Blend Technician

Job Details

Shifts: various

Location: West Sacramento, California

Pay range: $22.72-$31.61 per hour

Medical benefits-eligible first of the month following 28 days of employment. All other benefits-eligible first of the month following 90 days of employment.

Benefits:

401(k) with generous Company match

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Account

Life insurance

Paid time off

Employee Referral Program

Vision insurance

Position Overview: The Blend Technician operates mixing machines to blend ingredients into compounds for processing, loads ingredients into mixers, and weighs, and measures ingredients.

Language Skills: English proficiency required. Spanish is a plus.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None.

Amount of Travel Involved: None.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Follow all safety procedures and work as safe as possible at all times.
• Safely operate forklift.
• Properly complete blend sheet documentation.
• Stage and verify ingredients for blending to include acquiring batch documentation, verifying batch documentation with production schedule, identifying discrepancies in batch documentation, assembling ingredients using pick sheets and First Expired/First Out (FEFO), weighing ingredients, performing blend calculations including metric conversions, properly handling partial ingredients, verifying ingredients and recording data.
• Understand and follow all spill policies and procedures.
• Safely operate baler.
• Understand and follow recycling procedures for plastics, drums, and pallets.
• Safely and efficiently operate foamer.
• Complete daily and weekly cleaning of the blend areas and equipment.
• Input new recipes, start and stop blending process and verify new recipes in Beeco Blend System.
• Follow established blend procedure to include verifying formula at control panel, comparing recipe and blending for correct quantities, performing Reverse Osmosis (RO) water conductivity and total dissolved solids (TDS) tests, mixing ingredients per instructions, gathering and recording required information, sampling and testing, and adding ingredients to premix tank.
• During CIP of blend tanks, check that jumpers at Can/Bottle Panel are correct and properly place jumpers in position.
• Prime, start and input offset in Ratio Blender
• CIP Ratio Blenders to include properly completing documentation, preparing ratio blender, using correct wash and performing pH testing.
• During CIP of blend tanks, document caustic and acid strengths on circular chart.
• During CIP of blend tanks, test chemicals and follow correction process if out of specifications.
• Connect jumpers to correct positions during CIP of Ratio Blender.
• Complete proper CIP setup of Ratio Blender.
• Understand batch hold times and know how to plan when batching should occur.
• CIP blend tanks with Peroxide.
• Verify ingredients for blending to include verifying batch documentation with production schedule, identifying discrepancies in batch documentation, verifying ingredients and recorded data using pick sheets and First Expired/First Out (FEFO), verify ingredient weights and performing blend calculations including metric conversions.
• Stage dry ingredients for Aseptic blend room in preparation for batching; properly identify lot numbers, seal and store partials in designated areas, properly clean, seal and store empty containers and complete documentation.
• Properly operate water meter, sugar meter, high shear mixer and base pump.
• Follow steps to blend juice products including verifying lot numbers, weighing and staging ingredients using Formula Blend Sheets, mixing ingredients using high shear mixer tank, testing product and making adjustments as necessary, and completing documentation.
• Handle, batch and sanitize using established organic ingredient guidelines and procedures. Complete documentation.
• Perform sensory evaluations on products and complete required documentation.
• Test finished product for pH, Brix, Acid and Calcium levels to ensure it meets customer specifications. Complete documentation.
• Complete hot water rinse on blend tanks using spray ball.
• Clean exterior of blend tanks and complete documentation.
• Clean and sanitize interior and exterior of high shear mixer. Complete documentation.
• Clean and sanitize blend tanks using established procedures and guidelines in accordance with food safety requirements. Complete documentation. Clean overhead/return lines and complete documentation.
• Perform CIP of sucrose tank to include tank setup, correct jumper placement, line setup, chemical testing, re-assembly and completing proper documentation. • Troubleshoot issues with Beeco blend system.
• Understand requirements and perform acid rinse of the CIP Pre-rinse and Wash tank
• Understand and follow Guayaki blending process and strainer system
• Properly shutdown blend room
• Strong ability to work unsupervised.
• Relieve operators for breaks and lunches
• Assist with training Blend Technicians.
• Understand and follow ingredient hold process.
• Load formulas into Ratio Blender.
• Troubleshoot Ratio Blender issues.
• CIP RO Water Treatment System.
• All other duties as assigned.
• General
  • Maintain a positive work atmosphere and interaction with customers, coworkers, and management.
  • Regular and punctual attendance.
  • Work scheduled shift, weekends, and extended hours as required.

Experience for Success:

• Demonstrates excellent attention to detail, is well organized, has a professional attitude, and produces accurate work product.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to understand, remember and apply oral and/or written instructions or other information.
• Ability to read and interpret written information.
• Demonstrated ability to meet productivity standards.
• Observes safety and security procedures, reports potentially unsafe conditions.
• Strong ability to count, add, subtract, multiply, and divide and to record, balance and check results for accuracy.
• Good written and verbal communication skills with excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate professionally with customers and coworkers.
• Follows policies and procedures.
• Uses equipment and materials properly.
• Have a strong work ethic and be able to work independently as well as work in a team.
• Ability to multitask and work with changing priorities.
• Must be proactive.
• Must have the ability to follow-up.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be computer literate.

Education and/or Experience:

• High school diploma or general education degree (G.E.D.) required.
• Three to six months related experience and/or training required.
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Single and double forklift certification preferred.

Behaviors & Competencies:

• Upholds mental, spiritual and physical safety
• Asks for and provides feedback
• Holds self and others accountable
• Supportive and collaborative of team members
• Participates in self-development and encourages the development of those who report/to him or her and peers
• Demonstrates flexibility and desire for growth

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 position, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit; use hands to feel or handle and reach with hands and arms. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, twist, bend at the waist, push, pull, stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and or move up to 70 pounds, regularly lift and /or move up to 50 pounds, and frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee must frequently climb up and down stairs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision 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 position, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts and moving forklifts. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places. The noise level in the work environment is usually very loud. Employee is regularly exposed to changes in production facility temperature based on environmental conditions.

Manna Beverages & Ventures is an equal opportunity employer-----M/F/D/V