Consultant for Process Improvement in Leather Production
Project Overview and Role:
Guatemala is a developing country with great potential for economic growth. However, despite the efforts made by the Government to boost growth, Guatemala faces major challenges related to sustainable development. The estimated population is 14,901,286 people (48.5% men and 51.5% women), and about 41.7% are Indigenous. It is considered a young country, as 54.69% of the population is 24 years old or younger. Despite this potential, 59.3% of the population lives in poverty, earning less than Q.10,218.00 or US$1,327.31 per year. Guatemala faces a series of adverse realities including, in addition to poverty, high rates of social, cultural, and historical violence that divides the country along ethnic, economic and geographic lines. Migrants cite the problem as "lack of employment opportunities, income generation and educational opportunities. There are no technical careers for young people in Guatemala". According to data from the Ministry of Education, 170,000 students graduate each year; however, the gross employment rate remains below 60%, evidencing the problem of labor market insertion in the country.
The USAID/Guatemala Creating Economic Opportunities (CEO) Project supports economic growth, private sector development, competitiveness, and job creation in Guatemala. It also strengthens investment and trade promotion, catalyzes productive infrastructure, develops Guatemala's labor force, and improves the enabling business environment. A central objective of the CEO Project is to strengthen the private sector as an engine of growth to reduce poverty, improve living conditions, and create sustainable economic opportunities in Guatemala for Guatemalans. By focusing on the country's secondary cities as natural platforms for investment and growth, cultivating partnerships among stakeholders in the public, private and civil society sectors, and emphasizing an ecosystem conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship, the CEO Project plays a key role in creating jobs, facilitating investment, and promoting prosperity in the country's interior.
In this context, one of the strategic and operational actions of the Project is to contribute to improve financial services practices in Banks, Cooperatives, Financial Institutions and Impact Funds in the Project territories, through interventions that address the supply of capital to small, medium and large businesses, as well as to strengthen the practices and skills of the demand side in terms of the presentation of bankable business projects by these businesses and/or SMEs that operate independently or are part of production or value chains.
For its part, GRUPO JC WYN, S. A., an industry in the tanning sector since 2008, has shown sustained growth in its operations in recent years. During 2021 they produced and commercialized around 800,000 square feet of leather, more than 500,000 Kgs. of fleshing, generating with this productive process 38 direct jobs in the production plant. As a result of market demand, the company expects significant growth in production in 2022 and 2023, which suggests significant investments, increased sales, and the creation of new jobs for young people, women, and men. In addition, within the framework of the alliance formalized between the Project and this company through a Letter of Understanding, one of the priority areas is to provide technical support to improve the quality of their products through on-site advisory services in leather manufacturing and good industrial safety practices, The Project and the SME have prepared these Terms of Reference for the identification of an international consultant to provide specialized technical assistance services to improve the processes and production lines of leather skins and training for the company's personnel in all the processes to be established as a result of this technical assistance.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
OBJECTIVES
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To support the company in improving and increasing its level of efficiency and productivity in the leather production process in order to increase its competitiveness in local and international markets.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
That GRUPO JC WYN, S. A. has an analysis of the production processes and leather production lines (process flow diagram), and a diagnosis of the condition and availability of machinery and equipment.
That GRUPO JC WYN, S. A. has an analysis of the gaps and areas for improvement, and a technical proposal focused on increasing productivity and quality of finished products.
That GRUPO JC WYN, S. A. optimizes manufacturing processes, improves production lines, and increases productivity and quality levels in leather production, with a focus on environmental sustainability.
CONSULTANCY PRODUCTS
Diagnosis, evaluation, and analysis of the current leather production processes, which should address from the reception of fresh and salted hides, process flow, condition and use of machinery and equipment, profile and roles of employees working in the plant, supply of raw materials and inputs, inventory control recording tools, waste, and wastewater management, among others.
A process and plant production manual with its diagrams/process flows, machinery/equipment redistribution and environmental measures (solid and liquid waste management) with their respective design indicators or metrics in each of the phases of the production plant that allow measuring its performance.
A training and technical assistance plan to be implemented in the different areas of the company, including the process and production manual designed in the consultancy, good manufacturing practices and industrial safety in leather manufacturing, focused on improving productivity and product quality.
ACTIVITIES
The following is a suggested set of indicative activities for the consultant. When submitting the Work Plan, the professional should propose adjustments to these activities if deemed appropriate for approval by the SME and the Project.
a) Preparatory and coordination actions
It is important to emphasize that the services should focus on the implementation and execution of actions to modernize and make processes more efficient. What is expected is that the consultant, together with the company's management and the USAID/CEO project's business advisor, define exactly the work route to be followed, the phases and the strategic actions.
b) Field Work Actions
c) Cabinet Work
LEVEL OF EFFORT AND EXECUTION PERIOD
The time for the execution of this consultancy will be within a period of 5 months, during which time the level of effort will be 60 effective working days as of USAID’s approval. Due to the nature of the consultancy, it shall be carried out at the company's headquarters and production plant located at 6ª. calle 37-41, zona 8 in the City of Quetzaltenango, Department of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. The consultant shall contemplate for the performance of its functions the protocols and official measures of protection by COVID-19.
Required Qualifications:
Academic Background
Due to the nature of the services, knowledge of industrial engineer or related career specialized in leather and fur industries is required. Given the scope and specialty required, it is recommended that the call for proposals be made at international level, in order to find experts in the field who have experience in a more developed leather industry than that of Guatemala. The consultancy needs to be executed in Spanish.
Professional Experience
In consulting and implementation of process improvements in tanneries.
In the field of innovative processes for the leather industrial sector.
In the design of production lines and plant operations.
In training and coaching of operational and administrative personnel in production plants.
The consultant must be fluent in Spanish
Additional Skills
Mastery of tools to support the management of leather production processes.
Mastery of Kpis and performance evaluation indicators.
Required Competencies/Skills
Availability to travel to the Department of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.
Ability to analyze and synthesize information to carry out the required diagnoses.
Willingness to carry out technical work in the field to gather information.
Ability to analyze, integrate and draft technical reports.
Focused on results.
Effective time management.
Office and social networking skills.
Company Overview:
About Palladium - Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.
Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.
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