Coater Apprentice - 3rd Shift (11pm - 7am)

General-Formulations; Sparta (MI); On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

General-Formulations in Sparta, MI is seeking a Coater Operator Apprentice to join our manufacturing team. Under supervision you will learn to set up and operate the coater and monitor product quality.

You'll develop skills in coating processes, material handling, FIFO workflows, and shop floor transactions, with heavy lifting and a commitment to safety and housekeeping.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required or manufacturing background preferred.

Responsibilities

• Safe operation of a standup hoist in a production environment.
• Follows schedule, prints pick lists, and pulls material from the warehouse following FIFO guidelines.
• Transports finished rolls and returns unused material to the warehouse.
• Loads and splices rolls and fills adhesive reservoir on the coater.
• Assists in setup and cleanup of the coater during job changes.
• Within the first year, learn to fully setup and operate the coating line and monitor material quality.
• Develop understanding of the adhesive coating process, products, and raw materials to troubleshoot production and quality problems.
• Proficient on the computer for shop floor transactions including issuing and receiving stock and job activity.
• Understands basic quality tests and how to adjust the coater to meet specs.
• When trained, operate the coater when the Coater Operator is not available.
• Heavy lifting up to 100 pounds.
• Maintain area housekeeping.

Skills

Oral communication

Self-motivated

Mechanical aptitude

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Job Category: Coating

Requisition Number: COATE001414

• Posted : September 18, 2026
• Full-Time
• On-site

Locations

Showing 1 location

Sparta, MI 49345, USA

Description

SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the coating operator learns to set up and operate the coater. Learns to check operation of coater to assure material is produced within specification at the target speed. Performs material handling operations to support the coater.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESinclude the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Safe operation of a standup Hilo in a production environment.
• Follows schedule and prints pick lists and pulls material from the warehouse following FIFO guidelines.
• Transports finished rolls and returns unused material to the warehouse in the proper location.
• Loads and splices rolls and fills adhesive reservoir on the coater.
• Actively involved in the cleanup and setup of the coater during job changes.
• In the first year the Coater Operator Apprentice will learn to fully setup and operate the coating line and to monitor the quality of the material produced.
• Will develop in depth understanding of the adhesive coating process, products, and raw materials to effectively troubleshoot production and quality problems.
• Is proficient on the computer and able to perform various shop floor transactions including issuing and receiving stock and activity on jobs.
• Understands the basic quality control tests performed on the product and how to adjust the coater to bring thickness and moisture or solvent retention into specification.
• Once trained the Coater Operator Apprentice is expected to operate the coater when the Coater Operator is not available.
• Requires heavy lifting. Needs to be able to slide and lift shafts weighing up to 100 pounds.
• Responsible for housekeeping in the area.

Education and/or Experience: High school diploma or GED and manufacturing background preferred.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Good oral communication skills and works well in a fast-passed team environment.
• Self-motivated and interested in learning multiple coaters and moving into a Coater Operator position in the future.
• Good mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting ability.

Equal Opportunity Employer
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