Yandisa Gaju

Engineering Technician – Nkunzi Pharmaceuticals

Product lines: Capsules, Tablets & Liquids

May 2022 – Present

• Routine Maintenance and Repairs: Inspected, lubricated, cleaned, and serviced pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging machinery to minimize downtime and extend equipment life.
• Troubleshooting and Diagnostics: Diagnosed mechanical, pneumatic, and basic electrical issues; identified root causes and implemented quick, effective solutions to restore operations.
• Machine Expertise: Installed, maintained, and repaired a wide range of machines including Tablet Presses, Capsule Fillers, Granulators, Liquid Fillers, Sachet Fillers, Blister Packaging Machines, Labeling Machines, Cartoners, and Shrink Wrappers.
• Collaboration for Efficiency: Aligned maintenance activities with production schedules, working closely with operations teams to ensure minimal disruption and maximum throughput.
• Safety and Quality Focus: Adhered to strict safety standards and cGMP compliance; actively participated in site safety initiatives and quality audits.
• Problem-Solving and Adaptability: Applied critical thinking to resolve equipment and process-related challenges while maintaining quality, output, and response expectations.

Maintenance Artisan – Aspen Pharmacare (Sterile Plant)

Product lines: Vials, Ampoules & Eye-drops

Jun 2018 – Apr 2022

• Performed maintenance and repairs on sterile production equipment, including Bottle Unscramblers, Fillers, Cappers, Labellers, Sleeve machines, Cartoners, Overwrappers, Case Packers, Conveyors, Autoclaves, Vessels, Washers, and Printers.
• Executed line builds, machine set-ups, changeovers, and fault diagnosis in sterile cleanroom environments.
• Conducted planned preventative maintenance and inspections per SOPs and GMP protocols.
• Diagnosed breakdowns and applied corrective actions to minimize machine downtime.
• Participated in deviation management, CAPA processes, and quality risk reviews.
• Created and closed work orders, maintained equipment logs, and ensured asset lifecycle tracking.
• Calibrated and validated machines to meet production and compliance standards.

Fitter / Mechanical Assembler – Jendamark Automation

Jul 2017 – May 2018

• Built and assembled industrial automation equipment from detailed schematics.
• Performed precision alignments and ensured component functionality through testing.
• Verified conformance using measurement tools and handled final QA inspections.

Packaging Artisan – Fresenius Kabi

Product lines: Vials & Ampoules

Feb 2017 – Jul 2017

• Set up, operated, and maintained automated packaging machines.
• Performed changeovers and basic maintenance to ensure line efficiency and quality compliance.

Aircraft Mechanic – South African Air Force

Product lines: Hawk Mk120

May 2012 – Jan 2017

• Performed scheduled monthly, primary, minor, and major aircraft servicing and inspections.
• Maintained gas turbine engines and supported airframe servicing procedures.
• Performed ground-runs post-maintenance to verify proper operation of all systems before return to service.
• Removed and installed critical mechanical components including valves, filters, pumps, gearboxes, hydraulic and pneumatic parts.
• Executed fluid replenishments: fuel, hydraulic fluid, engine oil, nitrogen, and oxygen systems.
• Inspected for cracks, leaks, corrosion, chafing, and structural wear on aircraft systems.
• Diagnosed faults and conducted system tests for fuel, hydraulic, pneumatic, oil, undercarriage, flight control, turbine engine, and environmental systems.
• Managed aircraft launch and recovery operations on the flight line.

Aircraft Mechanic Apprentice – South African Air Force

Apr 2009 – May 2012

• Trained in SAAF-compliant maintenance procedures and technical schematics.
• Developed core mechanical skills in hydraulic, pneumatic, and structural aircraft systems.