Trainee

The Converting Department Skills Trainer provides hands-on training, coaching, qualification, and retraining for employees throughout the converting department on all shifts. Working on the manufacturing floor, the Trainer develops employee skills in machine operation, setup, quality control, troubleshooting, safety, productivity, and standard work.

The Trainer works with supervisors, operators, Maintenance, and management to ensure employees can safely and effectively operate converting equipment, PARA pre-feeders, and PARA palletizers while meeting quality, productivity, efficiency, and safety expectations. The Trainer also supports cross-training and workforce flexibility on all shifts.

• Provide hands-on training and coaching on machine operation, setup, changeovers, adjustments, quality requirements, troubleshooting, safety, and standard work.
• Train employees on PARA pre-feeder and palletizer operation, setup, adjustments, troubleshooting, safe operating procedures, and coordination with the converting machine.
• Reinforce manufacturer recommendations, plant procedures, guarding requirements, and lockout/tagout practices.
• Evaluate skill progression, provide documented feedback, maintain training records and skill matrices, and certify employees who meet qualification requirements.
• Cross-train employees on multiple positions and equipment; provide retraining when safety, quality, productivity, or procedural issues occur.
• Serve as a floor resource for operators and support accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

The Trainer may train employees on, but is not limited to:

• PARA Pre-Feeders
• PARA Palletizers
• Flexo Folder Gluers
• Rotary Die Cutters
• Slotters
• Folder Gluers
• Bobst Equipment
• Ward Equipment
• Gopfert Equipment
• 50-Inch Flexo
• 38-Inch Flexo
• 4C Machines
• 3C Machines
• Bundle Break Operations
• Palletizing Operations
• Machine Helper Positions
• Other converting equipment and positions as assigned

The Trainer will develop employee competency in the safe and effective operation of PARA pre-feeder and palletizer systems.

Training will include:

• Startup, shutdown, board preparation, loading, alignment, and positioning.
• Feeder settings, adjustments, timing, and synchronization with the converting machine.
• Maintaining consistent board flow and identifying double feeds, misfeeds, alignment problems, jams, and feed interruptions.
• Safe jam clearing, required inspections, basic preventive maintenance awareness, cleaning, housekeeping, guarding, and lockout/tagout requirements.

Training will include:

• Startup, shutdown, and setup for different box sizes and bundle configurations.
• Proper tie-sheet and dunnage loading and positioning.
• Palletizer controls, settings, adjustments, bundle flow, alignment, stacking patterns, pallet height, and configuration requirements.
• Bundle counting, pallet quantity verification, use of slip sheets and other required materials, and recognition of unstable or improperly stacked pallets.
• Troubleshooting jams and interruptions, safe clearing procedures, completed pallet removal, and safe interaction with forklifts and material-handling equipment.
• Basic preventive maintenance checks, identification of mechanical or electrical issues requiring Maintenance support, housekeeping, guarding, and lockout/tagout requirements.

Employees operating PARA equipment must demonstrate competency in:

1. Safe startup and shutdown.
2. Pre-feeder setup, board loading, alignment, operation, and synchronization with the converting machine.
3. Maintaining consistent board feeding and identifying or correcting common feeding issues.
4. Palletizer setup, bundle alignment, stacking, pallet configuration, and material placement.
5. Maintaining consistent bundle flow and identifying or correcting common palletizing issues.
6. Safely clearing minor interruptions according to plant procedures.
7. Performing required quality and production checks.
8. Meeting established productivity expectations.
9. Recognizing conditions requiring Maintenance assistance.
10. Following all safety, guarding, and lockout/tagout requirements.

Employees will not be considered fully qualified until they demonstrate the required competency without continuous assistance from the Trainer.

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Minimum of 3 years manufacturing experience required.
• Demonstrated proficiency in multiple production positions within the facility.
• Thorough understanding of production processes, equipment operation, quality standards, and safe work practices.
• Previous experience training, mentoring, leading, or coaching employees preferred.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

The Trainer will help employees understand and achieve expectations for:

• Production rate
• Setup time
• Downtime
• Waste
• Machine utilization
• Labor efficiency
• Quality
• PARA pre-feeder reliability
• PARA palletizer reliability
• Bundle alignment
• Pallet quality
• Safe and efficient material flow

The Trainer will use production data, downtime information, quality results, and supervisor feedback to identify additional training opportunities.

The Converting Department Skills Trainer develops highly skilled employees who can safely and effectively operate converting equipment, PARA pre-feeders, and PARA palletizers while meeting the plant's expectations for:

At Pratt Industries, we innovate to create packaging solutions that protect and deliver the products people need doing it in a sustainable, responsible way. That’s who we are.

• Leading manufacturer of sustainable corrugated packaging solutions.
• Employer of more than 7,500 green-collar workers at facilities throughout the U.S.
• Recover more than 3 million tons of recyclable material.
• World’s largest privately-held manufacturer of 100% recycled containerboard.

Join the Wapak Corrugator Team!