From sketch to
production floor.
13+ years taking products from first concept to production — mechanical, electronic, and firmware.
Johan van Graan
Expertise
01Concept Development
Turning ideas into viable engineering concepts. Feasibility studies, proof-of-concept prototyping, technology selection, and architecture definition — the groundwork that determines whether a product succeeds or fails.
Product Development
Full product lifecycle management from initial concept through to mass production. Cross-functional coordination of mechanical, electronic, and firmware workstreams with a focus on cost, quality, and time-to-market.
Embedded Systems
Firmware architecture and hardware design from proof-of-concept through production. Sensor integration, motor control, communication protocols, and custom PCB layouts.
Mechanical Design
Product development from concept to tooling release. Tolerance analysis, DFM, IP-rated enclosure design, injection moulding, and sheet metal. Reverse engineering using 3D scanning workflows.
Manufacturing & Quality
Production-floor quality systems, process validation, root cause analysis, and supplier management. Bridging the gap between engineering intent and what actually comes off the line.
Systems Integration
Multi-axis motion control, industrial automation, IoT telemetry, and energy management systems. Designing architectures that tie sensors, actuators, and data together reliably.
Experience
02Lead Mechatronics Engineer
Nov 2023 – PresentProduct Development · Johannesburg
Leading mechanical and electronic product development from concept through production. DFMEA, root cause analysis (8D), supplier management across local and international manufacturers, DFM using SolidWorks, and quality systems including inspection criteria and test protocol development.
Mechatronics / Product Engineer
Oct 2020 – Oct 2023Autoliv · Automotive Safety · Krugersdorp
IATF 16949 compliance for automotive safety components (airbags, seatbelts, steering wheels). Certified MPS Engineering Auditor with 100+ audits. Core Tools (APQP, DFMEA, PFMEA, MSA, SPC, DOE), machine design, and industrial communication protocols (CANOpen, Profinet, Modbus).
Technical Training & Applications
2014 – 2020SEW-EURODRIVE · Industrial Automation
Industrial drive systems commissioning, technical application support, and customer training delivery. Field service across diverse industrial applications including conveyors, mixers, and material handling equipment. PLC systems (Siemens, Omron, Keyence) and vision system integration.
Research & Development
2011 – 2013TSE / TUT · Autonomous Vehicles
R&D on autonomous vehicle platforms. Sensor fusion, control systems, embedded programming, and rapid prototyping in a research environment.
Education & Certifications
03National Diploma: Engineering: Mechatronics
Tshwane University of Technology
Core studies in mechanical engineering, electronics, control systems, and industrial automation.
Professional Certifications
Approach
04Engineering is the practice of making things work under real-world constraints — not just on a screen or a bench. Every design decision carries consequences downstream, from tooling cost to field reliability.
I work across the full stack of physical product development: the CAD model, the circuit board, the firmware, the production process, and the quality system that holds it all together.
The most valuable engineering happens at the boundaries between disciplines. A better mechanical design can eliminate a sensor. A smarter firmware architecture can simplify the BOM.
01 — Design for Manufacturing
A design that can't be built reliably at scale isn't finished. Production constraints inform the concept, not the other way around.
02 — Fail Fast, Fix Early
Prototyping and testing before committing to tooling. Every assumption gets validated — on the bench, in the field, or through analysis.
03 — Systems Thinking
Components don't exist in isolation. Mechanical, electrical, and firmware decisions are made together, with full awareness of how they interact.
04 — Root Cause, Not Symptoms
When something fails, find out why — not just what. Structured problem solving that prevents recurrence.