d'VineRipe®
Strategist leads from the front at d'VineRipe
A knowledge of Australia's manufacturing sector acquired from a career spanning the automotive and mining industries and a business philosophy based on leading from the front underpin Jon Jones' approach to managing glasshouse tomato producer, d'VineRipe, at Two Wells, South Australia.
Mr Jones, who was appointed general manager in June, 2011, oversees production of more than 10,000 tonnes of truss tomatoes a year at d'VineRipe's 17-hectare, state-of-the-art glasshouse.
Prior to joining d'VineRipe, Mr Jones was employed at General Motors Holden (GMH) in Melbourne and Adelaide from 2000 to 2011, where he held several senior management and engineering positions. His many responsibilities included managing the full cycle of projects worth up to $200 million - from design through to commissioning - and overseeing a workforce of up to 1,500.
Having been promoted to senior management early during his employment at GMH, Mr Jones worked at multiple plants where he continued to improve productivity through logistics control and management and exceed budget regularly.
A project management specialist, Mr Jones' other key achievements during this time included sourcing and negotiating supply and equipment agreements for major capital works, overseeing the installation of several large overhead gantry cranes and two blanking production lines and implementing systems to control oil waste.
From 1992-2000, Mr Jones was employed as a manufacturing manager and senior engineer at gold and copper mining company, Normandy Poseidon based in the Northern Territory, and at wheel manufacturing companies Mullins Wheels Pty Ltd and ROH Limited, both in South Australia.
At d'VineRipe, Mr Jones' objective is to implement structures and systems to improve and expand employees' skills and operational procedures and ensure business stability and profitability.
Well acquainted with expansive work sites and automated infrastructure and technologies, Mr Jones' focus is on strategic direction, continuous improvement and visual, hands-on management.
His five-year vision includes doubling the glasshouse facility and its production output and establishing a seedling nursery. Other medium to long term objectives include assessing the feasibility of generating renewable energies such as biogas by composting waste on-site and implementing more efficient heat exchange alternatives through co-generation. Technology called Fusion to track work rates and evaluate efficiencies was introduced early in Mr Jones' tenure and followed the opening of Stage 2 of the facility in 2011.
Mr Jones has a Masters of Engineering from the University of Michigan, USA (2008) and a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of South Australia (1994). He is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers of Australia (APESMA) and Protected Cropping Australia.
d'VineRipe is a joint venture between leading fresh produce marketing company, Perfection Fresh and diverse investment company, The Victor Smorgon Group.
