Are you an engineering graduate with a passion for manufacturing excellence and continuous improvement? Unilever is offering an exciting Process Engineer Intern opportunity at its Indonsa Factory in Newlands East, Durban. This is your chance to join one of South Africa’s top employers and contribute to building world-class factory operations across the FMCG sector.
About Unilever
Unilever is a global consumer goods giant whose products reach 3.4 billion people across more than 190 countries every single day. In South Africa, Unilever has been recognised as a Top 5 Employer by the Top Employer Institute and ranks as the number one employer of choice for graduates in the manufacturing industry according to SAGEA. The company is driven by a clear purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace — and it achieves this by investing in the right people.
Role Overview
Reporting into the Supply Chain function, the Process Engineer Intern will be embedded on the factory floor at the Indonsa Factory, working directly alongside line crews on a daily basis. The primary objective is to eliminate losses and waste, stabilise production lines, and support the transition of traditional line teams into semi-autonomous, high-performing units. This is a full-time, 100% on-site role based in Newlands East, Durban.
Key Responsibilities
- Apply World Class Manufacturing (WCM) methodologies — including AM, PM, FI, and QC pillar tools — to eliminate waste and reduce losses across production lines.
- Troubleshoot process-related problems and implement practical, data-driven corrective actions.
- Monitor and analyse key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify improvement opportunities.
- Design and simulate processes using Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs).
- Manage end-to-end projects on time and in full (OTIF).
- Develop and document Technical Standards to ensure line stability and sustainability.
- Train and coach line crews on technical standards and the restoration of basic operating conditions.
- Identify and replicate good practices across other production lines.
- Conduct root cause analysis using Six Sigma and DMAIC methodologies.
- Collect and interpret complex manufacturing data using statistical tools including Excel.
Minimum Requirements
- A degree or BTech in Chemical Engineering or Industrial Engineering.
- A solid understanding of continuous processing within an FMCG or manufacturing environment.
- Ability to visualise the ideal production system and articulate correct operating standards clearly.
- Strong analytical capability — comfortable making logical, data-driven decisions.
- Confident presenter, able to communicate findings and recommendations to the broader factory team.
- Working knowledge of statistics and process control tools.
Why Join Unilever?
Unilever offers more than just a job title. As an intern, you will gain hands-on technical experience on a live factory floor, be mentored within a globally recognised WCM framework, and develop the engineering and leadership competencies that define a successful manufacturing career. Unilever is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and Employment Equity in line with South African legislation.
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