Press Operator

Job Summary:           We are seeking a skilled Flexographic Printing Press Operator to join our team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for setting up, operating, and maintaining flexographic printing presses to produce high-quality printed materials. This role requires attention to detail, mechanical aptitude, and the ability to troubleshoot printing issues while ensuring production

Safety & Compliance:

• Adhere to all required safety procedures, including the use of Personal Protective deadlines and quality standards are met.Equipment (PPE), ergonomics, and handling of chemical hazards.
• Perform job duties in a manner that ensures the health and safety of all employees.
• Maintain compliance with all regulatory, facility food safety, and quality policies, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).

Job Execution:

• Read and understand job jackets and work orders to ensure accuracy.
• Establish and follow quality-checking procedures within the pressroom.
• Assist in the setup of the next job, including:
  • Pulling ink and ensuring correct materials are available.
  • Cleaning and preparing the press for the next job.
  • Maintaining a clean and organized press area.
  • Ensuring the press area is clean at the end of each shift.

Communication & Coordination:

• Effectively communicate with supervisors, oncoming shifts, and management to ensure smooth operations.
• Properly log computer entries to track job progress and quality assurance.
• Follow the chain of command, escalating issues as necessary from the supervisor to department and plant management.

Work Ethic & Efficiency:

• Stay productive when the press is down by assisting with cleanup and preparation tasks.
• Be at the workstation within three minutes of reporting time to ensure efficiency.

Job Qualifications:

• Quality conscious.
• Attention to detail.
• Must be able to see good true color. (Must not be colorblind.)
• Ability to lift.
• Accurate with numbers.
• Basic math skills.
• Basic mechanical skills.
• Must be able to read a tape measure.
• Confidentiality
• Organizational skills.
• Shift work

Essential Job Functions:

• Must have reading skills necessary to properly understand production orders and designate specific plates for an order, and understand materials, reports, warning signs, etc.
• Must be able to distinguish subtle shades of colors accurately in order to match samples and color designations in orders.
• Must be able to lift 50 – 75-pound air shafts without the assistance of any hoist and must be able to manipulate 100 – 300 pounds with the assistance of mechanical devices.
• Must be able to read a ruler and have other general math skills in order to measure roll diameters, roll widths, package sizes, etc.
• Must have directionality to distinguish right and left sides of machinery and to follow operating instructions from other employees and from written instructions.
• Must be agile (bending, stooping, squatting, climbing, etc.) in order to climb up on press, move cylinders, adjust equipment and avoid dangerous moving machinery.
• Reflexes must be in excellent condition for quick response time on moving machinery.   Employee must be able to react to rapidly moving parts in order to avoid serious injury to his/her or other employee’s limbs or other life-threatening injuries.  Employee must be completely alert at all times to operate machinery in a proper manner.
• Must have a good sense of smell to distinguish odors from materials and smell smoke (in case of fire).  Must have good hearing to follow directions and coordinate procedures with fellow employees and to hear warning signals.
• Must be able to comprehend and follow detailed instructions without constant supervision.  Must be able to communicate operating problems to supervisor.
• Must have spatial skills, which can be applied to judge dimensions necessary for operation of machinery.
• Must have mechanical ability to learn how the press operates.  This includes anilox rollers, cylinders, tension controls, safety mechanism, etc.
• Must be able to logically deduce (reason) the source of the problem on the press, which prevents commercially acceptable printing, propose a solution to that problem and carry out that solution. 
• Must be able to carry out press procedures in an initial sequence and repeat that procedure on future orders in a similar manner or with alterations.
• Must have eyesight whether correct or not, which allows pressman to distinguish hairlines, registration, mounting accuracy and ink lay-down to print suitable quality.
• Must be able to record information electronically as required by accounting.
• Must have maturity and disposition to operate press safely at all times.  Must understand and be able to implement safety emergency procedures.  Must follow standard safety procedures such as engaging the E-stop prior to placing any body part in the machine, including normal processes such as die/cylinder changes.
• Must have physical strength to stand for lengthy periods of time.
• Must be able to interact with and follow instructions from quality control or management to maintain specified quality standards. 
• Must examine plate quality to only accept plates suitable to print the job.
• Must be able to do meticulous work under production demand.