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Reliability Engineer - Desford
Forterra Building Products Ltd
Source: Headcount Labs · original listing ↗
Job data: Headcount Labs, ODbL 1.0. Job descriptions belong to their employers.
Source date: 11/5/2026
About this role
We are looking for an enthusiastic Reliability Engineer to join our Desford Team. About the role The Reliability Engineer will improve the reliability, availability and performance of manufacturing assets at Forterra's Desford site, using robust maintenance strategies and structured analysis to reduce recurring failures and support safe, consistent production. A key priority will be integrating and improving the site's Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS), establishing accurate asset structures, maintenance plans, failure data and reporting. You will audit planned preventive maintenance (PPM) and condition-based maintenance (CBM), using equipment criticality, FMEA and FMECA principles to improve task content and frequency. Using CMMS and production data, you will identify bottlenecks and recurring losses and analyse downtime, mean time between failures (MTBF), mean time to repair (MTTR) and cycle time. Working with the Engineering Manager and Capital Projects team, you will embed reliability, maintainability and obsolescence requirements into the CAPEX plan and the handover of new assets. Key Responsibilities Lead the integration and effective use of the CMMS, ensuring asset hierarchies, equipment records, job plans and maintenance history are accurate. Establish CMMS data standards and reporting disciplines so that failure and maintenance information can be analysed consistently. Audit PPM tasks for content, frequency and effectiveness, removing duplication and aligning maintenance plans to asset criticality. Develop CBM and predictive-maintenance routines with clear inspection criteria, escalation routes and follow-up actions. Lead structured root-cause analysis (RCA) for significant and repeat failures, ensuring actions are completed and solutions sustained. Facilitate asset criticality assessments, FMEA and FMECA reviews and convert the findings into practical risk-reduction actions. Analyse CMMS and production data to identify bottlenecks and losses across downtime, MTBF, MTTR, availability and cycle time. Work with Engineering, Production and Continuous Improvement teams to deliver reliability, throughput and cycle-time improvements. Prepare weekly and monthly reports for the Engineering Manager, highlighting trends, risks, actions and recommendations. Work with the Capital Projects team to embed reliability and maintainability into project design, commissioning, handover and the CAPEX plan. Identify asset and component obsolescence risks and support lifecycle, replacement and mitigation planning. Promote reliability best practice across the site while maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance. About you We are looking for someone who has: Essential: A recognised Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing or Maintenance Engineering qualification, such as an apprenticeship, HNC, HND or degree; alternatively, an equivalent time-served industrial engineering background. At least three years' relevant experience in a reliability, maintenance or asset-performance role within manufacturing. A recognised reliability, condition-monitoring or asset-management qualification would be advantageous. A full UK driving licence and willingness to visit suppliers or other Forterra sites when reasonably required. Experience in a Reliability Engineer, Maintenance Engineer, Asset Engineer or similar role within an automated or process-manufacturing environment. Practical experience implementing, integrating or significantly improving a CMMS, including asset structures, maintenance plans and data quality. Experience auditing and improving PPM and CBM programmes using equipment criticality and risk-based maintenance principles. Strong knowledge of RCA, FMEA and FMECA, with evidence of eliminating repeat failures. Ability to interpret maintenance and production data, including downtime, MTBF, MTTR, availability and cycle time, and translate analysis into practical priorities. Ability to prepare clear management reports, influence stakeholders and work effectively across Engineering, Production and Project teams. Desirable Experience within heavy process manufacturing, building products, minerals or ceramics. Knowledge of predictive-maintenance techniques such as vibration analysis, thermography, oil analysis or ultrasound. Experience applying Reliability-Centred Maintenance (RCM), asset criticality or lifecycle management. Experience working with CAPEX teams during equipment specification, commissioning, operational readiness and handover. Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Kaizen, Six Sigma, OEE or other continuous-improvement methods. Experience developing reports from CMMS and production data using Excel, Power BI or similar tools. We don’t expect you to tick every box. If you bring the mindset, curiosity and drive to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you.