Maintenance & Reliability Lead - PLC/Control Systems

Sappi; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Sappi Allentown is seeking an experienced Maintenance and Reliability Leader to guide strategic direction for production assets, troubleshoot controls, and manage the capital portfolio. You will develop procedures, training, and reliability programs while collaborating with operations to meet site commitments.

Responsibilities include directing maintenance resources, leading control system optimization, and mentoring staff on PLC/HMI programming, safety, and project management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in manufacturing environment in a maintenance / reliability management role.
• Experience with PLC and HMI programming and familiarity of AB, Rockwell and similar drive/control systems are required.
• Ability to read and understand blueprints and schematics. AutoCAD experience preferred.
• Experience in the paper industry including pulp / paper production or converting is a plus.
• Project management experience with projects in excess of $1MM preferred.
• Methodical problem solving ability with familiarity of Six Sigma, Kaizen and Kepner Tregoe.
• Solid personal computer skills, including MS Excel and Access.
• Familiarity of SAP as a maintenance management application is preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, oral and written.
• Leadership skills with relatable manufacturing maintenance or reliability experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support site safety initiatives that ensure an accident-free, safe and productive workforce.
• Contractor safety management, emergency preparedness, environmental systems, permit design, occupational health and hygiene.
• Manage and direct site maintenance resources on daily, weekly, monthly and annual activities.
• Lead the team’s efforts to deliver precision maintenance best practices and continuously improve equipment reliability and performance through preventative maintenance objectives.
• Management of site control system optimization including programing of PLCs and HMIs.
• Train all relevant personnel on new processes and coordinate training programs.
• Support site capital investments portfolio through analysis, scope, and project management.
• Develop site support network of local contractors and skilled labor.
• Responsibility for overall control system concept and design. Ability to program, configure, specify, and troubleshoot PLCs, HMI, VFDs, printer and label systems.
• Establish new equipment specifications – use technical knowledge and expertise to support operations in design, maintenance, scale-up, optimization, automation, troubleshooting and validation of manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Process flow analysis – designs and/or performs studies to assist operations in the monitoring or processes, equipment and facilities to optimize efficiencies, increase capacity, incorporate process changes, etc.
• Support resident contractors with emergency repairs through coordination and/or execution of work.
• Provide maintenance leadership on the off-shifts – Nights, weekends and holidays as required.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI programming

AB/Rockwell/Allen-Bradley

AutoCAD

Blueprints & schematics

SAP maintenance

Project management

Six Sigma / Kaizen

MS Excel / MS Access

Leadership / team management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent

Tools

AutoCAD

SAP

Job description

Sappi Allentown is seeking an experienced Maintenance and Reliability Leader to guide strategic direction for production assets, troubleshoot controls, and manage the capital portfolio. You will develop procedures, training, and reliability programs while collaborating with operations to meet site commitments.

Responsibilities include directing maintenance resources, leading control system optimization, and mentoring staff on PLC/HMI programming, safety, and project management.