Production Operator

Department: Operations

Role: Production Operator

Areas of Responsibility: Cleaning, Filling, and Batch Making

 

Job Description: Responsible to maintain daily production schedule and monitor continuous workflow in batch making and filling to deliver the product on time to the customer.  All production roles are critical to the success of the team.

 

Cleaning Job Responsibilities

Cleaning supports the entire operations team by cleaning returned drums for filling and cleans pot/tanks for batch making. Provides key impacts to plant housekeeping and hygiene with cleaning practices.

• Prevents cross-contamination between colors and carrier systems.
  • Replaces valves on tanks as needed with cost in mind.
• Maintains good practices when cleaning oil-based products.
• Supports plant hygiene habits with routine floor cleanings.
• Restocks raw materials for batch makers in premix room on shelves.
• Replenishes filling area with supplies.
• Assists shipping/receiving with tasks as needed.
  • Putting raw materials received away on racking.
  • Putting FG inventory away on designated racking.

 

 

Filling Job Responsibilities

Filling entails the transfer of approved product from a pot or tank into a finished good container for storage or shipping. The customer established the approved container size at the beginning of the commercial process: one gallon or five-gallon pail, drum, or tote.

• Fills product in order of priority.

• Determines container type from the batch ticket.
• Follows batch ticket filling instructions to include all special labeling instructions.
• Fills up any partial containers.
• Transports filled goods to the warehouse for storage and/or shipping.

 

 

Batch Making Job Responsibilities

Batch Making entails the setup and operation of mixers and basket mills to blend our proprietary color formulas.

• Follows the batch ticket instructions as written.
• Material handling with multiple types of packaging: pigment bags, drums, totes, pails.
• Weighs dry and liquid raw materials using stationary scales at the bench, floor scale for tanks, and drum scales at the mixer.
• Operates equipment such as mixers, scales, basket mills to prepare batches.
• Records lot numbers of ingredients used, and other values required on the batch ticket by Technical Director.
• Reporting observations during production as needed.
• Reporting any deviations from batch ticket: any mis weighs, or incorrect ingredients added should be reported right away for risk management by Technical Director and Operations Manager review.
• Samples Quality Control (QC) lab. Makes any adds to the batch timely.
• Moves approved batches to the Approved to Fill area to be filled.

 

 

All Production Role Responsibilities:

• Follows schedule created by Customer Service to task the plant.
• Utilizes equipment to move tanks and pots around work areas safely.
• Communicates changes in the planned workflow to the team when required.
• Works closely with the support team to resolve issues that could hinder production or customer service goals.
• Observes, maintains, coordinates, and completes standard work.
• Participates in inventory activities.
• May trains others. Teaches positive habits for standard work.
• Maintains a clean work area.
• Other duties as assigned.

 

Physical Demands:

• Ability to move equipment using safe lifting techniques.
• Standing for long periods up to 4 hours without break.
• Lifting pails up to 50# each.
• Lifting pigment bags multiple times – using the bag lifter when needed.

 

Qualifications & Skills:

• Forklift Certification by Vortex.

• Ability to work with a team to drive results.
• Willing and able to perform repetitive tasks.
• Asks for help when needed and lends a hand to others.
• Works safely show respect to others, and demonstrates ownership in work performed.
• Follows rules and policies as laid out in the Vortex EE handbook.
• Ability to analyze and solve problems.
• Effective communication both written and verbal.
• Time management skills are required to balance goals.
• Strong interpersonal skills to drive healthy communications between plant, lab, and office.
• Drives results, is highly accountable, demonstrates excellence in work attitude.