Processing Operator

Responsibilities

• Assembles, calibrates, operates, and monitors extruder and all auxiliary equipment (pumps, micro-motions, dry coating applicator, tanks, agitators, etc) of both extrusion systems.
• Inspects and evaluates equipment hourly; adjusts equipment variables to meet equipment and product requirements.
• Frequently dumps/weighs, carries, and stacks up to 50‑pound bags of ingredients and/or product.
• Operates forklift and hand‑held scanners to remove ingredients from inventory for use in production.
• Responsible for evaluating orders, ensuring paperwork is complete and accurate in all processing conditions, and completing status reports.
• Distinguishes colors and duplicates those colors in the extrusion process.
• Assists clients with development of products and procedures through research and development/test work.
• Establishes and maintains an effective line of communication with the quality assurance department.
• Thoroughly understands all quality assurance procedures and programs; ensures all products are within individual client specifications.
• Responsible for all product quality attributes.
• Evaluates product quality attributes; makes immediate adjustments to correct products that are found to be out of specification.
• Anticipates technical problems; proactively troubleshoots (where appropriate) and makes technical adjustments and/or notifies maintenance.
• Good working knowledge and ability to operate Meat Room, Mixing, Coating and Batching if applicable system for product runs.
• Responsible for maintaining a safe and clean work area and environment.
• Participate in a full facility and equipment clean‑up between each product run as directed.
• Ensures required changeovers are completed accurately and efficiently.
• Responsible for becoming familiar with GMP’s and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) for all products.
• Complete simple production reports.
• Other duties as assigned or directed.

Qualifications

• Education level: high school diploma and/or GED required.
• Experience: Extrusion experience is strongly preferred; however, previous machine experience can be substituted.
• Willing to work in a team environment and contribute to group goals.
• Ability to receive and provide instructions in a positive manner.
• Ability to communicate both verbally and in written form.
• Basic math skills include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages.
• Ability to multi‑task.
• Ability to read and follow simple written instructions.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, walk, and move from place to place.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit, use foot/feet to operate machine, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, or reach above shoulders.
• The employee is frequently required to stand and use hands to finger, handle, or touch.
• The employee must exert 50 to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or 10 to 20 pounds of force constantly.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• The employee may be frequently exposed to allergens and/or airborne particles in the production area.
• Production employees are exposed to temperatures ranging from 50 to 100 degrees, depending on the season and workstation, and may be working near moving mechanical parts.
• Occasional exposure to outdoor weather conditions may occur.
• The noise level in the work environment may be loud while production equipment is running.
• Personal Protection Equipment (including, but not limited to, boots, gloves, safety glasses, and/or face shields) is required during various processes in the production area.
• Ear plugs and bump caps are required at all times in the production area.