Thabo Hadebe

Industrial Engineering graduate with practical experience in FMCG and automotive manufacturing, including production line balancing, time and motion studies, workforce planning, root-cause analysis and CAD prototyping. Applied DMAIC and MODAPTS to improve manufacturing methods and labour utilisation. Demonstrated results include a 50% reduction in strut sub-assembly staffing while meeting production demand, a 25% reduction in feeder staffing while maintaining throughput, and a 4% reduction in Lemon Cream waste quantity in an initial before-and-after comparison.

Industrial Engineering Trainee - Bakers Biscuits (AVI / National Brands)

(2026-01)

• Led an IE Manager-approved Lemon Cream line balancing initiative, identifying excessive feeding as a cause of uncapped biscuit waste; coordinated machine-speed adjustments across production stages with Production and Technical teams, achieving a 4% reduction in waste quantity in the initial day-after comparison and monitoring subsequent performance.
• Conducted throughput and work measurement studies for a new feeding machine; optimised workstation layout and operator positioning to reduce staffing from eight to six operators (25%) while maintaining throughput targets.
• Developed Excel-based attendance and workforce planning tools supporting approximately 400 production employees across three rotating shifts; analysed absenteeism, working hours and staffing availability to support labour recovery planning.
• Investigated recurring biscuit capping defects by recording stoppages and waste, inspecting nozzle blockages and discussing potential causes and corrective actions with operators and technical personnel.
• Analysed daily production waste records, prepared visual summaries for management meetings and conducted targeted shop-floor investigations into recurring losses.
• Performed changeover time studies, assessing setup methods, tool utilisation and labour requirements; proposed alternative tools and work methods for potential future implementation.

Industrial Engineering Intern (Work Integrated Learning) - Mothibi Innovation Solutions

(2025-03 - 2025-08)

• Applied DMAIC, MODAPTS, time and motion studies and ergonomic workstation redesign to optimise strut sub-assembly, reducing staffing from two operators to one (50%) while meeting chassis-line demand of 41 jobs/hour.
• Reconfigured component placement, workstation layout and operator movements; achieved a measured cycle time of 1.384 minutes per assembly (approximately 43 units/hour capacity).
• Monitored post-implementation performance over several weeks to assess the sustainability of the improvement.

Voluntary Industrial Engineering Trainee - Ford Motor Company South Africa, Silverton - Silverton

(2022-08 - 2025-12)

• Gained supervised manufacturing engineering exposure through line balancing, MODAPTS, time and motion studies, ergonomics, quality investigations and technical case studies.
• Measured a dashboard installation fixture and independently modelled a protective guide component in SolidWorks; refined three prototype iterations and conducted physical fitment checks until the design achieved the required fit.
• Contributed to a supervised dashboard defect-prevention investigation; the prototype was not deployed, as the engineering team adopted a separate supplier-supported assembly modification.

Bachelor of Engineering Technology (BEngTech) - Industrial Engineering - Tshwane University of Technology (2025)

Higher Certificate - Industrial Engineering - Tshwane University of Technology (2021)

National Certificate N5 - Electrical Engineering - Tshwane South TVET College (2016)