Grant van Niekerk

Production Management, Factory Management, Print Production, Manufacturing, Senior Estimator, Design, and fabrication of finished goods with various metals, plastics, and other materials. Electronics development / manufacture, software / firmware development. Sales, product development, import /exports of finished goods. Expert level computer user. Various OS, design packages, MS Office and accounting packages etc.

Work Experience
Founder & Technical Consultant
SOLABOX - Milnerton, Western Cape
November 2022 to Present

Online Business Operator
SignStack - Table View, Western Cape
August 2021 to Present
Duties & Responsibilities:• Sourcing, receiving, manufacturing, and fulfillment of various signage orders, countrywide.

General Manager
Signarama CT - Cape Town, Western Cape
August 2020 to October 2021
Duties & Responsibilities:• Oversee all areas of the business with a focus on production and sales in custom manufacturing environment. Sales functions:• Setting of targets and strategy formula on. Measure of progress and intervention. Monitoring of margin and profitability.. Generation of quotations / proposals. Sales and account management. Marketing. Tenders. Formulation of reports. Chair of meetings. Staff management. Production functions:• Full departmental responsibility. Project management. Staff management (designer, applicators, riggers). Co-ordination of resources. Specification of materials and production techniques. Procurement. Cost of sales management.

General Manager
Sc Direct (Pty) Ltd - Bloubergstrand, Western Cape
August 2015 to August 2020
Duties & Responsibilities:
• Electronics Engineering, Reverse Engineering & Software Development. Design and manufacture electronic consumable lock override devices.• Manage all aspects of the business, including reverse engineering, software development, and electronics manufacturing. Trade in USD with clients in the EU and USA, handling imports and exports.

Production Manager / Sales Manager / Account Manager
Signarama | Montague Gardens - Montague Gardens, Western Cape
July 2013 to August 2015
Sales Role:• Successfully set targets and devised effective strategies to drive sales.• Monitored progress and intervened to ensure targets were met. Implemented profitability monitoring to optimize performance.• Generated accurate quotations and proposals. Manage key accounts, building strong relationships.• Marketing initiatives to increase brand visibility• Tenders and formulation of reports.• Chaired meetings to facilitate effective communication.• Strong leadership skills in managing and motivating staff. Production & Operations Role:• Held full departmental responsibility for production operations. Managed multiple projects through effective project management techniques.• Supervised a team of designers, applicators, and riggers, providing guidance and support to achieve high-quality outcomes.• Coordinated resources, including materials and equipment, to optimize production processes.• Specified appropriate materials and production techniques, maintaining strict quality standards.• Oversaw procurement to ensure timely availability of resources. Managed cost of sales to maximize profitability and efficiency.

Senior Estimator
S&G Signs Pty Ltd. - Paarden Eiland, Western Cape
July 2012 to July 2013
Duties & Responsibilities:• Scope of work assessment• Technical consult / liaison to directors.• Monitoring of margin and profitably.• Generation of BOM and definition of production methodology.• Project management.• Pricing structures / setting of margins & cost accounting of works.• Tenders.• Product development, design and manufacture.• Procurement / sourcing.• Post production reporting.
External Evaluator & Production
BTI Branding Solutions - Epping, Western Cape
July 2011 to July 2012

External Evaluator:
• Conducted site inspections and evaluations, providing advice and specifying branding possibilities for various sites.• Developed new products and recommended current products to meet branding requirements.• Supported the Sales team in a technical capacity, assisting with client meetings and assessing their needs.• Managed and inspected national rollouts of branding materials, traveling across Western Cape and South Africa as necessary.• Oversaw installations and conducted post-installation inspections, preparing comprehensive reports.• Conducted feasibility studies, formulated costings, and prepared budgets. Production Coordinator:• Managed job schedules and work instructions for production, ensuring efficient workflow.• Controlled purchasing and supervised bought-in items.• Created bills of materials (BOM) and cost estimates for non-standard items, jobs, and repairs.• Chaired focus and hot spot meetings as required.• Maintained control systems and implemented modifications when necessary.• Sourced materials, obtained material costs, and gathered technical data relevant to the scope of work.• Provided support to the Sales team in a consultative and technical capacity.• Facilitated information flow between Sales and Production departments.• Assisted in analyzing base pricing structures and formalizing / improving production documentation.• Managed all third-party purchases and services utilized by the company.• Defined quality objectives and analyzed processes to ensure adherence to product quality standards.• Coordinated quality assurance and quality control measures to ensure the delivery of high-qualitygoods and services.
Production Scheduling | Co-ordination | Estimation | Council | Factory Manager

Jeffart Signs Pty Ltd. - Soutrivier, Western Cape
January 2009 to March 2011
Production Scheduling:• Generation of job schedules / working instructions for manufacture.• Creation of working drawings for manufacture.• Distribution of instructions to various depts in factory.• Sourcing of required bought in items.• Creation of BOM and other supporting docs.Production Co-ordination:• Chair of meetings (12 departments / 100 factory staff).• Co-ordination of all manufacturing departments within factory.• Creation of work instruction / drawings for outside suppliers.• Maintenance of systems of control and modification thereof where necessary.Estimator:• Sourcing materials / material costs / scope of work.• Interpret from plan: Product design / concept.• Interpret from plan: BOM / labour / other related costs.• Tender application / documentation.Council & SANRAL:• Interpret from plan / photos / sketches / create drawings for council application.• Calculation of fees for submissions.• Creation / submission of applications + supporting documents / drawings.• Site meetings / Liaising with Architects / Site managers / Engineers.
• Creation of drawings technical drawings for approval by engineers.Factory Manager (Trained by retiring Factory Manager):• Management of 100 staff - 12 departments in manufacturing environment.• A 6 month training program whilst successfully performing full role as factory Manger within business.
Production Assistant | Graphic Designer | Production Manager

Signarama | MG - Montague Gardens, Western Cape
January 2003 to January 2008
Production Assistant / Installer:• Fast paced pressurized environment.• Fabrication / Application / installation of various signs.• Production / Administrative tasks.• Liaison between Design / Sales dept.• Travel across Cape Town performing surveys / installations• Assist as required with the management of workshop / office• Control of departmental overheads.• Flexible working hours as required. (overtime)Graphic Designer / Production Coordinator:• Assuming responsibility for all graphic output.• Supervision & co-ordination of in house production teams.• Layouts / proofing / scaling and artwork setups.• Scale and specification n all technical layouts for production.• Dealing directly with clients / adjusting / and finalizing layouts.• Drafting of site plans and work instructions• Archiving / catalogue / backup of all artwork and masters.• Operation of large format digital printers / vinyl cutters, and scanners.Production Manager:• Assuming full departmental responsibility.• Co-ordination of 6 man production team.• Team included: 1 designer / 2 applicators / 1 operators / 1 driver.• Daily / weekly / monthly production planning.• Setting of targets / avoiding shortfalls.• Formalization of production techniques / methods.• Management of cost of sales / margins• Technical sales support.• Store Management.• In house sales and account management.

High School (matric)
Cape Town, Western Cape