1. Juan van der Westhuizen I Mobile: + (27) 828 706 140 (SA) or 028 401 9085 (NZ) I Email: jrvanderwesthuizen@gmail.com
JUAN VAN DER WESTHUIZEN
Mobile: + (27) 828 706 140 (SA) / 028 401 9085 (NZ)
Email: jrvanderwesthuizen@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://za.linkedin.com/in/juanvdwesthuizen
CORE COMPETENCIES
▪ Qualified Tool,Die and Jig Maker ▪ Knowledge of Basic Boiler MakingSkills ▪ Extensive knowledge of the Motor Industry ▪
People Management and Production Workshop Culture Development ▪ Operations ▪ Continuous Process Improvement and
Performance Enhancement ▪ Project Execution ▪ New Business Generation ▪ Prioritisation of Organisational Goals and
Activities ▪ Quality Assurance ▪ Customer Service/Satisfaction
KEY SKILLS
 Leadership and Strategic Approach in Driving Operational Efficiency – Expert level in problem-solving and decision-
making skills. Basic knowledge of economic value analysis and product costing in the production environment.
Successful initiator of strategic measures and improvements for enhancing operational efficiency.
 Business Performance Optimisation – Strong operating discipline and ability to lead teams to focus on doing the basics
well, as well demonstrating unique business improvement skills and actively encouraging growth and profitability.
 Business Development and Commercial Success – Broad competence and sound experience in all areas of product
manufacturingand customer lifecycle(pre sales,sales and after sales) management. Achievingsubstantial commercial
success in executing new turnover whilegenerating new business and high customer acquisition/satisfaction/personal
relationship.
 Interpersonal and Communication Skills – Excellent communicator, fluent in English and Afrikaans. Proven ability to
interacteffectively with people of diverse nationalitiesand comfortableworkingin a multicultural environment.
CAREER HISTORY
Position Organisation Duration
Product Development Manager Trimotive (Pty) Ltd (Part of the Trimas
group)
1 November 2013 - Present
Technical Manager Giflo Engineering 1 February 2010 - 31 October 2013
Operations Manager BTM 1 November 2008 - 31 January 2010
Manufacturing Manager Laser Cut Various 1 February 2008 - 31 October 2008
Technical Manager Giflo Engineering (Pty) Ltd 1 August 2004 - 31 January 2008
Development Engineer Giflo Engineering (Pty) Ltd 1 August 2003 - 31 July 2004
Jig maker Giflo Engineering (Pty) Ltd 1 May 2003 - 31 July 2003
Team Leader, Tool, Die and Jig
Maker
Bell Equipment (Pty) Ltd 3 November 1999 - 30 April 2003
Apprentice Toolmaker Bell Equipment (Pty) Ltd 16 July 1996 - 3 November 1999
CNC Setter(Grade AA) Bell Equipment (Pty) Ltd 29 January 1996 - 15 July 1996
Trainee CNC Setter(Grade AA) Bell Equipment (Pty) Ltd 2 December 1994 - 28 January 1996
TRIMOTIVE (PTY) LTD (Part of the Trimas Group)
Product Development Manager: 1 November 2013 - Present
 To develop new vehicle parts at a competitive price and launch them successfully into production as and when new
vehicles are launched in the market. To use our UK factory designs to speed up the launch of product ranges not
currently available.
Key performance areas:
 Product Development Management System: Compliance to SABS testing and Adherence to system audits.
 Product Development Performance Analysis and Reporting: Progress reporting. Jig maintenance to schedule.
 Planning and Ensuring Product Development: Product development according to Sales Requirements. Monthly
products developed and successfully launched. To ensure the business has the product line to fulfil its sales
expectations. Product development according to the latest acceptable engineering principles. Cost of development.
Fitting instructions.
 Continual Improvement: Assist with staff queries and staff leave applications/sick certificates. Defining and initiating
improvement opportunities. Influencing best practice and standardisation across company processes and projects.
Initiating customer satisfaction surveys. Monitoring implementation and effectiveness of Corrective and Preventive
Actions, where necessary. Conducting research on industry trends relating to quality improvements, new technologies,
measurement equipment, etc. Conducting root causeanalysisand problemsolvingusingappropriateanalysis tools and
methodologies.
 Resource Management: Assisting in the provision of a safe working environment for all employees in accordance with
the regulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Key customer/s:

2. Juan van der Westhuizen I Mobile: + (27) 828 706 140 (SA) or 028 401 9085 (NZ) I Email: jrvanderwesthuizen@gmail.com
Sales Department ǀ Production Department ǀ Quality Department ǀ OEM Customer and After Market Customers
Highlights:
 Brought in two customers that have been on the top 10 turnover.
 Developed universal components to fit multiple vehicles, which have resulted in top sellers.
 Developed an efficient Development- and Jig Department from scratch.
GIFLO ENGINEERING
Technical Manager: 1 February 2010 – 31 October 2013
 In Development: Development of aftermarket styling items for commercial as well as passenger vehicles. Tow bars,
Roll bars, Side steps, Nudge bars, Wrap around Bull bars, etc. Develop Bull bars for the trucking market. Develop
customer specific components, Cargo Canopy’s with Canvas, Roll bars with Mesh Gard and bar light brackets, tow bar
with winch capabilities, etc. Develop master samples from customer drawings for approval process and sign off.
 In Jig room: Assistin design of new jigs. Managingjigroom, Forman and team. Responsible for outsourcing of jigs and
fixtures to various tool rooms and engineering facilities. Responsible for jig sign off from process, production and
customer. Assist in development and improvements dedicated production lines. Responsible for purchasing off raw
material and tooling from jig room.
 In Tool room: Responsible for tool break downs. Outsourcing of new tooling plus tool repairs. Responsible for
outsource of pipe bending tooling.
 In General: Responsiblefor customer relations,hand-in-hand with marketingteam. Marketing responsibilities, such as
frequent visits to various clients for technical assistance and advice on new products.
Highlights:
 Launched T6 Product successfully.
 Developed multiple top-sellers.
 Developed universal brackets for aluminiumsiderunners to fitvarious vehicles and increasing turnover on the product.
BTM
Operations Manager: 1 November 2008 – 31 January 2010
 Marketing and development. Production. Outsourcing & purchasing. Customer relations. Responsible for signoff and
purchasing of raw materials.
Highlights:
 Reduced back order list from $154,000nzd to $200,000nzd
 Signed off nine products on R3 system at Toyota PNA.
LASER CUT VARIOS
Manufacturing Manager: 1 February 2008 – 31 October 2008
 Planning of production. Executing production plans of 3 departments (Machine Shop, Bending Department and
Welding Department). Customer relations. Quoting. Development
Highlights:
 Obtained a contract from Alstom Power, to manufacture transformer boxes. This resulted in increased turnover. Also
creating work for the Motorman Robot.
 Streamlined manufacturing processes, increasing turn-around time on bending.
GIFLO ENGINEERING (PTY) LTD
Various Positions Held: 1 May 2003 – 31 January 2008
Technical Manager: 1 August 2004 – 31 January 2008
 In charge of the Tool Room, Jig Room and Development. Worked hand in hand with marketing department on new
product development and customer relations. Responsible for all tools, dies, jigs and fixtures for production.
 Marketing responsibilities,such as frequent visits to GM motors, Daimler Chrysler,Ford, Nissan, Nissan Truck Plant and
others. Entertainment of customers, such as hunting trips, rugby days, motor sport racing days, etc.
Development Engineer: 1 August 2003 - 31 July 2004
 New designs. Reverse engineering. Create master samples from drawings. Training apprentices. Responsible for all
company paperwork for new designs. Demo samples for customer and in house products.
Jig maker: 1 May 2003 - 31 July 2003
 Jigging: Designing and manufacturing of jigs from samples or drawings.
Highlights:
 2004 – 2008: Signed off M & U Ford projectwith multiplecomponents & off Nissan Navara components with Nissan SA.
 2003 – 2004: Developed multiple components for both OE and aftermarket successfully, thus increasing turnover &
developed strong technical team.

3. Juan van der Westhuizen I Mobile: + (27) 828 706 140 (SA) or 028 401 9085 (NZ) I Email: jrvanderwesthuizen@gmail.com
 2003: Introduced more efficient ways to manufacture jigs with higher tolerance. Brought down costs of manufacturing
jigs extensively.
BELL EQUIPMENT (PTY) LTD
Various Positions Held: 2 December 1994 – 30 April 2003
Team Leader, Tool, Die and Jig Maker: 3 November 1999 - 30 April 2003
 Jigging: Design of jigs. Jig maintenance. Manufacturing of jigs. Responsible for outsourcing of jig components as well
as other non-jig related components i.e. trolleys, shelving, etc.
 Quality / Productivity: Commissioning of 1st of done on faro-arm (Computerised measuring table) or thoroughly
measured on measuringtable for sampleapproval. Small components measured on 3-D measuring machine and report
supplied to quality controller. Continuously strive to improve productivity, effectiveness and quality of jigs.
 Tooling: Ordering of tools for tool room. Manufacture of specialised tooling for machine shop (CNC’s and MC’s).
Design and manufacture custom tooling.
 Breakdowns: Investigate jig-released products and resolve. Access problems on jigs and take necessary corrective
action. CNC and MC breakdowns (manufacture of broken machine components).
 Trouble shooting: Investigate problems with jigs and correct. Investigate causes of non-conformance and take
corrective action. Investigate to determine whether non-conformance of product is due to human, jigging or material
error. Assist in developing and improving process lines.
 Administrative duties: Approve tool room work requests. Assign work to team members. Supervise team members.
Submit weekly jig status report at DWR meeting. Complete ISR’s and collect necessary stock items.
Apprentice Toolmaker: 16 July 1996 - 3 November 1999
 Completion of modular apprentice training.
CNC Setter (Grade AA): 29 January 1996 - 15 July 1996
 Setup of product on MC. Operate MC’s to standard times. Quality checks according to ISO standards.
Trainee CNC Setter (Grade AA): 2 December 1994 - 28 January 1996
 Training/operating on CNC machines. Setup procedures with jigging. Quality training.
Highlights:
 100% Attendance 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 & 2001
 Completing my N3 – Toolmakers Trade Theory Certificate.
 I had the opportunity attend various courses by the in-house Training Centre
EARLY CAREER (student)
 DRIFTWOOD TAKE AWAY 1988 – 1994: Attended in take-away business
EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
N3 Certificate / Toolmakers Trade Theory Richtech Technical Collage 1997
Overhead Crane Course; Counterbalanced Lift Truck Code 01 & 02;
Basic Finance Concept Course; Health & Safety Training Course Bell Equipment Training Centre 1997
COMPUTER SKILLS
 Basic Computer Skills
References available on request