Extruder Machine Operator

SUMMARY

Responsible for all activities associated with safely operating plastic extruder machine including setup, operation, quality checks, cleanup, and recommending improvements to operations to meet customer demand. Third shift position, Sunday - Thursday, 11p-7a.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work safely at all times, be aware of surroundings and understand and comply with Pratt Industries Safety rules, operating procedures, and help hold co-workers responsible for safety related items. Participate in Plant Safety Committee.
• Follow at all times GMPs (Good Manufacturing Processes)
• Perform a range of production support responsibilities, to include various appropriate machine adjustments and a range of maintenance tasks. Must be comfortable with the use of touch screen controls.
• Support start-up operations by stripping, preparing, setting and changing rolls, ink, or other raw materials to manufacture the product.
• Gather finished product from machines and box, bag or package as required
• First roll out quality check and on-going inspections checking the condition and quality of the finished product and remove any that do not meet our quality standards and confirm there are no process changes or quality issues.
• Maintain accurate count of product when packing or bagging, as well as, keeping pace with the varying production speeds/levels
• Secure cases to prevent shifting or moving by stacking them in an orderly manner
• The operator must have basic reading and math skills.
• Mechanical and problem solving abilities are necessary.
• Responsible for equipment set up and productivity.
• Check job order and set machine according.
• Learn and comply with Pratt Industries quality procedures and policies. Stop bad quality from leaving the facility to the Customer. Catch it on the front end of manufacturing the product. Strong attention to detail for poor quality; prevent bad quality being sent to customer.  
• Maximize the utilization of equipment by operating the extruder or rewinder machinery at available capacity and speed. Improve set up times daily, improve downtime daily. Identify and address mechanical concerns and report to Production Supervisor or Production Manager or Plant Mechanical Tech/Specialist 
• Housekeeping and cleaning of work areas – keep clean and free of tripping hazards during shift and end of shift cleaning of the area. In addition, good housekeeping of areas employee utilizes; break rooms, bathrooms, refrigerators etc.
• Learn and understand capability and capacity of machine and drive efficiencies limiting waste and downtime. Do not sacrifice quality for machine speeds – must have both excellent quality and high efficiencies with minimal downtime.  
• Train and assist Assistant Machine Operators and Production Utility with job duties on the machine, downtime, setup times and quality.
• Complete necessary reports in an accurate and timely manner, including but not limited to:  Production Data, Machine Operational Status, Safety Data, Quality Data.
• Cross-train on other machines and learn other positions in the plant. Switch duties with co-workers as necessary. Learning environment to learn as many job duties to assist with plant growth and personal and professional growth opportunities.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures, including safety and maintaining good housekeeping.
• Must be able to work overtime as necessary, sometimes on short notice. We serve our customers 24x7 – 365 days a year and sometimes work on holidays that are not avoidable.
• Additional duties may be assigned by management.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

High school diploma or GED.

Candidates are PREFERRED who offer the following:

• Prior work experience in the packaging industry; paper, plastics, converting
• 6 months’ experience in some type of manufacturing operation.  

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Able to read and follow instructions; quality, safety, job packets

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Able to read a tape measure with speed and accuracy.  Able to calculate figures and amounts such as percentages, measurement, volume and rate.  Able to apply concepts of high school math.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or graphic form.  Ability to deal with problems involving one or more concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

May be required to maintain a current Lift Truck Operator License.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee may occasionally be required to sit.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Qualifications:

Pratt Industries is America's 5th largest paper and packaging company with more than 9,000 highly skilled green collar employees dedicated to the environment and sustainability. Pratt Industries is one of the largest corrugated packaging companies in America, with sophisticated manufacturing facilities in more than twenty states. The company operates several of the most modern, cost effective paper mills in the country, as well as a series of sheet and box plants strategically placed throughout the United States offering a wide range of creative packaging solutions. Pratt Industries is committed to recycling and the environment by harvesting the urban forest.

Pratt Industries offers competitive compensation plans with full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, All State, Pre-Paid Legal, and 401(k) with company match, paid vacation, paid holidays, and childbearing and parental leave.