Blow Mold

Pay Rate: $23.07 per hour (starting rate at 70% of the full rate)

Wage Progression:

• 70% at hire: $23.07/hour

• 85% after 6 months: $28.01/hour

• 100% after 1 year: $32.96/hour

This position follows a union wage progression scale. Employees advance to the full rate after one year of continuous service.

Why you will love working at Maola:

• Built on over a century of dedication, Maola is always looking ahead—investing in our people, strengthening our communities, and securing fresh, local dairy for the future.
• Join a farmer-owned cooperative rooted in integrity, sustainability, and a passion for providing fresh, high-quality Maola dairy products.
• As a union member, you'll have access to comprehensive benefits and a pension plan provided through the union.
• Our employees are an integral part of who we are — what you do and what you think matters.

SUMMARY:
The Blow Mold Operator is responsible for setting up, operating, and maintaining blow molding machines to produce high-quality plastic bottles and containers. This role involves precise machine adjustments, quality checks, and process optimization to ensure consistent output and minimal downtime.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Follow all associated procedures.
• Operates more than one machine.
• Operate and monitor blow-molding and bagging machines (across multiple lines), including mold changeovers and machine setups.
• Perform blow-pin and parison adjustments (with the Engineers) to control neck dimensions, wall thickness, and material distribution.
• Fine-tune cycle time, screw speed, shot size, and weight parameters to optimize throughput and meet product specs.
• Clean molds and maintain equipment sanitation to prevent defects.
• Inspect containers for visual defects, trimming accuracy, dimensional compliance, target weight range, and date coding.
• Troubleshoot mechanical/process issues, clear jams, reroute jugs, maintain jug supply, and communicate material or trailer needs to supervisors.
• Work with Engineers to implement process improvements and resolve technical challenges.
• Follows all Safety Procedures and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Maintain compliance and ensure that all materials are handled under manufacturers’ recommendations, and internal food safety requirements, and under regulatory standards that are established by GMP, PMO, OSHA, and FDA.
• Ensure all containers meet quality assurance checks.
• Record production data (output, downtime, scrap, quality metrics) and notify the shift supervisor within five minutes of unplanned downtime.
• Maintain sanitation of equipment including hand cleaning; Responsible for general housekeeping to ensure a clean, sanitary, and safe work area.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Previous experience in manufacturing or production is preferred, especially in blow molding or plastic manufacturing.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills.

COMPETENCIES:

• Communication
  • Communicate clearly and effectively through multiple channels – oral, written, visual, and non-verbal – ensuring our messages are understood and delivered appropriately, whether in-person or digitally.
• Accountability
  • Take responsibility for actions and anticipate challenges before they arise.
  • Solve problems both within and outside of departments, proactively addressing issues as they occur.
• Customer Focused
  • Prioritize understanding and meeting both internal and external customer needs.
  • Ensure high levels of satisfaction and loyalty by anticipating customer requirements and striving for exceptional service.
• Initiative
  • Proactive in identifying opportunities and addressing potential threats.
  • Act independently and decisively, rather than waiting for situations to demand action.
• Problem-Solving
  • Possess the ability to identify and address complex issues with minimal guidance.
  • Skilled at analyzing challenges and finding practical, effective solutions.
• Collaboration
  • Take responsibility for deliverables while also supporting others to ensure that collective goals are met.
  • Able to work harmoniously with others toward a common goal, recognizing and valuing each person’s contributions, is fundamental to successful collaboration.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee must be able to reach, bend, extend, and lift 50-60 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The work environment may require working in the cooler room with varying degrees of temperature and may include contact with water or dairy liquids.
• Exposed to a noise level of 90 decibels. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate/high. Wet/slippery work conditions.

Maola Local Dairies is a farmer-owned cooperative sustainably producing a full suite of nutritious dairy products. Maola processes milk, cream, butter, and dry milk powders through our network of six dairy processing plants. With a keen eye on quality, freshness, and love for the environment, Maola delivers dairy products that are both nutritious and sustainable to our local communities. For more information about Maola, please visit www.maolamilk.com.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

Salary : $23 - $33