In the traditionally male-dominated world of engineering and manufacturing, Fiona Tsabedze is not just fitting in, she’s standing out.
As a seasoned consultant in World Class Manufacturing (WCM) at Tetra Pak for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, Tsabedze is pushing the boundaries of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). With a focus in continuous improvement, her skills lies primarily in implementing best practices in manufacturing processes, from efficiency to quality and cost reduction.
Her career spans over 15 years, following the completion of her B.Eng.(Hons) in Chemical Engineering at the University of Pretoria, an academic foundation that sparked a lifelong commitment to continuous learning and improvement – a mindset she still brings to her work today as a WCM consultant.
From the university classroom to the production floors she works on, all too often Tsabedze has been one of the only women in the room. But Tsabedze is blazing a trail for female engineers. She hopes to show young girls considering futures in science and technology that a career in engineering is possible. It’s crucial that we platform the women making the change today to improve visibility and inspire young girls to continue on their paths in STEM.
Working at some of the world’s most advanced manufacturing companies, from SAB to Nestle, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her current role at Tetra Pak.
Food safety: finding the glory in prevention
When it comes to food safety, Tsabedze explains that production is essential to quality. “You can have a world-class product, but if it reaches a facility that doesn’t meet the right hygiene or processing standards, the product’s entire value is compromised,” she says.
Though the old adage claims “there’s no glory in prevention,” Tsabedze believes that in production glory is only achieved through prevention. By mitigating risks, identifying potential future hazards and implementing continuous improvement strategies, she ensures that any potential errors are caught long before they materialise.
Food safety is a non-negotiable in manufacturing and Tsabedze is a champion at identifying both the big and the small ways to ensure this at Tetra Pak.
Translating the Tech
At the core of her role is the ability to translate complex technical systems into strategies that everyone in the team can understand and action. As a WCM consultant, she serves as a bridge between high-level business goals and the daily realities of the factory floor where all the magic happens.
She leads teams across the business, rolling out initiatives focused on best practice in manufacturing, quality control and continuous improvement.
Tsabedze explains that her role “is about empowering teams, and especially women, to see that manufacturing isn’t just about machines and metrics. It is fundamentally about problem solving, leadership and being able to communicate to different groups of people.”
Looking forward, she hopes that more women and girls will see manufacturing not only as a viable career option but as an exciting and a rewarding one.