Operator - Roll Grinding Machine

Role Overview

A rolling mill is only as good as the rolls it runs, and this position exists to keep those rolls inside the tight dimensional, profile and surface-finish limits the mill needs to keep shipping saleable product. The operator takes each roll from receipt to release: confirming what work is required, mounting and balancing it safely, choosing the wheel and cutting parameters, then grinding and measuring until the result matches specification. Just as much of the job happens away from the control panel, though — protecting rolls from handling damage, keeping traceability and inspection records clean, flagging machine faults early, and keeping the grinding bay safe and orderly.

Key Responsibilities

• Read the work instruction and confirm each roll's identity, measured condition and grinding requirement before mounting, then plan the sequence of passes needed to reach the specified result.
• Mount, align, balance and position rolls on the grinder using approved lifting and handling equipment, guarding journals, tapers and working surfaces against nicks and impact damage at every stage.
• Select, fit and dress grinding wheels and related tooling to suit the material and finish required, monitoring wheel condition and consumption through the run.
• Set and adjust machine parameters such as wheel and work speed, feed, traverse and depth of cut, reading in-process cues like spark, sound and vibration to hold the required diameter, profile, crown, taper and surface roughness.
• Inspect rolls visually and dimensionally before and after grinding with calibrated instruments, record the results, and keep identification and traceability intact from receipt through to release.
• Identify and correct grinding faults — chatter marks, burn, scratches, taper error, uneven stock removal — and prevent surface or dimensional damage during loading, grinding and unloading.
• Carry out autonomous maintenance on the grinder and its support systems, including cleaning, lubrication and routine checks of hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, coolant and lubrication circuits, reporting abnormal noise, leaks, temperature changes or breakdowns to the responsible supervisor without delay.
• Maintain accurate production, inspection and roll-status records, give a clear handover of outstanding work at shift change, and contribute to 6S, Kaizen, root-cause analysis and corrective-action activity covering safety, quality and equipment reliability.

Requirements & Qualifications

• KCSE certificate or equivalent secondary education.
• Grade Test II, or a Craft Certificate in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• At least one year of hands-on experience running a roll grinding machine, a lathe or comparable precision machining equipment in a manufacturing or engineering workshop setting.
• Practical grasp of machining fundamentals: wheel selection and dressing, feeds and speeds, measurement with calibrated instruments, and interpretation of engineering drawings.
• Sound understanding of safe working practice around rotating machinery and grinding operations, including the correct handling, inspection and storage of grinding wheels.
• Disciplined approach to written SOPs, HSE rules, LOTOTO (lock-out, tag-out, try-out) and Permit-to-Work controls, with the judgement to stop and escalate when conditions are unsafe.

Added advantage

• Formal training in machining, grinding operations or engineering workshop practice.
• Prior experience in a steel manufacturing environment.
• Exposure to 6S and Autonomous Maintenance ways of working.