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Extruder Operator - 3rd Shift

Job Description:

Working as a member of a shift team, the primary role of an Extruder Operator is to demonstrate ownership and responsibility for a set of machines, pieces of equipment and/ or processes within their working area. This includes carrying out the routine operational tasks required to achieve area targets e.g. starting-up, shutting-down, monitoring, cleaning, and carrying out basic changeovers, minor repairs, routine checks , reporting and inspections, and the use of basic ancillary equipment and computer programs.

What are we looking for?

  • Associates degree or equivalent of 2-3 years’ experience (manufacturing environment preferred).

  • Good math, reading and writing skills.

  • High level of mechanical aptitude and knowledge with good skills in troubleshooting and problem solving.

  • Excellent housekeeping skills and knowledge of GMP's.

  • Good knowledge of personal computers.

  • Ability and willingness to develop and manage self, demonstrate self directed workgroup leadership and contribute to efficiency, quality and cost optimization with minimal supervision and a positive attitude.

  • The position will be physically demanding. The successful candidate must have:

  • Ability to lift 50 lbs

  • Ability to work 12 hour rotating shift

  • Ability to work under variable conditions such as heat, cold, high and /or confined spaces.

  • Ability to climb ladders

  • Ability to travel up and down stairs, repetitively

  • Ability to do repetitive bending and twisting

  • Ability to work with hazardous chemicals (phosphoric acid) and work with exposure to pressurized steam.

  • Forklift certified

What will be your key responsibilities?

  • This will be an entry level role into the Extrusion role and will develop capability to perform the following responsibilities:

    Extrusion - extrude mixed meal and dry kibbles that meet all quality specifications and optimize plant capacity.

    Coating - coat and blend kibbles with tallow and digest into the finished product according to recipe requirements; coordinate with packaging and extrusion to optimize product stream and bunker inventory levels.

  • Manage and set strategy for the five processing systems to ensure meeting or exceeding production schedule in the most efficient manner possible.

  • Maintain a safe and clean work environment to promote associate safety and product integrity.

  • Ability to actively address food safety and quality concerns.

  • Troubleshoot processing systems that are not performing properly and take corrective action to ensure product quality while minimizing unnecessary downtime.

  • Improve operations through individual and group problem solving and provide leadership in solving problems on the floor and in meetings.

  • Promote high quality team environment through effective team work and self-management with a positive attitude.

  • Able to start and stop extrusion system with 90 days of assignment to area

  • Able to perform all testing and sampling in extrusion area and complete conformance sheets accurately

  • Demonstrates knowledge of area GMP’s

  • Demonstrates basic understanding of the process flow and equipment in the immediate area

  • Able to make Color, clean & assemble die plates, and forklift experience

  • Able to safely operate all equipment and systems in extrusion

  • LOTO training complete

  • Demonstrates understanding of E-stop strategy for area and can locate all E-stops

  • Able to do weekly processing start up and shut down procedures

  • Able to identify quality issues and make parameter adjustments to correct these

  • Able to set up for any recipe and input initial parameters and run effectively on any extrusion system

  • Able to run Quality and R&D test

  • Takes ownership for area in terms of safety and housekeeping

  • Understand the meat process

  • Demonstrates a thorough understanding of all equipment in the area, how it operates, what normal conditions are, and can identify abnormal conditions

  • Able to assist in identifying solutions to problems and short term alternatives to circumvent problems

  • Demonstrates ability to consistently run all KKM products at 95% A grade while optimizing moisture and minimizing regrind

  • Able to optimize extruder efficiency by balancing finished product inventory mixed meal level and extruder rates

  • Able to accurately troubleshoot mechanical and controls system issues

  • Able to help maintenance/tech services find long term solutions to problems in area

  • Able to cover for one other processing position, and keeps up to date in that area

  • Able to provide on-the-job training for new process associates on extruder operation, quality parameters, GMP’s, and safety

  • Able to understand and adjust the schedule when needed

  • Demonstrates consistent application of product knowledge in solving quality issues

  • Able to work with engineering and maintenance to make upgrades to area systems

  • Works on PMs on a regular basis

​OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Maintain a clean, safe work environment that promotes associate safety and product integrity.

  • Improve operations through individual and group problem solving and provide leadership in solving problems on the floor and in meetings.

  • Promote high quality team environment through effective team work and self-direction with a positive attitude.

  • Obtain and maintain proficiency in job specific business systems such as Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel systems. Remain current with facility utilized business systems.

  • May have to perform special non-routine tasks associated with corporate requests, projects and tests

  • Participate in site action circles and focus groups as appropriate.

  • Train other area associates in operation of all areas and systems.

  • Other duties as required.

What can you expect from Mars?

  • Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.

  • Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.

  • Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.

  • An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

See also

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