Focused Improvement Technician (Conversion)

dssmith; Burscough; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

dssmith in Burscough is seeking a Focus Improvement Technician (Conversion) to enhance reliability, performance and efficiency of high-speed finishing equipment downstream from the corrugator. The role involves maintaining FFGs, Rotary/Flatbed Die Cutters and related systems, with a focus on uptime and waste reduction.

The technician will work with Production and Maintenance teams, diagnose faults across mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and automation domains, and implement sustainable

Qualifications

• Engineering qualification through an apprenticeship/NVQ Level 3/4 or equivalent.
• Experience maintaining high-speed converting, printing or packaging machinery.
• Strong mechanical and electrical engineering skills with servo motors, gearboxes, actuators and sensors.
• Experience troubleshooting automated multi-axis machinery with drives, PLCs and controls.
• Ability to read electrical schematics, pneumatic diagrams and mechanical drawings.
• Experience with precision adjustment using dial indicators, calipers and gauges.
• Understanding of machine timing, synchronization and registration.
• Experience with EtherNet/IP or Profibus networks is advantageous.
• Experience with PLCs and HMIs (Siemens, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley or similar).
• Experience with CMMS to manage maintenance, work orders and spare parts.
• Commitment to safety, quality and continuous improvement.
• Proactive problem-solving and ability to work with Maintenance and Production teams.

Responsibilities

• Deliver planned, preventive and corrective maintenance across the Conversion area.
• Act as technical subject matter expert for assigned assets and equipment.
• Diagnose and resolve mechanical, electrical, pneumatic and automation faults quickly.
• Maintain and troubleshoot high-speed converting equipment from Bobst, Martin/FFG, Tanabe, Gopfert and Sun Automation.
• Calibrate print cylinders, registration systems, anilox rolls, doctor blade assemblies and rotary die-cutting cylinders.
• Record maintenance activity and corrective actions within the CMMS and identify improvements.

Skills

High-speed machinery

Maintenance engineering

Electrical engineering

PLC & HMI

Schematic reading

Troubleshooting

Root cause analysis

Safety compliance

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Engineering apprenticeship/NVQ Level 3/4 or equivalent

Tools

CMMS

EtherNet/IP

Profibus

Siemens PLCs

Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLCs

Job description

Focus Improvement Technician - Conversion

Burscough

Monday - Friday (40 hours per week)

£57,500

As a Focus Improvement Technician, (Conversion), you will play a key role in improving the reliability, performance and efficiency of our production assets. Working within the Conversion area, you will use your technical expertise and problem-solving skills to identify recurring issues, reduce downtime and deliver sustainable improvements.

You will be responsible for the maintenance and optimisation of high-speed finishing equipment downstream from the corrugator, including Flexo Folder Gluers (FFGs), Rotary Die Cutters and Flatbed Die Cutters. Your focus will be on keeping equipment running safely and efficiently while ensuring the accuracy, quality and consistency of finished products.

Working closely with Production and Maintenance teams, you will help identify chronic losses, resolve recurring equipment issues and deliver improvements that increase uptime and reduce waste.

T he salary package includes compensation for undertaking up to 20 night and weekend holiday cover shifts annually. Any holiday cover hours worked in excess of the employee's standard weekly contracted hours will be paid at the applicable overtime rate.

Your responsibilities will include

• Delivering planned, preventative and corrective maintenance across the Conversion area.
• Acting as the technical subject matter expert for your assigned assets and equipment.
• Diagnosing and resolving mechanical, electrical, pneumatic and automation faults quickly and effectively.
• Maintaining and troubleshooting high-speed converting equipment from manufacturers such as Bobst, Martin/FFG, Tanabe, Gopfert and Sun Automation.
• Calibrating and maintaining print cylinders, registration systems, anilox rolls, doctor blade assemblies and rotary die-cutting cylinders to ensure precise product quality.
• Maintaining high-speed feed systems, vacuum transfer tables, folder-gluer belts and associated equipment to minimise jams and production stoppages.
• Maintaining, flushing and calibrating automated hot-melt and cold-glue systems and associated inspection sensors.
• Troubleshooting multi-axis servo drives, encoders, PLCs and automated control systems responsible for machine timing and synchronisation.
• Supporting quick changeovers by improving machine setup, recipes and adjustment processes to minimise downtime between product changes.
• Identifying and eliminating chronic equipment losses and recurring failures.
• Supporting root-cause analysis and implementing sustainable corrective actions.
• Reviewing and optimising maintenance routines to improve equipment reliability and performance.
• Working closely with Production colleagues to build strong relationships and minimise disruption to manufacturing.
• Accurately recording maintenance activity, findings, spare parts and corrective actions within the CMMS.
• Supporting continuous improvement, Maintenance Excellence and reliability-focused projects.
• Ensuring all maintenance activities are carried out safely and in line with site procedures and engineering standards.

Person Specification

We are looking for a technically skilled and proactive engineering professional who enjoys working with complex, high-speed machinery and solving problems in a fast-paced production environment.

• A recognised engineering qualification such as an apprenticeship, NVQ Level 3/4 or equivalent in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics or Maintenance Engineering.
• Experience maintaining high-speed converting, printing, packaging or similar multi-station production machinery.
• Strong mechanical and electrical engineering skills, with experience of servo motors, precision gearboxes, pneumatic actuators and electronic sensors.
• Experience troubleshooting automated machinery involving multiple axes, drives, PLCs and machine-control systems.
• The ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, pneumatic diagrams and mechanical drawings.
• Experience with precision mechanical adjustment and alignment, using tools such as dial indicators, calipers and gauges.
• An understanding of machine timing, synchronisation and registration within high-speed production equipment.
• Experience working with industrial networks such as EtherNet/IP or Profibus would be advantageous.
• Experience with PLCs and HMI systems, with Siemens, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley or similar platforms desirable.
• Experience maintaining or troubleshooting automated strapping, bundling or palletising equipment would be beneficial.
• Experience using a CMMS to manage preventative maintenance, work orders and spare parts.
• A strong focus on safety, quality and continuous improvement.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving, with the ability to identify the root cause of issues rather than simply fixing the immediate problem.
• The ability to work effectively with both Maintenance and Production teams.

This is an opportunity to use your engineering expertise to make a real difference to the perfo