Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) has appointed Olaf Kreis as the new plant manager for its Gqeberha operations.

The Eastern Cape-based plant is the German company’s only tyre manufacturing facility in Africa. 

Kreis has a background spanning 32 years in the automotive industry, including 20 years at General Motors (GM) and 12 years at Continental.

Originating from Kirchhain, in Germany, Kreis is a qualified mechanical engineer.

He began his manufacturing journey at a vehicle plant in England where he served as a maintenance, engineering and production manager. 

This was followed by a stint as press shop manager at GM Europe’s main plant in Germany.

Kreis joined Continental in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2012 as a director of quality management and processes, overseeing 15 plants globally and managing safety-critical brake components. 

In 2015 he was appointed as GM VP for hydraulic brake systems in China. 

During his four years in China, Kreis took on the role of general manager for the region, which included three plants and more than 4 500 employees.

Additionally, he oversaw the construction of a new plant in China, where he also took on the role of plant manager.

In his most recent position as global segment head for electronic suspension systems, based in Hanover, Germany, Kreis led a turnaround and restructuring project that transformed the business unit into a profitable one.

“With his extensive experience, people-centric leadership style, and commitment to quality control, employee engagement, continuous improvement and sustainability, Olaf Kreis is well-equipped to lead CTSA's plant towards greater success,” says CTSA MD Matt Livigni.

“Under his leadership of our manufacturing operations, we are confident that Continental will be even better positioned to thrive, while adapting to industry changes and embracing innovation.”

“The best experiences in my career have always been in manufacturing and working directly with the people on the shop floor,” notes Kreis. 

“At 55 years old, I made the decision to pursue what truly brings me joy – leading as a plant manager. 

“I understand the challenges and the around-the-clock commitment required for this role, but it is where I have excelled in the past, and I wanted to continue doing what I love.

“Digitalization is a key area where we need to adapt and have highly educated individuals supporting us,” adds Kreis. 

“It's important to embrace these changes and leverage technology to enhance our processes and get more competitive every day.”

Three Main Focus Areas
Kreis believes there are three main focus areas to ensure the future of the Gqeberha plant, namely quality control, employee engagement and operational efficiency. 

“Quality control is essential to further build our high reputation in the market, so there should be no compromises in that area. 

“Employee engagement is crucial, and I encourage an open-door policy where everyone feels comfortable speaking to me. 

“I want to foster a culture of ownership, where employees take responsibility for their areas and contribute to the company's success.

“Operational efficiency is a priority, and I believe in continuously improving our processes through lean manufacturing principles,” adds Kreis. 

“This also means reducing the amount of waste generated, optimising energy consumption and implementing sustainable manufacturing processes to contribute to a greener future, while also improving our overall efficiency.”