Project Management Lead Engineer
Resume:
CURRICULUM VITAE
CHRISTIAAN FREDRICK CLAASSEN
Updated 21 August 2024
CONTACT DETAILS
Home & Postal address: 15 Pongola Street, Secunda, 2302 Mobile / WhatsApp: +27-72-537-**** (CellC)
Email: **.********@*****.*** / ****@*********-********.**.** LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-claassen/ Website: https://technical-services.co.za
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Surname: Claassen
Names: Christiaan Fredrick (Chris)
Date of birth: 14 July 1961
Identity number: 610-***-**** 084
Passport: PP ZAF
Sex: Male
Marital status: Married with three children
Driver’s license: Code EB
Nationality: South African
Home language: Afrikaans
Other languages: English (speak, read, write)
Military commitments: None
Health: Excellent
Hobbies: Reading, Web Applications Programming
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS
Registration: Professional Engineering Technician (Mechanical), ERB-PC-10303 Institution: Engineers Registration Board, Botswana - ERB Note: Practicing Certificate not renewed, not currently active in Botswana Registration: Project Management Professional (PMP) Institution: Project Management Institute
Note: Issued: September 09, 2023
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS (High School)
Qualification obtained: Matric with University Exemption School attended: Gerrit Maritz High School, Pretoria (1975-1979) – NQF 4 Subjects passed: Afrikaans HG
English HG
Mathematics HG
Science HG
Motor Mechanics SG
Technical Drawing HG
Prizes and awards: Prizes for Mathematics and Motor Mechanics Leadership roles: School prefect
Extramural activities: Rugby and cricket first team TERTIARY EDUCATION
Qualification Obtained: National Higher Diploma, Mechanical Engineering – NQF 7 Institution: Vaal Triangle University of Technology (1991- 1994)
(Bridging from N6)
Subjects passed: Fluid Mechanics T4
Mechanics of Machines T4
Strengths of Materials T4
Applied Thermodynamics T4
Subjects recognized: Electro technology T2
Machine Design T2
Qualification obtained: National Technical Diploma (Mechanical Engineering N6) – NQF 6 Institution: Technical College Pretoria West (1982-1984) Subjects passed: Machines and Properties of Metals N4 Mechanical Drawing and Design N4* N5 N6*
Mechanotechnics N4 N5* N6
Strengths of Materials & Structures N5 N6
Mathematics N4* N5* N6*
(* Denotes distinctions)
Awards and prizes: Best N6 student from NUCOR
PROJECT AND MANAGEMENT RELATED COURSES
Name: Conduct a continuous risk assessment in a workplace, Dreyer & Dreyer Presenter: N Dreyer
Date Completed: June 2022
Content: Understanding the process of compiling and documenting risk assessments by identifying hazards and risks, determining mechanisms to eliminate risks or mitigate them to prevent harm to workers or damage to property Name: Demonstrate understanding of Occupational Health and Safety legislation in the workplace, Dreyer & Dreyer
Presenter: N Dreyer
Date Completed: June 2022
Content: Understanding of the OHSA in order to be competent to be appointed as legally responsible person
Name: Construction Regulations 2014, Dreyer & Dreyer Presenter: N Dreyer
Date Completed: June 2022
Content: Roles, responsibilities and regulations pertaining to the Construction Regulations of 2014 Name: Lead Engineer, Fluor
Presenter: Sifiso Pitso, Gert van der Walt
Date Completed: June 2019
Content: Roles, responsibilities and work methods for engineers managing design- and construction projects
Name: Construction Project Management
Presenter: Terry Deacon, ProjectPro
Date Completed: February 2017
Content: SACPCMP accredited course covering:
• The Built environment
• Project Management Foundation
• Environmental Management
• Scope Management
• Time Management
• Financial and Cost Management
• Quality Management
• Human Resource Management
• Health and Safety Management
• Communication Management
• Risk Management
• Procurement Management
• Claims Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Integration Management
Name: Legal Liability
Presenter: G Augustyn, Advantage A.C.T
Date Completed: August 2014
Content: Mine Health and Safety Act and Construction Regulations awareness. Name: Influencing and negotiating skills
Presenter: Sep Serfontein
Date: September 1993
Content: The use of various techniques to influence opponents and outcomes in a negotiating process.
Name: Presentations That Work
Presenter: P-E Corporate Services
Date: March 1991
Content: The preparation and delivery of presentations using presentation aids. Name: Executive Problem Solving
Presenter: Dr Francois Maritz, Productivity Development Date: November 1990
Content: A management development programmed with the main focus on problem solving, planning, decision making and problem analysis. Certification is only obtained once the theoretical knowledge has been applied to solve a specific work-related problem. Name: Systematic Studies
Presenter: Sastech Engineering Services
Date: October 1988
Content: Hazard identification and risk management in chemical plants. Name: Quality Education System
Presenter: Sasol Fertilizers
Date: June 1987
Content: A quality training program based on the Phillip Crosby concept. Name: Workplace Relations
Presenter: Sasol Fertilizers
Date: June 1987
Content: A training program dealing with the cultural differences and racial diversity. TECHNICAL COURSES
Name: ARMAC Programming
Presenter: Alex Burrows, SKOK Systems
Date: August 1985
Content: Programming of solutions in the CAD environment using the ARMAC pre- and post- processing language as an add-on to the ARPLAN drafting software. Name: Solid Design
Presenter: Chris Turner, Cad/Cam Systems
Date: July 1992
Content: Solid modelling, the creation and manipulation of solid geometry. Name: SDDP (Structural Steel)
Presenter: Mike Foord, Cad/Cam Systems
Date: July 1993
Content: Modelling and detailing of steel structures using the CADDS 5 software together with the
"Dieter Hahn" steel design and detailing software. Name: CVPVS (Plant Visualization System)
Presenter: Mike Foord, Cad/Cam Systems
Date: March 1993
Content: Conducting "walk-through’s" of models using the ComputerVision Plant Visualization System software.
Name: Basic UNIX
Presenter: Cyril Blom, Cad/Cam Systems
Date: March 1994
Content: Basic commands of the SunOS and Solaris UNIX operating systems Name: UNIX System Administrator
Presenter: Christa Geyer, Cad/Cam Systems
Date: April 1994
Content: Advanced system administration of SunOS and Solaris UNIX operating systems Name: Parametric Modelling
Presenter: Gert Bekker, Ensoft
Date: October 1996
Content: The use of the Unigraphics software to create parametric solid models. Name: MSC/PATRAN Computer Based Modelling for Design and Analysis Presenter: Gareth Drust, MSC Africa
Date: November 1996
Content: The use of the PATRAN software package to model and mesh mechanical strength problems, apply boundary conditions, and view results of solves. Name: MSC/NASTRAN Linear Static and Normal Modes Analysis Presenter: Gareth Drust, MSC Africa
Date: November 1996
Content: The use of the NASTRAN software package to solve mechanical strength problems using the Finite Element Method.
Name: Plantspace P&lD
Presenter: Seth Armstrong, Bentech
Date: June 1998
Content: The use and administration of the Plantspace P&lD software package as an add-on of the Bentley Microstation software used for the drafting of intelligent process flow diagrams. OTHER COURSES
Name: First Aid Level 1
Presenter: Emcare Emergency Specialists
Date: March 2013
Content: Medical First Aid
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Name of firm: Ram Piping Systems
Address: Alrode, Alberton
Type of firm: Engineering, project management and construction Position: General Manager (July 2024 to November 2024) Job function: General Management for the Secunda area and surrounding areas of an HDPE fabricator and installer. Appointed as OHS 16.2, managing operations for the branch including personnel, equipment, vehicles. Also responsible for planning and successful execution of works on the general maintenance contract for the Sasol Secunda Operations (pertrochemical plant) as well as the Sasol Mining Operations projects and maintenance work which comprises of 5 mines in the area. Working closely with the company head office to ensure the area operation is profitable and effective. Planning, Quality Control, Safety and office administration all report to me. I also have the portfolio of engaging with existing clients on a regular bases and sourcing new clients where opportunities present themselves. Commercial and Contractual engagement is handled at head headoffice, but for matters in the local area I also take on this role. Name of firm: Wood South Africa
Address: Waterfall Corporate Campus Building 6
74 Waterfall Drive
Waterfall City
Johannesburg
Type of firm: Engineering, project management and construction Position: Construction Manager (July 2022 to April 2024) Job function: Construction Management of a piping upgrade project based in Sasol, Secunda. Oversee construction and commissioning of concrete structures, structural steel, piping systems and electrical and instrumentation components as principal contractor. This includes managing of contractors during the shutdown phase working to a tight schedule, interaction with the client on formal feedback forums and managing procurement as well as manufacturing and installation activities ensuring overall adherence to schedule and budget. Arranging logistics for lifting operations, coordinating operations to interface with other contractors and client operations to ensure minimum impact on others. Legally appointed as CR 8.1 responsible person on the OHSA, responsible for the safe execution of all activities on the project site. Name of firm: Tradeworx
Address: 17 Saturn Road
Naledi
Sasolburg
Type of firm: Engineering, project management and construction Position: Construction Manager (March 2022 to June 2022) Job function: Construction Management of a civil construction project on the Natref LP Sour Gas Project in Sasolburg. This includes contract management, procurement planning, workforce management and construction planning using MS Project scheduling software and cashflow management. Legally appointed as CR 8.1 responsible person on the OHSA, responsible for the entire project site. Assistance with payment certificate measures also overseeing Quality Control and Project Safety on site.
Name of firm: Plant Design and Project Services (PDPS) Address: Farm Vlakspruit, Portion 10
Secunda
Type of firm: Engineering design, consulting, project management and construction Position: Construction Project Manager (March 2021 to September 2021) Job function: Conducting site inspections and meetings with potential clients to determine the exact scope of work of new projects, compiling of quotations in industry sectors not serviced by PDPS at the time with the objective of creating a wider customer base, creating resource loaded MS Project schedules and using it as basis for quotations including cashflow forecasts, detailed durations and manpower requirements, collaborating with commercial and legal departments to prepare quotations submission packages. On the technical side I was also tasked to investigate all aspects of HDPE piping construction- and manufacturing methods and machines and compile project specifications and method statements to enable PDPS to offer this as in-house capability. Name of firm: DORON Construction
Address: Plot 836, Vyfhoek
Potchefstroom
Type of firm: Civil Engineering and Construction,
Position: Construction Manager - Piping (October 2020 November 2020) Job function: Construction Management of two separate projects at the Anglo Platinum Mogalakwena works. The first project was done as greenfields EPCM to construct a full Hydrogen Fuel Cell plant from the ground up. The second a brownfields EPC modification to one of the existing plants on the works. Contract management, overseeing schedule and budget, processing claims, and managing the workforce were the main responsibilities at time of appointment. It turned out to be a project in deep trouble and most of the time was spent to compile and execute catch-up plans. Despite the effort from all the new appointments, it was too little too late, and the company was placed on business rescue, thus the short duration.
Name of firm: Fluor SA
Address: Woodmead North Office Park
54 Maxwell Drive
Woodmead
Type of firm: Engineering and Construction Services Position: Senior Design Engineer - Piping (October 2018 to January 2020) Job function: General supervision, perform and check calculations and design. Provide guidance and mentorship to less experienced engineers. Organize jobs, write & review specifications, maintain schedules, develop & monitor estimates, and manpower forecasts, assign work, oversee material procurement, permit. Prepare and perform schedules, estimates, progress reports, material forecasts, meetings, procurement activities, etc. Assist in audits. Assist in the development of department standards and procedures. Utilize vendor data and work with personnel from other disciplines as required for the optimizing designs. Perform squad checks of vendor data and drawings from other disciplines. Actively participate in external technical seminars. Develop client relations. Performance development input and counselling of team. Provide closer interface with, and promote understanding of, other discipline functions. Name of firm: S.M.E.I. Projects
Address: 143 Lily van Niekerk Road
Boksburg East
Type of firm: Construction Company
Position: Construction Project Manager (November 2017 to May 2018) Job function: On site project management of a construction site on a diamond mine located in the Botswana Central region as expatriate. The original mine and subsequent expansion phases were constructed by S.M.E.I. and present work is conducted as an extension of the original FIDIC contract. One of the primary functions was to close out the project and manage final handover documentation. Also managed the additional work the client requested to supplement the original design. The ramp down on-site crew was relatively small and therefore multitasking was required. My role included preparing quotations, placing orders, arranging cross-border transport, managing the workforce, managing site safety, taking part in studies with the design consultants to optimize plant performance, rigging studies for single- and tandem lifts, shutdown planning and management, planning mobile plant use, planning task execution, payment certificate preparation in conjunction with QS, preparing reports, preparing of QC documentation and data books, sourcing and appointing both local and South African subcontractors when needed and liaising with mine management. We covered all construction disciplines. The management also tasked me with further development of professional relationships in Botswana. Name of firm: Maseko Engineering Projects
Address: 15 Doornlaagte
Lephalale
Type of firm: Construction Company
Position: Site Manager (February 2017 to May 2017) Job function: Managing a construction site as a 2.6.1 Legal Appointee. Responsible for construction work including earthworks, trenching, piping installations, fencing and small civil works. Also responsible for the safety on site, quality control of the work as well as cost and schedule control. Liaising with client representatives, suppliers, manufacturers and delivery companies was an integral part of the work. The main purpose of the short contract I worked on was to prepare areas for the principal contractor’s use and relocate existing services to clear areas where new structures will be erected. This also required close coordination with the client’s Environmental department to ensure that work is performed according to the tree removal permits obtained by the client. Close and constant interaction with the design consultants was required to find solutions for piping challenges. Several of my recommendations were implemented. Management of claims and delays on the NEC3 contract.
Name of firm: Exxaro
Address: Roger Dyson Street
Pretoria West
0183
Type of firm: Mining Company
Position: Piping Superintendent (March 2014 to April 2016) Job function: Overseeing piping construction of the new KZN Sands mine located close to Mtunzini. Responsible for quality, safety, meeting the schedule and cost control. Member of the project team providing site supervision and construction management on behalf of the plant owner. Installation of several streams of piping over long distances, both above- and underground, pipe jacks under railways and national roads, installing pipes on existing railway bridges. Interfacing with other disciplines required problem solving skills and the ability to think on your feet. Assisting piping design consultants to find viable solutions to correct initial design problems. Constant liaising on engineering issues was needed with design consultants and plant engineering Manager. Given the environmental and archaeological impact on the area, valuable experience was gained in especially the legal aspects. Negotiating with local land owners and traditional authorities. Mine health and Safety act appointment for construction in the mine area, Occupational Health and Safety act appointment for offsite construction
Awards: Fairbreeze Project Recognition Award (Exxaro & Tronox) Certificate of Achievement (Exxaro)
Position: Construction Manager (March 2013 to March 2014) Job function: Overseeing piping construction of the Grootegeluk Medupi Expansion Project (GMEP), responsible for quality, safety, meeting the schedule and cost control. This included HDPE welded and flanged piping ranging from 63 mm diameter to 710 mm, steel pipes from small bore services to 24” process systems. Interfacing challenges with other disciplines required good problem solving and negotiating skills, liaising with design consultants and client representatives on a regular basis, management of construction contractors to complete work as planned. This was a fast-track projects which meant several design issues on piping systems had to be rectified on site. Mine health and Safety act appointment. Also faced a fairly serious industrial action incident lasting weeks.
Name of firm: MegChem
Address: 1 Louwrens Muller Street
Secunda
2302
Type of firm: Mechanical-, Chemical- and Project Engineers Last Position: Systems Analyst (Aug 2009 to Oct 2012) Job function: Management and further development of the EDS system, expanding it to phase in additional functionality as per management requirements, focusing on project management functionality. This includes the determination of requirements and translating it into working solutions with the assistance of programmers, to best address these needs. Position: Enterprise Software Developer (Dec 2006 to Aug 2009) Job function: Dedicated development of an ERP type system for MegChem including hardware specification and upkeep, establishing and administering a company wide web-based system to facilitate business processes. I named the software EDS (Enterprise Data System) and it included a substantial amount of controls and measurements for project work, individual and group action lists, time and cost management, schedule management and meeting minutes management, etc. Position: Information Systems Operations Manager (Jan 2006 to Nov 2006) Management of the Information Systems Department. IT support to users for both software and hardware. Building up of new workstations using the following Microsoft operating systems: NT4 Server, Terminal Server, Windows 2000 Professional, NT4 Workstation, Windows 98 & 95. Troubleshooting on PC hardware, 10BASE2 and 100/10 UTP networks, network installation, user account maintenance on RedHat LINUX POP3 mail server, installation and operation of Microsoft SMS 2.0, Veritas Backup Exec 7. Limited use of SQL 7. Management of PC CAD systems
(Microstation SE and AutoCAD 14), assessing both software and hardware needs for CAD applications, software development, customization and maintenance, training of draughtsman to use CAD software, general IT function.
Position: Principal Designer (Oct 1995 - Dec 2005) Job function: Solving of mechanical and structural strength problems in the Finite Element Analysis group using Unigraphics™, MSC/PATRAN™ & MSC/NASTRAN™ software. Writing of reports and making recommendations to clients. Design of plant equipment and modifications to it, machine parts, solid modelling on AutoCAD™, Microstation™. Designs included: HVAC system for the Blue Train refurbishment, 20-ton hydraulic bearing press, housing mould design for injection moulding, design of load cell structure, management of the manufacturing vendors and assembly teams, optimization of historical designs using FEA, strain gauge application and stress measurements, FFT analyser vibration diagnoses.
Name of firm: Sastech (Sasol Technology)
Address: Private Bag X 1034
Secunda
2302
Type of firm: Engineering and technology division of Sasol petrochemical plant Last Position: Assistant Engineer - Experimental Analysis (Jan 95 - Oct 95) Job function: Application of strain gauges, calibrating measuring equipment, development of custom software using the LabView™ programming tool, measured data processing and interpretation, measuring and locating vibrations with a FFT analyser, modelling and stress analysis using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) methods.
Termination: Department in Sastech was closed down. Position: Section Leader - CAD Development (Jan 93 - Dec 95) Job function: Development of the CAD systems to suit Sastech's specific needs. This included updating of pipeline specifications and nodal figures associated with the Plant Design software, managing and controlling the creation and archiving of design files, laying down rules to apply different CAD software packages uniformly, identifying and prioritizing areas for development, writing of CVMAC programs to increase productivity. Design lead for both mechanical and piping. Position: Section Leader - Mechanical/Piping Drawing Office (Jul 88 - Dec 92) Job function: Supervising five to ten draughtsman, design lead for both piping and mechanical, ensure that relevant specifications and standards are adhered to, compiling and working to cost and schedule estimates on projects, liaison with clients, checking and reviewing of designs and drawings done in the group. Responsible for design integrity and drawing quality and correctness of designs and material take-offs. Provided on-site assistance during construction of designs originating from my group.
Position: Senior Draughtsman (Jul 87 - Jun 88)
Job function: Paying site visits to determine solutions for problems, taking site measurements, detailing of mechanical spare parts, heat exchangers, pressure vessels and general modifications as requested by the clients, checking of drawings
Name of firm: Sasol Fertilizers
Address: PO Box 1567
Secunda
2302
Type of firm: Fertilizer Factory
Position: Senior Draughtsman (Dec 86 - Jun 87)
Job function: Detailing of modifications in the fertilizer plant ranging from civil, electrical, mechanical, and piping disciplines. Termination The office was closed due to rationalization program. Name of firm: Atomic Energy Corporation (Pelindaba) – Now NECSA Address: PO Box 582
Pretoria
0001
Type of firm: Nuclear Research Facility
Position: Draughtsman (Learner Technician) (Jan 80 - Dec 86) Job function: Various detailing of mechanical parts and small structures. This period also my initial training as technician. During training as technician, basic knowledge and limited practical experience was gained of milling machines, lathes, shapers, welding processes, etc. I converted to draughtsman during one of the technician courses in the drawing office. SPECIAL EXPERIENCE
I worked with Bentley Europe and Jacobus in 1998 to develop and prepare a demonstration of additional functionality I developed on the Bentley Plantspace™ platform as base. This project comprised the setting up a web server to enable users to view the intelligent 3D model of a plant online. I created the 3D representation graphically and real time queries could be issued directly to the project database to show additional, non-graphical information related to the item in the model. Simultaneous connections from London (UK), Hoofdorp (Netherlands) and Secunda (SA) was tested successfully.
The intended market was plant owners, operators and maintenance personnel, enabling them to do Plant Life Cycle Management, in a central online interface. This was a new and challenging exposure to international methods and technologies, intensive studies and reporting over a period of 18 months. PERSONAL CAREER GOALS
• Focus on developing Project Management skills more
• Get more exposure on the contractual- and commercial aspects of projects, on both NEC and FIDIC contracts.
• Professional registration as Construction Manager with SACPCMP
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