Printing Specification Engineer

The Role
The printing specification engineer will work closely with the Technical Team to generate, manage and update specifications for all product items printed at MCC Label Johannesburg. Information is controlled using the Specification Management System (Radius), an integrated part of the material requirement planning (MRP) business system. Additional responsibilities include ordering new tooling items and liaising with the scheduler and Production departments to advise of tooling availability and lead times.
Interface with internal stakeholders in exploring label technologies, clarifying specifications, resolving challenges, and delivering innovative label solutions while ensuring MCC executes specifications profitably.
Key Performance Areas:

Establish layout and tooling requirements on new label profiles.
Liaise with procurement, supply chain and planning on material needs.
Ordering new tooling items and liaising with planning and Production departments to advise on availability and lead times.
Coordinate with external and intercompany tooling suppliers.
Manage internal and external tooling costs and tracking to ensure recovery.
Build product specs on Radius, ensure 100% accuracy and conduct root-cause analysis on specification non-conformances.
Participate in art reviews and meetings to coordinate projects by understanding ink, coating, adhesive and substrate requirements to develop innovative and sustainable label specifications.
Coordinate and control specifications following the technical and plant ISO 9001:2015 processes and procedures.
Communicate, coordinate and collaborate with all affected internal departments (customer service, pre-press, sales and production) as needed in technical issue resolution and best-practice manufacturing methods, including developing and documenting specifications and/or requirements for a given product.
Serve as an internal and external technical resource in troubleshooting specification-related print issues, including ink, adhesive, and substrate materials, manufacturing, and quality processes, as well as determining root causes of observed problems; recommend and implement solutions.
Assist in training new internal personnel with client interface to familiarise them with the product specifications.

Experience/ Skills required

Qualification or Strong background in Packaging/Printing Industry
5 – 8 years’ experience in Labels Printing, Production and Customer Support.
Multiple Printing processes and material/substrate knowledge will be advantageous.
Industry background and strong understanding of inks, adhesives, coatings, lamination, gravure, flexography and other printing methods, curable coatings, converting, die-cutting, film/substrates, labels/packaging and related materials required.
In-depth technical knowledge of machinery and technology in a printing environment.
Poses strong communication skills with industry contacts to serve as a technical advisory resource with a keen sense of follow-up/follow-through.
Ability to lead and coordinate multiple projects across teams, and manage competing priorities.
Minimum 3 years’ experience analysing technical manufacturing issues and implementing solutions.
Strong proficiency with MS Office Suite, including intermediate ability with Excel (pivot tables, macros, formulas)
Self-starter: possess a strong sense of urgency and ability to prioritise and transition to new tasks.
Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to relay technical information to non-technical industry colleagues.