Maintenance Technician

SUMMARY:  The purpose of this position is to provide maintenance support to the facility through maintaining and improving the on-going reliability of the plant equipment, machinery, and processing systems. This position will sustain the Mission and Motto and Food Safety and Quality Statement of Amber Wave. 

PRIMARY WORK SHIFT: Will vary, depending on workload.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Follow all food and personal safety rules and regulations in respect to GMP’s, OSHA, HACCP, the Global Food Safety Initiative, the US FDA Food Safety Modernization Act as stated in the FS&Q Statement, and sanitation guidelines as set forth by the company as listed in Corporate Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) and attend all required training sessions. Maintain the department/facility in an everyday audit ready condition.
• Follow all plant rules, safety rules and procedures during daily work and assure the safety of others.
• Responsible for ensuring that any work completed is done in a safe and clean manner and that all food safety, personal hygiene, and housekeeping standards are met. 

• Reassemble machines after the completion of repair or maintenance work.
• Start machines and observe mechanical operation to determine efficiency and to detect problems.
• Inspect or test damaged machine parts and mark defective areas or advise supervisors of repair needs.
• Lubricate or apply adhesives or other materials to machines, machine parts, or other equipment according to specified procedures.
• Install, replace, or change machine parts and attachments, according to production specifications.
• Dismantle machines and remove parts for repair, using hand tools, chain falls, jacks, cranes, or hoists.
• Record production, repair, and machine maintenance information.
• Read work orders and specifications to determine machines and equipment requiring repair or maintenance.
• Set up and operate machines and adjust controls to regulate operations.
• Collaborate with other workers to repair or move machines, machine parts, or equipment.
• Inventory and requisition machine parts, equipment, and other supplies so that stock can be maintained and replenished.
• Transport machine parts, tools, equipment, and other material between work areas and storage, using cranes, hoists, or dollies.
• Collect and discard worn machine parts and other refuse to maintain machinery and work areas.
• Clean machines and machine parts, using cleaning solvents, cloths, air guns, hoses, vacuums, or other equipment.
• Replace or repair metal, wood, leather, glass, or other lining in machines, or in equipment compartments or containers.
• Remove hardened material from machines or machine parts, using abrasives, power and hand tools, jackhammers, sledgehammers, or other equipment.
• Replace, empty, or replenish machine and equipment containers such as gas tanks or boxes.

• Supporting other activities and projects as assigned or dictated by business needs.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position has no supervisory duties.

QUALIFICATIONS:   

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to perform this job. 

• A minimum of a High School Diploma or equivalent required; an associate degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• A minimum of 3-5 years of ethanol maintenance experience, or other related manufacturing field preferred.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and organize tasks and follow through to ensure completion of assignments in an efficient and high-quality manner.
• Must exhibit a high aptitude of troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Well skilled with personal computers and software for use in troubleshooting and work order entries.
• Must possess a strong knowledge and understanding of PLC’s and be able to read and interpret ladder logic, and other electrical schematics, including blueprints.
• Multi-skilled ability to perform basic mechanical tasks. Ability to operate calipers, micrometers and other measuring instruments, hand tools, hoists, cranes, power tools, manual milling machine, drill press, hydraulic press, band saw, cut off saw, threader, mig, tig, and stick welders, plasma cutter, torches, grinding wheel, sander, roller, break, and a myriad of hand operated manual and power tools. 

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, memos, procedures, and plans. Ability to write, complete checklists and other basic documentation and correspondence. Ability to effectively present information or data in one-on-one and small group situations to co-workers, supervisors, and managers.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:  

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

REASONING ABILITY:

Must use solid judgment when making decisions. Must have ability to quickly recognize and plan for changing work duties and events.

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:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to perform maintenance tasks, reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, twist, crouch, or crawl, and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds or more. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:   

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to conditions that are typical to a fast- paced manufacturing environment, including: moving equipment and machinery, dusty, hot/humid, and cold conditions; employee must be willing to work in all weather conditions, at heights, and in the presence of airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment usually requires the use of hearing protection. Work involves exposure to common wheat allergens.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:   

It is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all qualified persons seeking and continuing employment with Amber Wave. We comply with all federal and state employment opportunity laws and do not discriminate in our employment and personnel practices against any person on the basis, including, but not limited to: veteran status, uniformed service member status, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age (40 and over), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics) or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local law. Our commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in our operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors/managers, and co-workers.