Stephen Lefournour
Hastings,HB
Summary
Accomplished engineering professional with extensive expertise in process improvement, equipment functionality, and reliability optimization. Proven track record in leading cross-functional teams, managing maintenance operations, and enhancing asset performance through advanced problem-solving and technical guidance. Adept at complex technical analysis, innovative design, and precision execution to address intricate engineering challenges. Highly skilled in leveraging research and data-driven insights to deliver impactful results. Seeking to apply these strengths as an Engineering Seamer Specialist to support operational excellence and foster continuous team development.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Engineering Specialist
Kraft Heinz Watties
10.2024 - 03.2025
- Lead and manage process and equipment functionality improvements, focusing on modifications, fault finding, repairs, and maintenance of Can Seamers and Fillers.
- Lead design projects, collaborating with project engineers to integrate new technologies into existing systems.
- Ensure adherence to safety, quality, and regulatory standards, acting as a role model for the team.
- Manage and mentor the team, ensuring proper training, knowledge sharing, and development of maintenance and production staff.
- Own the generation of performance and maintenance reports, utilizing data to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.
- Enhance maintenance plans to accurately reflect real conditions on the production floor.
- Drive cross-functional collaboration, providing technical guidance and support to operations and engineering teams, ensuring high-quality and efficient performance.
- Take ownership of specific asset reliability improvement plans and oversee the reliability of machinery within the area of responsibility.
Maintenance Lead
Kraft Heinz Watties
01.2023 - 09.2024
- Provided leadership and direction in the Seamers and Fillers maintenance department, managing staff and workflows to meet departmental targets, including minimizing downtime and breakdowns.
- Directed the team through root cause analyses and troubleshooting of machinery issues, ensuring the most efficient and effective solutions.
- Managed a mechanical maintenance team, focusing on seaming training, mentoring, and performance management to drive team development and operational success.
- Continuously evaluated and optimized standard maintenance tasks, fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the department.
- Oversaw and ensured compliance with safety standards, policies, and operational procedures, contributing to the overall safety and success of plant operations.
- Managed departmental budget.
Seamer Engineer
Kraft Heinz Watties
03.2020 - 12.2022
- Supported daily and scheduled maintenance of can seamers, fillers, and capper equipment, ensuring minimal downtime and operational efficiency.
- Performed full scheduled seamer overhauls.
- Performed seam adjustments according to spec.
- Provided seaming training to less experienced team members.
- Shared technical knowledge with the team, fostering a collaborative and continuous learning environment.
- Contributed to the implementation of process improvements, suggesting new ideas and solutions to enhance operational performance.
Aircraft Mechanic
Air Seychelles
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Executed troubleshooting and maintenance of large international aircraft – B777, B787, A330, A340, ensuring timely and efficient turnaround times.
- Performed daily checks, inspections, and maintenance on aircraft, adhering to strict safety and operational standards.
Reliability, Spare Parts, and Asset Management Coordinator
Indian Ocean Tuna Limited (IOT)
05.2016 - 12.2018
- Spearheaded preventive maintenance programs for critical assets, ensuring operational reliability and efficiency.
- Led teams in reconditioning, troubleshooting, and performing modifications to machinery, optimizing plant equipment performance.
- Oversaw the development and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Safety SOPs, driving consistency and operational excellence across the team.
- Managed spare parts inventory, reducing stock value significantly by identifying obsolete parts and controlling overstocking, ensuring critical parts availability.
- Led training initiatives, ensuring the team was proficient in SOPs and equipment maintenance procedures.
- Build the reliability department from scratch including enhancing maintenance planning.
Engineering Shift Supervisor
Indian Ocean Tuna Limited (IOT)
01.2013 - 05.2016
- Managed and supervised a team of Seamer engineers, ensuring adherence to production schedules and minimizing downtime.
- Oversaw daily operations, interacting with other departments to ensure seamless workflow and timely delivery of production targets.
- Conducted performance reviews and appraisals, providing feedback and guiding the team to meet departmental goals.
- Drove root cause analysis for seaming defects, continuously improving processes to enhance product quality.
- Performed seaming adjustments where required.
- Performed full scheduled seamer overhaul.
- Trained less experienced staff on seamer principles, adjustments and set-ups.
Mechanical Technician
Indian Ocean Tuna Limited (IOT)
01.2008 - 01.2013
- Perform adjustments and set-ups on all seamers, tuna fillers, vacuum filler machines.
- Perform format change on seamers, fillers and vacuum filler.
- Perform scheduled overhauls on seamers and vacuum fillers.
- Perform general repairs on vacuum pumps, gearboxes and troubleshooting instant problems with the machines in minimum time delay.
- Perform repairs on water & oil pumps, hydraulic equipment, pre-cookers.
Mechanical Tradesman
Public Utilities Corporation (PUC)
01.2004 - 01.2008
Education
Advanced Diploma - Mechanical Engineering Technology
Engineering Institute of Technology
Australia04.2023
IGCSE - MATHS, PHYSICS
Cambrige University
UK12.2017
City & Guilds London Advanced Diploma - Plant Hydraulics and Pneumatics
City & Guilds
UK08.2013
NZQA L4 - Project management
Open Polytechnic
New Zealand11-2025
Skills
- GMP
- Asset Management
- Process Improvement and Efficiency
- MS Outlook
- MS Word
- Power Point
- Excel
- Seamer set-ups
- Kaizen
- Leadership and Team management
- Seamer Overhaul
- Project management
- Troubleshooting
- RCFA Training and development
- Subject matter expertise
- Lean Management
- Advanced problem solving
- Innovative thinking
Websites
Timeline
Engineering Specialist
Kraft Heinz Watties
10.2024 - 03.2025
Maintenance Lead
Kraft Heinz Watties
01.2023 - 09.2024
Seamer Engineer
Kraft Heinz Watties
03.2020 - 12.2022
Aircraft Mechanic
Air Seychelles
01.2019 - 01.2020
Reliability, Spare Parts, and Asset Management Coordinator
Indian Ocean Tuna Limited (IOT)
05.2016 - 12.2018
Engineering Shift Supervisor
Indian Ocean Tuna Limited (IOT)
01.2013 - 05.2016
Mechanical Technician
Indian Ocean Tuna Limited (IOT)
01.2008 - 01.2013
Mechanical Tradesman
Public Utilities Corporation (PUC)
01.2004 - 01.2008
Advanced Diploma - Mechanical Engineering Technology
Engineering Institute of Technology
IGCSE - MATHS, PHYSICS
Cambrige University
City & Guilds London Advanced Diploma - Plant Hydraulics and Pneumatics
City & Guilds
NZQA L4 - Project management
Open Polytechnic
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Experienced on Seamers such as: Fillers: Zacmi
- Angelus: 60l, 40p, 50p, 59p : Hema
- Goetz: 47p,12p : JBT
- JBT: 659,859,ST-105 : Hermasa
- CFT: Sima
- Somme: 1/4 club can
- Zalkin Capper