Kiln Operator- ME

General Description:

The Solon Kiln Operator shall promote the culture, standards, values and working environment as outlined by Kennebec Lumber Company’s (KLC) Management team specifically the Operations Manager. The Kiln Operator is responsible for day-to-day safety performance, effective planning, delegating, coordinating and execution in regards to the Dry Kilns with the support of the Operations Manager to attain desirable production and efficiency results. As well as the overall efficiency and accuracy of the daily operations of the Solon Kilns, the Solon Kiln Operator will monitor any incoming dried lumber.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, maintain, and manage the daily kiln schedule
• Coordinate regular (daily, weekly) morning meeting to review kiln needs, loading, etc with forklifts
• Communicate with Operations Manager, VP of Operations, other staff on kiln data
• Perform daily Quality Control (QC) inspections
• Work with Operations Manager to plan and execute the kiln schedule based upon sales forecasts and demands
• Coordinate with maintenance team to ensure productivity
• Responsible to understand how inventory levels are affecting the flow out of the mill and into the Kilns for proactive inventory control
• Revising or Developing Standard operating procedures (SOP’s) as needed
• Compliance to all KLC Policies and procedures and assisting to drive a positive working environment
• Operating a chop saw to cut samples
• Daily sampling: determine moisture content by using a formula.
• Planning kiln loads, establishing proper kiln loading procedures
• Reading, understanding, executing KLC’s Dry Kiln Manual
• Operating forklifts to load and unload kilns
• Verifying Vents, air flow, exiting air speed (L,M,R)
• Sustaining a Preventative Maintenance plan for the Dry kilns
• Develop a schedule to have coverage 6 full days a week and at a minimum of 5 hours on Sundays
• All other tasks as assigned

Safety:

• Participating in Training
• Standard safety compliance: PPE, LOTO, Hot work permits, Forklift safety, Fall Protection, Fire Extinguishers, Etc.
• Timely filing of Near Miss, Incident Reporting in Kiln Activities
• Reporting of violations

Production:

• Production standards and data reporting (KPI’s)
  • Daily summary
  • Yields
  • Product distribution
  • Productivity metrics by department and employee
  • Product metrics by department and employee
• Daily completion of kiln checklists:
  • Oven Test Sheet
  • Daily Drop Sheet
  • Kiln Check off List
  • Routine Daily checks of Wet Bulbs (changing as needed)
• Strategically placing samples and documenting to monitor variances
  • Air flow
  • Checking- Visually inspect samples, mark, date, re inspect
  • Stain
  • Mold
  • Color Variation- Investigation process
  • Water Stains