Baked Processing Technician

About the role

Topeka Plant offers a unique opportunity with a $1000 retention bonus and starting rate of $28.10 per hour. This position involves making high-quality treats with minimal yield loss, focusing on cost efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Make emulsions
• Make dye
• Make coating
• Add hand-adds to dry mixes
• Run and monitor the system continuously
• Perform weekly start-ups, shut-downs, and clean-ups
• Maintain department equipment
• Operate forklift, pallet jack, and hand truck
• Work rotating shifts, up to 12-hour shifts, and up to 7 days a week

Requirements

• Ability to work independently and make decisions
• Knowledge to prepare for changeovers
• Basic knowledge of diagrams and schematics
• Basic safety knowledge
• Basic computer skills
• Strong mechanical aptitude
• Advanced knowledge of products and processes
• Good communication skills

Skills

• Ability to work alone/unsupervised
• Knowledge to be prepared for changeovers
• Ability to work in a team environment
• Good utilization of time and initiative
• Ability to learn and adapt quickly to changes
• Basic knowledge of VFD’s, forklift battery charger, electric motors, gearboxes, drive shafts, chain and belt drives, various types of pumps, screw conveyors, airlocks, breaker boxes, lockout/tag-out switches, scales, micro-motions
• Advanced knowledge of smart screens and their proper uses

Physical Requirements

• Standing: 6 ½ hours out of 8 hours a day (4 hours overtime max)
• Sitting: Minimal time for changing formulas and paperwork
• Lifting: Up to 50lb maximum limit, including 20lb buckets of ingredients for emulsion batches
• Lift / Pull: Operate hand jack to lift pallets and barrels
• Push / Pull: Push totes with hand jack, mop and broom for clean up
• Carry: 50lb bags of ingredients from TINA dries room to TINA emulsion prep area (30 – 35 ft.)
• Climbing: Up and down stairs to Emulsion Hopper 5-8 times per shift, and up and down on fork truck 20-30 times per shift
• Balancing: Climbing stairs and ladders
• Walking: To work area, around machines, out of storveyor area, checking gauges and setting on equipment, and to break areas
• Stooping: To pick up ingredient bags and carry over to emulsion prep area, picking up ingredient buckets to dump into Breddo and Emulsion batch tank
• Kneeling: To clean under conveyors and Dryer/Coolers
• Squatting: To pick up hand adds, to clean under conveyors and Dryer/Coolers
• Reaching: Machinery that has been locked out and in need of repair or maintenance, and cleaning
• Handling: Tools, valves, turning machines on and off, ingredient bags, buckets, hoses, water guns, paper work and computer usage
• Felling: Checking product texture and consistency
• Twisting: Head and neck rotation while driving fork lift
• Talking: Communicate with co-workers, Packaging operators, Bones Premix operators, Lab workers and Team Leaders
• Hearing: Machine running, operate forklift, co-workers and alarms
• Noise: Hearing protection required in all production and packaging areas
• Sight: Operating machinery, complete paper work and monitor production – 100% of time

Education

A high school diploma or GED is required.

Working Environment / Physical Surroundings

The working environment includes low conveyors, standing/walking on concrete, tight work spaces, extreme temperatures (32 to 120F), hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Personal protective equipment includes hearing protection, bump cap for head protection, safety glasses, steel toe shoes, and high heat gloves.

Hazards

• Automatic equipment
• Pressurized air hoses
• High pressure hoses
• Strahman water hoses (hot-steam injected water)
• Very hot piping

The Right Place for You

We are a bold, kind company that strives to do the right thing, plays to win, and believes in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we support every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.