Automated Jig-Stripping Line

Context

A manual jig-stripping process required a safer and more controlled operating method. The solution involved a purpose-built line with chemical and water tanks, intermediate bulk containers, air-operated pumps, lifting equipment, ultrasonic cleaning and an enclosed washer.

Challenge

The project brought together chemical handling, mechanical equipment, fluid transfer, overseas procurement, contractors and operator safety. Interfaces between those elements mattered as much as the individual components.

My role

I coordinated the project from requirements through procurement, installation and operational handover. This included supplier engagement, contractor coordination, equipment and layout decisions, safety considerations, issue resolution and maintaining delivery momentum.

Governance

I kept scope, timing, responsibilities and open issues visible. When contractor progress drifted, I escalated through the appropriate management authority so that decisions and accountability were clear rather than allowing the schedule problem to remain informal.

Stakeholders

Management, operators, contractors, equipment suppliers and internal technical stakeholders all had different information needs. The project required translating between operational requirements, supplier solutions and management decisions.

Risks

Material risks included chemical exposure, leaks, manual handling, incompatible interfaces, delayed procurement, contractor drift, inadequate operator controls and incomplete handover documentation.

Actions

I coordinated procurement and installation, clarified contractor expectations, supported safer fluid-transfer arrangements, aligned equipment interfaces and ensured operational issues were addressed before the process was treated as complete.

Outcome

The project was completed within its required delivery constraints and created a cleaner, more controlled and safer process than the manual method it replaced.

Lessons

Small industrial projects can contain substantial complexity when chemical, mechanical, supplier, safety and operational systems meet. Control comes from managing those interfaces deliberately.