Controls Techncian
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. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, First Quality produces high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. We also manufacture raw materials and components such as flexible print and packaging solutions. Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation in a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning and professional development.
About the role
We are seeking a Controls Technician for our First Quality Retail Services facility located in Lewistown, PA. This position will be responsible for troubleshooting and maintaining controls components and systems for production and associated utility equipment to ensure highest reliability, proper line performance, and safe operation. This is a 12-hour night shift position.
Responsibilities
- Observes all OSHA and company safety rules and uses the proper safety equipment at all times.
- Notifies Supervisor of potential electrical hazards and takes immediate corrective action.
- Demonstrates basic National Electrical Code understanding.
- Troubleshoots, repairs, replaces, and calibrates electrical sensors including: photoelectric, inductive, capacitive, magnetic, pressure, temperature, weight, and position sensors.
- Troubleshoots, repairs, replaces, and commissions all electrical control devices including: AC drives, DC drives, Servo Controllers, contactors, motors, breakers, solenoids, power supplies, and indicator lights.
- Troubleshoots, repairs, replaces, and commissions all PLC/HMI based hardware including: processors, discrete and analog I/O cards, power supplies, network adapters, Distributed I/O, dedicated operator interfaces such as Panelview, PC-based interfaces, and message displays such as FactoryTalkView.
- Diagnoses problems using laptop computers interfaced to PLC’s, HMI’s, and servo systems utilizing electrical schematics, meters, oscilloscopes, and any additional resources available.
- Makes small program changes in PLC’s logic, HMI’s programs, and servo controller logic to aid in the diagnosis and repair of machine problems.
- Makes wiring/programming changes on all production equipment as required.
- Performs electrical preventative maintenance at scheduled intervals as assigned.
- Assists Production, Maintenance, Process, and Project Engineers to meet daily priorities, coverage, and special projects.
- Assists with projects and equipment installations as necessary.
- Shares knowledge and techniques with team members and assists with training of new personnel.
- Attends all training seminars provided by the company when applicable.
- Maintains a clean and orderly work area.
- Performs other duties as necessary when directed to do so.
Requirements
- High School Diploma with Associates Degree in electronics or equivalent.
- Preferred 1–3 years of industrial experience.
- Personal Computer skills including specific controls programming software and basic email, word processing, and spreadsheet applications.
- Fundamental knowledge of electrical theory and principles of operation.
- Solid knowledge of three-phase, single-phase, and DC power.
- Familiar with NEC and standard wiring practices.
- Utilizes meters and oscilloscopes to identify electrical problems.
- Reads electrical schematics.
- Advanced knowledge of all controller-based hardware and software.
- Reads and makes small changes to PLC ladder logic.
- Reads and troubleshoots motion control/servo programs.
- Reads HMI software to identify its effects on the equipment.
- Follows data and signals from one controller to another over various networks.
- Standard knowledge of product specifications, quality requirements, production goals, efficiency, and waste.
- Understands the impact of downtime and waste on production efficiency.
- Good communication skills; works closely with the production team to identify and resolve problems.
- Communicates with the parts department to ensure adequate spares.
- Identifies problems and isolates them to specific components through tests and observations.
- Performs electrical troubleshooting utilizing a logical and time-effective approach.
- Makes quick and accurate electrical repairs and program changes.
- In-depth knowledge of the production equipment and processes to identify a faulty device or program.
- Repairs must be thorough to prevent any further downtime.
- Works well in a team environment.
Benefits
- 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 $2,500).
- Bundle of joy benefit (years’ 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.
Schedule
This is a 12-hour night shift position.