Lead Technician, Production

Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.

Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you'll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better.

We are seeking a Lead Technician, Production for our First Quality Home Care Products, LLC facility located in Salt Lake City, UT. This position will be responsible for coordinating workflow and execute the planned maintenance schedule for a production area within the manufacturing department to achieve daily, weekly and monthly goals while ensuring safety, quality and productivity. Coordinates with other departments, as needed, to maintain smooth workflow.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Ensures production schedule is met by monitoring line performance, identifying/resolving issues, and allocating resources accordingly.

• Completes all training and certification requirements to safely and effectively rotate to and operate all production equipment and machinery in assigned area. Cross-trains on equipment and tasks across multiple areas and rotates as needed.

• Performs machine start up and shut down procedures on production equipment. Ensures machines are set up to validated Machine Parameter Settings (MPS).

• Monitors operating equipment and machinery to ensure proper performance. Makes adjustments to equipment parameters, within validated standards, to ensure output meets specification. If output specifications are not met, escalates issues to proper site resources for resolution.
• Coordinates and provides training for others on how to operate production equipment and machinery.
• Completes basic maintenance and troubleshooting tasks such as cleaning, inspection, minor lubrication and parts replacements. Escalates non-routine and complex issues following the downtime escalation procedure. Observes and supports mechanics to complete diagnostics and repairs.
• Provides direction for cleaning and sanitizing tasks.
• Performs required steps to guarantee size and product changeovers are completed in accordance with the production schedule on all equipment. Utilizes Gantt chart and other resources to plan activities, assign timelines and ensure deadlines are met.
• Logs data into computerized production tracking system including identified machine parameters, downtime events, and line performance. Validates data integrity by auditing line reports, quality docs, changeover checklist, housekeeping checklist, sanitization records and responds as necessary.
• Ensures compliance with quality standards and requirements at all times. Completes all required quality checks in a timely manner. Inspects output to ensure compliance with quality standards, which may include the use of calibrated equipment, tools, and machines. Accurately maintains all required quality documentation. Identifies, contains and follows the process to escalate non-conforming finished goods or packaging components.
• Mentors operators and production staff on how to correctly troubleshoot tasks such as cleaning, inspection, minor lubrication and parts replacements. Escalate non-routine and complex issues following the facility escalation procedure.
• Effectively communicates line performance to co-workers and managers. Leads line start up meetings and shift to shift hand offs.
• Participates in and supports lean and continuous improvement initiatives to drive efficient production processes. Capable of facilitating lean events (i.e. 5S / workshops).
• Manages line scrap in accordance with policies and procedures. Utilizes root cause analysis (RCA) to identify trends and develop solutions.
• Follows Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) at all times to maintain hygienic security on the line, within area and facility.
• Follows lockout/tag out procedures at all times, is the subject matter expert (SME) for lockout/tag on the line, confirms lockout/tag conditions and procedures are in place on the line, and that all other safety policies, procedures, and requirements are being adhered to.
• Actively participates in RCA and may lead or facilitate.
• Effectively utilizes and trains others to utilize required systems such as Parsec, MP2, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate should possess the following:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Minimum 2 years' experience operating equipment in a production environment
• Ability to speak, read, and write in English to communicate and interact effectively with associates at all levels.
• Must have basic computer and math skills
• Knowledge of basic Lean principles such as 5S, TPM, Root Cause Analysis is highly desired
• Must be able to stand/walk for long periods of time, shift is up to 12 hours.
• Must be able to frequently climb ladders and stairs.
• Must be able to climb on and around equipment, which includes bending, stooping, standing, walking, crawling, twisting, kneeling, and reaching.
• Must be able to see/hear to visually and audibly troubleshoot equipment, acknowledge alarms, and perform inspections.
• Must be able to sustain repetitive movement of the upper and lower extremities to palletize product and maintain production which involves gripping, pushing, and pulling with varying degrees of force.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds frequently throughout the shift.
• Must be able to wear appropriate PPE such as: Hearing Protection, safety toe footwear, safety glasses, additional PPE may be required.

What We Offer You

We believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive:

• Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities
• Paid time off (three-week minimum)
• Medical, dental and vision starting day one
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid parental leave
• Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)
• Bundle of joy benefit (year's worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)
• Tuition assistance
• Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums
• more

First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data.

First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.