1st Shift Production

Aapstaff; Carol Stream (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Aapstaff is seeking a Production Operator for its Solutions Department in Carol Stream, IL. This on-site role supports scaling, blending, and packaging of custom dry and liquid nutritional premixes in a fast-paced, food-grade facility.

You will follow exact recipes, operate blending and packaging equipment, and ensure adherence to customer specifications, batch records, and regulatory standards including FDA, GMP, HACCP, and FSMA.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Experience in food manufacturing, chemical blending, or pharmaceutical production preferred.
• Ability to read blending sheets, work orders, and SDS.

Responsibilities

• Follow exact recipe blend sheets and production routers to scale, weigh, and stage raw ingredients.
• Operate and monitor blending and mixing equipment, ensuring product integrity.
• Label, code, and container identification for finished goods; assist palletizing and packaging.
• Maintain compliance with FDA, ILDPH, FSMA, BRC, GMPs and HACCP protocols; complete batch records accurately.

Skills

Blending sheets reading

Work orders interpretation

Basic math

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Job Description: Production Operator – Solutions Department Location: Carol Stream, IL (On-site) Shifts: (1st) 6 am – 2:30 pm, (2nd) 2 pm – 10:30 pm, (3rd) 10 pm – 6:30 am

Job Summary

Unlock your potential. The company is a leading global supplier of ingredients and premix manufacturing solutions, trusted by the world's best-known food, beverage, and nutrition brands. The Production Operator in our Solutions department plays a critical role in the scaling, blending, and packaging of custom dry and liquid nutritional premixes. Operating in a fast-paced, food-grade manufacturing environment, this position is responsible for ensuring that all products are manufactured strictly according to customer specifications, work orders, and strict regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

• 1. Blending & Batch Processing Execute Work Orders: Follow exact recipe blend sheets and production routers to scale, weigh, and stage raw food/nutritional ingredients. Equipment Operation: Set up, operate, and monitor industrial blending and mixing equipment, ensuring uniform distribution and product integrity. Material Verification: Confirm lot numbers, expiration dates, and item numbers of raw materials before introducing them into the blending process.
• 2. Packaging & Equipment Control Machine Operation: Operate and troubleshoot specialized packaging equipment, including auger fillers, bagging systems, pouch fillers, sealers, and weight-verification systems. Labeling & Traceability: Ensure proper labeling, lot coding, and container identification are accurately applied to finished goods. Palletizing: Assist in stack preparation, palletizing, and wrapping finished products for warehouse transport.
• 3. Quality Assurance & Food Safety Regulatory Compliance: Maintain absolute compliance with FDA, ILDPH, FSMA, and BRC standards. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP): Adhere strictly to all plant GMPs and HACCP protocols to prevent cross-contamination. Documentation: Accurately complete batch records, downtime logs, weight checks, and material usage adjustments in real-time.
• 4. Sanitation & Workplace Safety Line Clearance: Perform thorough equipment washdowns, sanitization, and line clearance protocols between product changeovers to avoid allergen contamination. OSHA Standards: Comply with all occupational health and safety regulations, including proper chemical handling and machine guarding. 5S Maintenance: Maintain a clean, organized, and audit-ready work environment at all times.

Qualifications & Skills

• Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent required.
• Experience: Minimum of 1–2 years of experience in food manufacturing, chemical blending, or pharmaceutical production environments is highly preferred.
• Technical Skills: Ability to read and interpret blending sheets, work orders, and safety data sheets (SDS). Basic mathematical proficiency for inventory and scaling weights.
• Attention to Detail: High precision in following multi-step formulations and verifying long lot sequences.
• Teamwork: Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across shifts.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Heavy Lifting: Ability to frequently lift, push, pull, and carry up to 55 lbs (25 kg) independently.
• Stamina: Ability to stand, walk, bend, twist, and squat for extended periods over an 8- to 12-hour shift.
• Environment: Comfortable working in a facility that processes raw dry powder ingredients, which may cause moderate airborne dust particles and strong food/flavor aromas.
• PPE Requirements: Must be willing and able to wear all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including plant-issued scrubs, hairnets, beard covers, lab coats, face masks/respirators (if required), and steel-toed boots.