Job Description

ROLE PROFILE
Job Title:
Production Foreman - Surface Mount (SMT)
Reports to:
Production Manager
Department:
Electronics Manufacturing/PCBA (SMT)
Location:
ASSA ABLOY - Durban Electronics, Manchester Park, Pinetown
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
Lead and control SMT production over multiple SMT lines. Provide real-time production management, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and overall equipment efficiency targets. Maintain process stability, traceability, and compliance with IPC and ESD/MSD standards. Drive continuous improvement culture and job reviews to improve overall efficiency. Become the internal champion for PanaCIM Gen2 software utilisation as a management tool.
RESPONSIBILITIES / ACCOUNTABILITIES
Key Responsibilities:
1) Safety & Compliance

• Enforce EHS and ESD controls across SMT department (NPM series, printers, reflow ovens).
• Maintain 5S and IPC-A-610 workmanship standards.

2) People Leadership

• Allocate manpower per skill matrix; manage shift coverage and ensure cross training for maximum flexible capacity from SMT Team.
• Train and certify operators on SMT equipment (printer setup, feeder loading, nozzle care, AOI operation, offline setup etc.)
• Manage process efficiency and delegate responsibilities to the SMT Process Technicians to maximise their contribution to quality and productivity.
• Drive team engagement and continuous improvement culture.
• Monitor attendance and time keeping and perform return to work interviews, with repeat offenders.
• Clear shift handovers, concise incident reporting, cross-functional collaboration

3) Production Execution:

• Manage end-to-end SMT flow: printer ? Surface Mount placement ? reflow ? AOI.
• Optimize changeovers using offline feeder setup stations, family setups and SMED principals.
• Analise OEE and cycle time per job; address bottlenecks with data from PanaCIM dashboards and job reviews.
• Escalate any maintenance, technical or other external factor influencing SMT productivity
• Responsible and accountable for all material allocated to your area, and quarterly/annual stock counts.
• Approve first-piece inspection and ensure recipe validation.

4) Quality & Process Control

• Maintain solder paste deposition accuracy, placement precision, and reflow profiles.
• Perform root cause analysis on AOI and down the line test jig failures relating to SMT process and implement corrective actions.
• Drive First Pass Yield improvement and reduce DPMO.

5) Maintenance & Engineering Interface

• Coordinate Preventative Maintenance schedules for all SMT machines, printers, and reflow ovens.
• Control feeder health, nozzle maintenance and overall SMT module performance.
• Escalate breakdowns with detailed logs.

6) Planning & Scheduling

• Convert production plan into line schedules.
• Minimize setup time and WIP aging; sequence builds for efficiency.

7) Data & Reporting

• Ensure full traceability of performance of all Jobs and report on progress vs history and actions taken.
• Report on hours earned vs worked, scrappage/droppage.

8) Continuous Improvement

• Lead Kaizen projects: SMED for Panasonic lines, feeder setup optimization, and OEE improvement.
• Reduce scrap and consumable costs through data-driven actions.
• Show sustained improvement in standard times vs history

KPIs:

• Safety: incident-free shifts.
• Quality: FPY, DPMO, AOI false call rate. Link with Test Jig SMT related failures
• Delivery: OTD, cycle time/standard time adherence.
• Productivity: OEE from PanaCIM, changeover time. Hours earned vs hours worked in SMD department
• Cost: Scrap %, rework hours.
• People: Training matrix coverage.

• *Please note this job description is not exhaustive nor limited to the details contained within*

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS/ EXPERIENCE
Qualifications:

• Technical diploma/degree in Electronics or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 3-7+ years in SMT production with experience in Panasonic CM or NPM lines or equivalent.
• Experience with MyData/Mycronic platforms advantageous
• Proficient/Ability to learn PanaCIM Gen2 modules or equivalent OEM SMT specific MES Software: Production Planning, Material Verification, Traceability, Quality Management.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and fully computer literate
• Knowledge of IPC-A-610, ESD, MSD standards.

KEY COMPETENCIES / PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
Key Competencies:

• Strong leadership and floor presence.
• Analytical mindset with competency to lean and maximise utilisation of PanaCIM data interpretation.
• Continuous improvement orientation.

Personal Attributes:

• Energetic and enthusiastic approach to work.
• Consistent performance, especially under pressure.
• Focused on accuracy in all tasks.
• Takes ownership and is self-motivated to improve performance.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues and departments.
• Maintains high ethical standards and confidentiality.
• Willing to work extended hours and adapt to changing demands.

*EE candidates will be given preference*
We are the ASSA ABLOY Group
Our people have made us the global leader in access solutions. In return, we open doors for them wherever they go. With nearly 63,000 colleagues in more than 70 different countries, we help billions of people experience a more open world. Our innovations make all sorts of spaces - physical and virtual - safer, more secure, and easier to access.
As an employer, we value results - not titles, or backgrounds. We empower our people to build their career around their aspirations and our ambitions - supporting them with regular feedback, training, and development opportunities. Our colleagues think broadly about where they can make the most impact, and we encourage them to grow their role locally, regionally, or even internationally.
As we welcome new people on board, it's important to us to have diverse, inclusive teams, and we value different perspectives and experiences.
Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, ZA, 3630
Production & Skilled Trades
No Travel Required
Mid-senior level
02-Feb-2026

Skills Required