Insight - Sanera Maharaj
Sanera Maharaj - Industrial Engineer and aspiring Data Scientist; MAHLE Behr South Africa, Science2Go Ambassador #optimisation #worldclassmanufacturing #lean
Her Work: As an industrial engineer at an auto parts company, my focus is on process optimisation and efficiency. We want to make every step from the time an order is made, through the time the product is delivered to a client, as efficient as possible. I work closely with the team that produces the parts and other departments to bring together, or collate, data from various sources and put together a picture of performance issues and areas of improvement. In my previous roles, I’ve worked closely with managing directors to provide data analysis and insights into the products we make and how well they are performing in the market (are they being bought, do clients come back for more, how much profit do we make, how they do compared to similar products from competing companies, etc). This help the management team make decisions about where to grow and what move to make next.
Her Heroes: My heroes are Elon Musk, because he dares to think big and takes innovation to the next level; Marie Curie, a truly revolutionary scientist and; my late sister, she was an anaesthetist and an amazing doctor that touched so many peoples lives. If I can live up to even a small portion of the person she was, it would be a great honour and achievement, she always encouraged me to fearlessly pursue my dreams but at the same time never forget to help and inspire others along the way. I hope to continue her great legacy including leading with compassion.
Her Top Tip: Science is all around us and laws, like gravity, that govern this earth are embedded in science, therefore if you are curious about life and the things around you and want to make the world better for future generations, then a career in STEM is a definite for you. There are a number of growing opportunities out there, stay positive, hardworking and never stop believing in your talent or abilities. Surround yourself with those that encourage and uplift you. "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" ~ Nelson Mandela.
What sparked her interest in science: I always loved maths and science and was particularly good at both subjects throughout my schooling career. It was a natural choice for me. For many years , I wanted to be a veterinarian but I chose engineering because of my love for technology and improving processes, overpowered my love for animals. That being said, I keep on bettering myself because my number one motto in life is never stop learning and growing. I am an aspiring data scientists and am currently studying towards that.
The value of practice: When it comes to science and mathematics, as cliched as is sounds, practice made perfect. It took a lot of practice to wrap my head around some subjects at university, even coming from a strong mathematical foundation from my secondary schooling, tertiary education was on another level and commanded a large amount of my time to grasp the fundamentals. Don't ever underestimate the importance of pure hard work, perseverance and determination.
Ranked order of what she thinks is most important to succeed in science: Hard work, curiosity, communication, creativity
What else do you need? Analytical thinking, focus, and a spirit for innovation.
Her Superpowers:
Data Visualisation - I bring numbers to life by making them speak to others in meaningful ways.
Process analysis - I map out processes, the different steps in making something, and find areas where it can be improved or where unnecessary steps can be removed.
Value stream - I analyse material, product and information flow from the start to the end of a process and find ways to reduce lead times (the time it takes to make a product, process a claim or pay an invoice)
Lean - Doing more with less, maximising the resources you have to get the best output in the most efficient way (no waste)
Poka Yoke - "Error proofing" a Japanese word that means ensuring processes are designed in such a way that is eliminates the chance to make a mistake. A good example is a 3 pin plug, the design avoids you from making a mistake and fitting it in the wrong way. Another example is a petrol or diesel tank on a car, the nozzle on the end of a diesel hose will not fit into a hole in a petrol car.
Her Strengths: My strengths are definitely collaboration and inspiring/leading a team towards a solution. I love working on solving complex problems in simple ways not because the problem is not complex, but because as an Industrial Engineer our training is structured around applying simple methods and approaches. Simple approaches are often underrated. We maximise what we have first. That is the beauty of this particular qualification, it is versatile enough to be applied in any industry and robust enough to take on any process.
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