Plastics Extruder Operators - 2nd Shift

About the role

Responsible for all activities associated with safely operating Plastics Extrusion Machinery including setup, operation, cleanup, and recommendation of improvements to meet customer demand.

Responsibilities

• Work safely at all times, be aware of surroundings and understand and comply with Pratt Industries Safety rules and GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices).
• Setup extrusion lines producing bubble-wrap film from resin.
• Load resin, additives, and blends into hoppers; verify correct material types and ratios.
• Complete or assist with roll changes on the machine as needed throughout the shift.
• Constantly monitor the machine and its output; adjust as needed, including:
  • Melt temperatures and pressures
  • Bubble height and inflation
  • Bubble uniformity
  • Cooling systems
• Quickly identify and correct machine issues including bubble breaks, wrinkles, jams, poor clarity, and die lines. Report higher-level mechanical concerns to the Production Supervisor, Production Manager, or Plant Maintenance Tech or Manager through Maintenance work orders.
• Complete and be proactive in necessary upkeep of the machine—die cleaning, screen changes, and filter changes.
• Maintain housekeeping and cleaning of work areas—keep clean and free of tripping hazards during the shift and perform end-of-shift cleaning.
• Learn and comply with Pratt Industries quality procedures and policies. Stop bad quality from leaving the facility to the Customer.
• Learn and understand the capability and capacity of the machine and drive efficiencies limiting waste and downtime. Balance quality with machine speeds to achieve both excellent quality and high efficiencies with minimal downtime.
• Train and assist other extrusion Machine Operators with job duties on the machine, downtime, setup times, and quality.
• Complete necessary reports accurately and timely, including Production Data, Machine Operational Status, Safety Data, and Quality Data.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures, including safety and good housekeeping.
• Adhere to the production schedule. Make recommendations for optimizing the schedule to meet cost, quality, and service goals. Report any unusual scheduling issues to the Supervisor.
• Work overtime as necessary, sometimes on short notice. The role supports 24/7 customer service, 365 days a year, including holidays when required.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by management.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Preferred qualifications:
  • Prior work experience in the packaging industry (paper, plastics, converting).
  • 1 year of experience working on cast-film extrusion machines.
  • Experience with Production Software (e.g., Vorne).
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with flexibility. Must be able and willing to adapt efficiently to frequent product/job changes throughout a shift.

Skills

• Able to read and follow instructions (quality, safety, job packets).
• Mathematical Skills:
  • Able to read a tape measure with speed and accuracy.
  • Able to calculate figures and amounts such as percentages, measurement, volume, and rate.
  • Able to use/work with the metric system.
• Reasoning Ability:
  • Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or graphic form.
  • Ability to deal with problems and develop real-time solutions.

Certifications

Will be required to be certified for and maintain a Pratt Lift Truck Operator License.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to stand, walk, and talk or hear.
• Frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally push/pull product with the assistance of tools/machinery up to 130 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• Regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, some of which can become extremely hot.
• Frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.
• Occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; and vibration.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.