Material Handler - Afternoon Shift (3p-11p)

Mitchell-Plastics; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 32,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Mitchell-Plastics in Huntsville, AL, is seeking a Material Handler to support molding operations. You will ensure production lines are supplied with the right materials, keep the work area clean, safe, and organized, and move materials between machines, storage, and the warehouse using established routes.

Key duties include following FIFO, labeling and identifying materials, coordinating with the next shift, reporting shortages, handling grinders, and maintaining proper material IDs.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 diploma or equivalent.
• Previous material handling or injection molding experience is asset.

Responsibilities

• Ensure production equipment is supplied with correct materials and maintain a clean, safe, organized environment.
• Establish and maintain efficient material routes between machines, storage, warehouse and assembly areas with FIFO practices.
• Notify supervisor if tasks cannot be completed; label all materials and report unidentified materials.
• Break down and manage packaging, empty gaylords, scan products prior to warehouse movement, and store materials properly.
• Clean grinders and remove debris; return unused material to inventory; coordinate with the next shift.

Education

Grade 12 diploma or equivalent

Previous material handling or injection molding experience asset

Job description

A. Duties & Responsibilities

The Material Handler reports to the Shift Supervisor and plays an important role in keeping production running smoothly. This position is responsible for ensuring all production equipment is consistently supplied with the correct materials while maintaining a clean, safe, and organized production environment.

The Material Handler also ensures that plant floor areas remain clean and that proper procedures are followed during clean-ups. Production equipment must be kept free of spilled plastic pellets at all times.

This role supports operations within the molding area and includes the following key responsibilities:

Material Handling

The Material Handler will establish and maintain an efficient route between machines, the grinding area, material storage areas, the warehouse, and assembly areas. This helps ensure awareness of both immediate and upcoming material requirements.

Key responsibilities include:

• Notify the Shift Supervisor immediately if a task cannot be completed as required.
• Ensure all materials and items being moved are clearly and properly identified. Any unidentified material must be reported to Quality or the Supervisor immediately.
• Follow FIFO (First-In, First-Out) inventory practices when consuming materials.
• Keep machine hoppers full, properly covered, and ensure grinders are emptied regularly.
• Verify that the correct material is used for each job by referencing the Operation Instruction and/or set-up sheet.
• Be familiar with all resins used in production.
• Blend color concentrates when required.
• Ensure the maximum allowable regrind is used in each molding process.
• Confirm that all hoppers and dryers are properly covered and labeled with the correct Material ID Tag (when applicable).
• Perform grinding promptly and empty grinder buckets regularly to prevent overflow.
• Store virgin material and regrind material separately in clearly marked containers.
• Return unused material to raw material inventory.
• Communicate with the next shift’s Material Handler to coordinate mold changes and upcoming tasks.
• Notify the Supervisor when materials are running low to prevent production shortages.
• Break down empty gaylords as required.
• Ensure all applicable products are scanned before being moved to the warehouse.
• When a job is not running, remove packaging and components and store them in the designated area.
• Remove garbage from the production cell before the end of the shift.

Raw Material Change Procedures

When performing raw material changes, the Material Handler will:

• Turn off the loader to stop the material feed.
• Drain any remaining material from the loader or dryer and return it to storage if required.
• Disassemble and clean the loader or dryer to remove all previous material.
• Inspect the unit to ensure all pellets and dust have been removed.
• Reassemble the loader or dryer.
• Ensure the correct Material ID chip (if applicable) is placed on the dryer or loader.
• Update the dryer log sheet with the new material or lot number.

Cleaning of Grinders

To maintain equipment performance and quality standards, the Material Handler will:

• Turn off the main power switch, unplug the grinder, and lock out the main disconnect.
• Remove any remaining regrind from the drawer and store it in the raw material storage area.
• Thoroughly vacuum the drawer and corners to remove all particles.
• Disassemble the grinder and vacuum blades and screens to remove previous material.
• Reassemble and tighten all components securely.
• Sweep the grinder area to remove all pellets and debris.
• Plug in the grinder and restore power before resuming operation.

The responsibilities listed above represent the primary day-to-day duties associated with this role.

B. Minimum Qualifications

• Grade 12 diploma or equivalent
• Previous material handling or injection molding experience is considered an asset

C. Required Skills

• Forklift operation and material handling
• Understanding of key Quality and Environmental Management System procedures related to the role
• Ability to work with production forms, tags, and labels
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to workplace safety
• Ability to communicate effectively with supervisors and team members