Control and Automation Technician at The Coca-Cola Company

Job Description    

• Troubleshooting and maintaining PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, VSDs, and instrumentation systems
• Calibration and configuration of field instrumentation and sensors
• Understanding of industrial control protocols (e.g., Profibus, Ethernet/IP, Modbus)
• System backups, documentation, and change control for automation systems
• Support for plant automation upgrades and projects
• Compliance with engineering and SHEQ standards
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams to resolve automation and control issues

Key Duties & Responsibilities    
Automation and Instrumentation Support

• Perform routine maintenance, calibration, and testing of control systems and instruments.
• Ensure optimal operation of sensors, transmitters, analyzers, and control valves.
• Troubleshoot and resolve breakdowns or anomalies in real-time.

PLC, SCADA, and HMI Management

• Support the configuration, troubleshooting, and modification of PLC logic (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, etc.).
• Assist in SCADA (e.g., Wonderware System Platform, Intouch) and HMI maintenance and modifications.
• Maintain program backups and ensure version control of automation software.

Continuous Improvement and Process Optimisation

• Collaborate with Process Engineers and Production to improve process control strategies.
• Contribute to root cause analysis of recurring automation or instrumentation faults.
• Implement changes for energy efficiency, product quality, and operational consistency.

Compliance and Documentation

• Maintain accurate records of calibrations, loop checks, and software changes.
• Adhere to change management procedures and engineering standards.
• Ensure SHEQ and GMP compliance of all C&A work done on plant.

Support for Projects and Commissioning

• Provide technical input during automation-related project installations or plant upgrades.
• Support commissioning, FAT/SAT, and start-up testing of new equipment and software.
• Liaise with OEMs and vendors on technical support when necessary

KBI

• Downtime reduction attributed to automation faults (%)
• Automation-related incident recurrence rate
• Preventative maintenance completion rate for instrumentation and control systems
• Control system availability and reliability (%)
• Number of successful system backups and compliance to version control
• SHEQ compliance and audit findings related to automation

Skills, Experience & Education    

Education

• Minimum: N6 in Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, or Control Systems
• Preferred: National Diploma or BTech in Electrical Engineering (Light Current) or Instrumentation

Experience

• 3–5 years in a Control & Automation Technician or Instrument Technician role in a manufacturing or FMCG environment
• Proven hands-on experience with PLCs (Siemens S7, Allen-Bradley), SCADA systems (Wonderware), and industrial instrumentation
• Experience with process troubleshooting, control loop tuning, and automation diagnostics
• Exposure to production utilities and bottling/packaging environments advantageous

Skills

• PLC programming and diagnostics (Siemens, Allen-Bradley)
• SCADA configuration and fault finding (Wonderware System Platform, Intouch)
• Field instrumentation calibration and maintenance
• Variable Speed Drives (VSD) operation and diagnostics
• Industrial communication protocols (Profibus, Ethernet/IP, AS-i, Modbus)
• Strong understanding of control logic, PID loops, and process control systems
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, electrical drawings, and instrumentation loop diagrams
• SAP PM familiarity for job feedback and maintenance logging
• SHEQ, GMP, and food safety awareness in a regulated manufacturing environment