Ruth Maluta
@ruthmaluta
Manufacturing & Operations executive driving turnaround, productivity, and value-stream improvements.
South AfricaWhat I'm looking for
I’m a Manufacturing and Operations Executive with nearly two decades leading large-scale, complex operations across FMCG, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. I specialize in operational turnaround, productivity recovery, cost transformation, and end-to-end value stream leadership—delivering measurable outcomes in highly regulated, high-volume environments.
Most recently, I led multisite manufacturing operations across South Africa and Eswatini, encompassing approximately 1,300 employees. I delivered major improvements across productivity, quality, cost, capacity utilization, and customer fill rates, converting net productivity from a R78 million loss to a R24 million gain, cutting waste by 50%, and raising fill rates from 78% to 92%.
I’m known for translating strategy into execution by building engaged, high-performing teams and strengthening operating discipline through continuous improvement methodologies. I’ve driven operational excellence and change in roles including Manufacturing Director and Operations Director, while leading governance across quality, risk, and SHEQ, and supporting site performance through capital project delivery and structured performance management.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Independent Consultant
Vuuma Consulting and Sedima
Apr 2025 - Present (1 year 2 months)
Advised manufacturing and FMCG leadership on operational turnaround strategies, embedding improvement methodologies to drive measurable productivity and performance outcomes. Supported business partnering, applying Lean/Six Sigma and engaging cross-functional stakeholders to strengthen execution discipline.
Manufacturing Director
Mondelez International
Apr 2024 - Feb 2025 (10 months)
Led multi-site manufacturing operations across South Africa and Eswatini, increasing capacity utilisation from 53% to 74% and improving customer fill rates from 78% to 92%. Drove cost transformation by cutting waste 50% and improving cost conversion to USD827/ton, converting net productivity from a R78m loss to a R24m gain.
Operations Director
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care
Sep 2022 - Mar 2024 (1 year 6 months)
Owned end-to-end site operations in a highly regulated medical devices environment, achieving a 20% reduction in manufacturing cost and reducing quality non-conformance costs from €25m to €5m. Strengthened compliance and execution (passed three critical ISO9000 audits) and improved engagement from 82% to 95%, delivering volumes 10% above budget.
Manufacturing Manager
Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa
Mar 2019 - Mar 2022 (3 years)
Managed end-to-end operations across two high-volume FMCG plants, improving rand per case from R12.35 to R8.17 and lifting factory efficiency from 35% to 51% (machine efficiency 50% to 77%). Delivered capital projects (R40m water, R30m syrup room upgrade, R150m RefPET line) and reduced customer out-of-stocks from 10.59% to 1.5%, generating R1m in labour productivity savings.
Production Unit Manager
Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa
Feb 2016 - Feb 2019 (3 years)
Led production performance, cost control, and quality execution across high-volume beverage lines, achieving rand per case of R2.17 vs R2.35 budget and lifting factory efficiency to 54%/59% (Line 1/2). Reduced customer out-of-stocks from 10.59% to 1.5%, generated R1m labour productivity savings, and increased engagement from 70% to 90% (women in leadership 20% to 44%).
Production Unit Manager
South African Breweries
Jul 2011 - Aug 2014 (3 years 1 month)
Led day-to-day production operations for Line 4, delivering a 20% manufacturing cost reduction and exceeding volume targets by 10%. Reduced non-conformance costs from €25m to €5m and cut customer backorders from €6m to €120k while lifting workforce engagement from 82% to 95%.
Production Unit Manager
Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa
Jul 2007 - Jul 2011 (4 years)
Transformed the worst-performing Polokwane plant into the MD-awarded Most Improved Plant, improving utilisation from 20 to 24 hours and increasing operational capacity by 17%. Improved syrup yield from 90.5% to 99.5%, delivering R6m in value and outperforming case targets (35m vs 32m budgeted).
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Henley Business School
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Business Administration
Master of Business Administration (MBA) completed at Henley Business School and the University of Reading (2020).
Henley Business School
Postgraduate Diploma in Management, Management
Postgraduate diploma (NQF Level 8) in Women in Leadership at Henley Business School (2018).
Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand
Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Project Management, Project Management
Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Project Management at Wits Business School (2017).
University of South Africa (UNISA)
Education recorded in 2008 at the University of South Africa; degree and field details were not specified.
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Bachelor of Technology in Operations Management, Operations Management
Bachelor of Technology in Operations Management completed at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (2002).
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
South AfricaAuthorized to work in
Job categories
Skills
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