Prefinish Line Operator

About the Role

At States Industries, our Prefinish Line Operators are responsible for safely and efficiently running our prefinish line while ensuring finished panels meet our quality and customer requirements.

This is a hands-on, skilled production role that includes line setup, feeding, coating application, quality inspection, troubleshooting, and coordination of employees working throughout the line. Operators are expected to understand the entire prefinish process and help keep the team working safely and efficiently.

We’re especially interested in candidates with previous finishing, coating, roll-coater, woodworking, or manufacturing experience. Experience with flat-panel roll coaters, water-based coatings, or UV coatings is highly valued.

Bilingual English/Spanish candidates are encouraged to apply.

What You’ll Do

As a Prefinish Line Operator, you will:

• Set up, operate, and monitor the prefinish line.
• Perform a pre-shift walkthrough to make sure equipment is clean and ready and required tools, materials, and coatings are available.
• Monitor coating application and finished product quality throughout production.
• Ensure products consistently meet established quality and customer requirements.
• Follow required prefinish quality checks and maintain established audit standards, including a 98% quality audit target.
• Make operating adjustments as needed to maintain coating quality and line efficiency.
• Identify coating, equipment, or product quality issues and help determine the cause.
• Use production and quality equipment such as spectrophotometers, electronic scales, tachometers, UV equipment, and other required tools.
• Read and follow production schedules, load tickets, work instructions, and customer requirements.
• Verify the correct order, material, quantity, and panel side before finishing begins.
• Communicate short loads, order changes, second-side processing, and completion of orders to the team.
• Identify and communicate incorrect load tickets, panel markings, or other order discrepancies.
• Coordinate closely with graders, feeders, forklift drivers, other operators, and Supervisors.
• Help organize work and adjust priorities when equipment issues or production changes occur.
• Assist with training employees in their assigned areas using established work standards.
• Learn and be able to perform all required positions throughout the prefinish line.
• Complete required JSAs, training, and certifications for the area.
• Maintain a clean and organized work area.
• Support the team in achieving safety, quality, and production goals.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the Prefinish operation.

Line Feeder Responsibilities

As part of learning and supporting the complete Prefinish operation, employees may also:

• Verify that the correct order is loaded onto the feeder hoist and infeed belts.
• Make sure the correct quantity of material is available.
• Confirm the correct side of each panel is being finished.
• Read and understand production lists and load tickets.
• Communicate order status and potential shortages to the team.
• Notify the team when the final panel of an order is being processed or when second-side finishing begins.
• Identify and communicate incorrect load tickets or panel printing.
• Assist the Line Operator and other team members as needed.
• Maintain production pace while meeting safety and quality expectations.