processing Plant in relation to the Control & Instrumentation Systems and Equipment installed
• Keeping record of all changes and red-line required Systems / Network Drawings for Instrumentation

Actively participate in Reliability improvement programs and root cause failure analysis process of process plant equipment as per requirements

• Develops analysis methods to determine maintenance demands and reliability of components, equipment and processes
• Conducts an analysis from a reliability approach of resources required for a particular situation on a case-by-case basis with consideration given to cost limitations

Review and improve PM’s

• Develop and execute PMO Project “Preventive Maintenance Optimization” to keep the execution Preventive Maintenance program up to date.
• Work closely with planners and work execution teams to understand and improve issues related to work instructions.
• Analyze the performance of the PM’s and their relevance with regards to preventing failure as per conclusions of root cause analysis.
• Coach and support the execution team in the development of comprehensive standard jobs.

Equipment Strategies

• Develop and maintain the equipment strategies workflow process.
• Identify the most suitable approach to identify equipment strategies.
• Ensure equipment strategies are updated based on outcomes of failure investigations where appropriate.
• Monitor equipment performance on asset health system and take proactive measures to address symptoms of potential failure.
• Develop and maintain criticality assessment for the process plant.

Defect Elimination and Bad Actor Management

• Develop and maintain a strategic plan for defect elimination and managing bad actors.
• Develop and support personnel in usage of Reliability based methodology, bad actor identification and maintenance KPI’s monitoring.

Contribute to the management of Health and Safety by;

• Understands and communicates the company’s EH&S vision, policies and standards to team.
• Identifies EH&S risks and exposures in the analysis and recommendation for change.
• Lead the team to take every opportunity to minimise environmental impacts and to use resources as efficiently as possible to promote sustainable development.
• Contributing to the identification of the significant Health and safety risks of the equipment.
• Ensuring that health and safety training is completed as required.
• Ensuring that incidents related to health, safety or the environment are reported and assist in investigations to identify any additional controls required.
• Attend regular safety meetings
• Actively promote continuous improvement in safety performance throughout the workforce.

Job Specific Competencies

• Field Bus systems, specifically Profibus (DP & PA) and Modbus
• Siemens S7-range of PLC hardware installation and troubleshooting
• Exceptional skills in Field Instrumentation, installation, maintenance and troubleshooting
• Deep understanding of reliability engineering methodologies, including Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM).
• Must be computer literate i.e., MS Word, Excel, Outlook, MS Project.

Key Job Attributes

• Have good communication skills in the English language with an emphasis on writing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work unsupervised and achieve required operational outputs. Must be self-driven.
• Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to interact with people at all levels and across a variety of cultures, both internally and externally, with positive effect.
• Good organiser and efficient resource allocator, skilfully handles formal procedures and informal processes with a high level of attention to detail.

Experience required to perform in this job

• At least 6 years instrumentation experience in the mining/mineral processing industry.
• 2-years post qualifying experience in Automated Industrial Processing Plants.
• Ability to read Instrumentation Drawings
• Ability in understanding Profibus Networking / Fiber Optical Networking – integrating with Siemens Control Systems
• Experience in Profibus DP, PA and Ethernet Networks
• Previous experience in variable speed drives will be an advantage
• Must have Technical ability
• Mining environment experience, added advantage
• Working experience on Crushers, Conveyors, Milling, Floatation Circuits, Reagent and Concentrate areas, Thickeners as well as Water and Air Services will be an added advantage
• Proficiency with maintenance and reliability systems (ERP or CMMS, monitoring systems; SCADA, OsiSoft PI and/or databases in general).

Qualifications

• Minimum Grade 12 / equivalent
• Minimum of a Degree or Diploma in Electrical / Instrumentation / Electronics, or equivalent appropriate experience
• Qualification in the Electrical / Instrumentation
• Member of the Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ)
• All Academic qualifications must be validated by Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA)