Food Production Machine Operator - Scaling, Mixing & Kettle Operations

JOB SUMMARY:  The Food Production Machine Operator is responsible for running specified equipment and contributing skills and expertise to the Production Line to run efficiently and effectively. The Operator position duties are an essential part of our day-to-day operation; learning and applying established practices and established standards is paramount. As a member of the Production Team, Operators take an active role in the areas of safety, quality, and productivity, and must insist on team accountability and trust.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Operate in work groups and monitors processes within an assigned area of responsibility
• Load and unload items from machines and conveyors
• Feed materials through production equipment
• Monitor and inspect products to verify conformance to quality and safety standards
• Operate equipment while evaluating product or package quality
• Transfers finished products, raw materials, tools, or equipment between storage and work areas by hand or using hand trucks or powered lift trucks
• Remove products, machine attachments, or waste material from machines
• Initiates cleaning and sanitation of assigned areas
• Ensures daily housekeeping duties are completed thoroughly and correctly
• Responsible for reporting food safety issues following established SOPs and GMPs; escalates serious or unresolved issues to Lead Trainers or acting Supervisors.
• Participate in start-ups, shut-downs, changeovers and cleans; contributes to ensure efficiency and on-time completion.
• Assist in ensuring new team members are learning and consistently following SOPs, GMPs and other safety and food safety guidelines or regulations. May be responsible to cross-train or onboard new
• Monitor, track and record observations and contribute to problem solving, process stability, and variance reduction
• Adhere to Personnel, Food Safety and Safety policies, paying special attention to recipe adherence and lot code tracking
• Record down-time causes, perform minor troubleshooting
• Report malfunction or problems to Lead Trainers and/or Supervisors, immediately
• Complete all operation-specific data collection throughout shift, with integrity, accurately and on time.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• High School diploma or equivalent 
• Ability to understand and communicate work instructions in English
• 1-3 years of experience in a manufacturing/food production environment is helpful but not required
• High mechanical aptitude is essential for this position
• Ability to maintain regular and punctual attendance
• Patience and the ability to communicate in a diverse work environment
• Ability to operate machines in a safe manner
• Ability to analyze machine operations and propose solutions to problems
• Understanding of basic mathematical calculations, reading numbers and symbols, and record keeping
• Ability to work in a team environment, being flexible and adaptive to changing needs
• Ability to manage time effectively, plan and organize work space
• Ability to learn and apply company standards including, but not limited to, lock-out/tag-out, safety practices, SOPs, GMPs, employee handbook, etc.