Production Operator I

PURPOSE:
Proliant Dairy Ingredients is committed to providing the best dairy ingredient options for enhancing the value and effectiveness of our partners' products. We are formulating success by living our values of Continuous Improvement, Teamwork, Quality, and Leadership.

SUMMARY:
The purpose of this job is to assist various areas within the plant while maintaining efficient production processes in accordance with established policies and procedures, and to meet customer specifications.

Day Shift/12-hours, 4:00 AM - 4:00 PM (36 hours one week/48 hours the next week)

$21.22/hour starting pay

3 weeks PTO, prorated based on hire date

8 paid holidays, plus 1 paid floating holiday

Medical, dental, vision available on the 1st of the month following hire date

401k employer match

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

High school diploma or GED required.

Experience:

One year stable work experience in the areas such as dairy, agriculture, production, or manufacturing preferred.

JOB DUTIES:

Packing

• Operate packaging and palletizing equipment and make appropriate adjustments as needed
• Bag and blend finished powder, weigh, sample, seal, and palletize product and move pallets which may require a forklift or pallet jack
• Properly label and use computerized inventory tracking system for finished product per customer and company specifications/requirements
• Keep accurate logs of all quality related checks and verifications

Receiving/Raw Inventory Management/Silos

• Perform quality checks on raw inventory on each load whether it be trucked or piped in
• Unload raw inventory from trucks
• Complete appropriate paperwork to document findings of quality checks
• Complete appropriate paperwork to document inventory
• Load product tanks and silos
• Provide support for basic analytical testing on finished product

Dryers/Production Equip

• Operate evaporator, Triple C, fluid bed and other production equipment as required
• Operate spray dryers, monitor intake and exhaust temperatures, monitor and sample powdered product, check operation of spray nozzles, and sweep down dryers
• Make appropriate adjustments to the above equipment as needed
• Operate bag house, makes sure air is on, check on moving parts, and help with removal and replacement of bags
• Assist maintenance with projects and repairing/replacing motors and pumps and other duties as requested to maintain equipment
• Provide support for basic analytical testing on finished product

Other

• Properly store and track product (raw and/or finished), materials (consumable and packaging) and chemicals in warehouse according to the First In First Out (FIFO) inventory systems
• Maintain a clean and safe work area including proper care and storage of tools/equipment
• Perform CIP operations on all equipment and work with outside sanitation vendor to ensure proper cleaning of equipment/drains/etc
• Assist in ensuring fundamental food safety and quality practices are maintained to achieve food safety and quality objectives and to support ongoing improvements of food safety programs
• Work safely and communicate safety risks or concerns right away
• Comply with all regulatory, food safety, occupational safety and quality programs and expectations

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to prepare and operate all machinery in plant
• General knowledge of production/manufacturing methods
• Knowledge of dryer operation and evaporation processes, but not required.
• Knowledge of industrial production processes in human food and animal feed processing plant is preferred, but not required
• Ability to read gauges and record data in a legible manner and in accordance with established procedures
• Ability to learn handling of food grade materials in accordance with established sanitary procedures
• Ability to understand and follow established work procedures, including mandated sanitary and safety guidelines
• Ability to read, write and comprehend instructions
• Ability to operate forklifts and pallet jacks as needed
• Ability to operate and maintain proper certification for forklift/pallet jack
• Ability to work varying work schedules, to include overtime when necessary
• Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing
• Ability to perform basic math skills
• Ability to work collaboratively and professionally with peers and leadership
• Ability to troubleshoot malfunction and situations as they arise, notifying appropriate staff of problems
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability and willingness to assist in various work areas throughout the plant
• Ability to accurately and completely abide by company good documentation procedures for recording required data and paperwork related to HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, and SQF
• Ability to distinguish if food safety violations or product quality issues occur and resolve immediately or, if unable to resolve immediately, contact appropriate plant management (i.e. the Production Supervisor and/or the QC Manager)
• In the absence of a Production Operator, other Production Operators or Supervisors will cover the duties of the role

BASIC PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Approximate:  12-Hour Shift (may be longer depending on business needs)

Key:      

Occasional = 0% - 33%

Frequent = 34% - 66%

Continuous = 67% - 100%

N/A  = Not Applicable

Standing - Continuous

Sitting - Occasional

Walking - Frequent

Bending/Kneeling/Crouching/Stooping - Frequent

Reaching Above Shoulder - Frequent

Climbing (stairs, ladders, etc.) - Frequent

Confined Spaces - Occasional

Lifting Weights from 1 to 25 pounds – Frequent

Lifting weights from 26-50 pounds – Occasional

Push/Pull/Maneuver Equipment/Products/Materials Weighing from 1 to 100 pounds - Frequent

Being Around and/or Operating Moving Machinery/Equipment - Frequent

Operating a Vehicle (as a part of your job) - Occasional

Read/Monitor Gauges on Various Equipment/Machinery - Occasional

Working on Heights:

Unprotected Heights - Occasional

Protected Heights - Occasional

Hand Movements:

Recording Data - Occasional

Operating Office Equipment - N/A

Operating Computer - N/A

Simple Grasping (right and left) - Frequent

Firm Grasping (right and left) - Frequent

Fine Manipulating (right and left) - Occasional

Foot Movements to Operate Foot Controls - Occasional

Good Vision, Corrected to Normal; or Ability to Access Required Information and to Perform Job Duties - Yes

Color Definition - Yes

Good Hearing, Corrected to Normal; or Ability to Communicate and/or Understand Required Information and to Perform Job Duties - Yes

Ability to be Mobile throughout Required Work Areas - Yes

Office - Occasional

Multiple Locations - Occasional

Plant - Continuous

Equipment/Maintenance or Repair Area - Continuous

Rough Terrain - Occasional

MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to handle multiple tasks and understand mechanical and equipment operations as required by job duties.  Frequently use the following abilities: learning new equipment; calculating; analyzing numbers and situations; reading, speaking, and writing; comprehending complex information; problem solving; and communication skills.  In addition, must be able to work independently, set priorities, and determine work assignments and work methods.  Normally, will be responsible for materials, company property and work that has completed.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND EXPOSURES:

General manufacturing working conditions exist. Exposures include but are not limited to chemicals, caustic, temperatures ranging from freezing to extreme heat, noise, dust, and moving equipment/machinery.  Occasional outside work with varying seasonal temperatures. Will be required to stand for extended periods of time on slippery tile and/or concrete floors.  Will be exposed to different chemicals used during production and cleanup.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation due to a disability at any stage of the employment application process should contact human resources

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of the job duties and requirements associated with this job but is intended to represent an accurate reflection of the current job.

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