PET Mixer Operator

Bowman Andros Products; Mount Jackson (VA); On-site; USD 24,796 - 33,062; Full time

Job summary

You will monitor equipment safety, coordinate with forklift drivers, and maintain accurate batch records, while following quality, safety, and GMP guidelines to deliver consistent product quality.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED is required.
• Strong math, reading and writing skills.
• Able to operate mixing machinery safely per SOPs.
• Identify stop buttons, guards and safety warnings.
• Regular and reliable attendance.
• Hands-on mechanical troubleshooting experience.
• Supports 5S and continuous improvement.
• Basic computer skills preferred.
• PPE must be worn in production area.
• Able to communicate with all levels of management and maintenance.
• Safe use of tools and powered equipment.
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent oral communication and attention to detail.
• Team player.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain mixing equipment safely.
• Coordinate ingredient batch needs with forklift drivers and other operators.
• Prepare ingredient batches and verify against batch sheets.
• Record batch data for traceability per SOP.
• Monitor for contamination and allergen control.
• Perform production changeovers and start-ups/shutdowns.
• Inspect ingredients for quality and safety before use.
• Communicate production issues to maintenance and supervision.

Skills

Math literacy

Machinery operation

Safety awareness

Punctuality

Mechanical troubleshooting

5S/Lean

Basic computer skills

PPE compliance

Communication

Equipment safety

Adaptability

Oral communication

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Job Summary

The PET Mixer Operator’s primary responsibility is to operate mixing equipment, blending the various ingredients into the desired products, following all Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and meeting all specifications as required. The PET Mixer Operator also pulls and submits test samples, records all required information accurately, and follows all SOP’s and regulations regarding Allergen Control, while ensuring continuous and efficient production.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Monitors, operates and maintains the Mixing Equipment Machines in a safe manner.
• Communicates with Forklift Drivers and Mixer Operators across all shifts for ingredient batch needs.
• Identifies and locates all ingredients prior to mix time to ensure continuous and efficient production.
• Maintains accurate batch / mix sheet records for each batch made, according to SOP and customer specifications, for traceability and auditing purposes.
• Maintains the required Lot # information and ensures accurate recording.
• Reads and understands ingredient barrel labels.
• Reads and understands batch schedules.
• Inspects all ingredients prior to usage for defective, damaged or quality/food safety concerns (i.e., mold, fermentation, etc.)
• Has a general understanding of all formulas, as well as the operating and storage capacity of the plant, to be cognizant of the raw materials needed and available and product is mixed.
• Mix ingredients according to the Specification Sheet Recipe, to include, but not limited to:
  • Maintaining product safety, legality and quality to meet or exceed Company and customer standards.
  • Verify ingredients match the recipe specifications shown on the batch sheet and manufacturing specifications.
  • Starting the mixing batches,
  • Adjusting valves and switches as needed to aid in blending batches until the product reaches the desired consistency, color and formula, according to SOP’s and customer specifications,
  • Adjusting ingredients, formulas and batches as needed according to the SOP procedures to meet customer specifications,
• Responsible for testing and recording as required by SOP for traceability and auditing purposes.
• Notifies Production management and/or quality of any issues that may compromise batch integrity or quality.
• Continually monitors for cross contamination and foreign body risks to any ingredients or batches.
• Continually manages and controls all Allergens as determined by the Allergen Control Plan, preventing cross-contamination.
• Has a general understanding of the functions of the various pumps, meters, valves, and any other mixing equipment used in mixing the various products.
• Successfully performs production changeovers, start-ups & shutdowns including rinsing of all tanks & fillers; being able to understand and demonstrate sequences.
• Has a general understanding of the functions of the various filters to be used for each product.
• Has a general understanding of the sanitation and Clean-In-Place (CIP) cycles.
• Loads ingredients into the mixing hopper in the correct order, from scales, meters, tanks, or hand trucks.
• Communicates with filler operators regarding production stoppages as necessary.
• Notifies maintenance and supervisor as needed regarding major mechanical or production issues.
• Performs daily inspections of Powered Industrial Trucks (PIT’s).
• Maintains a clean and orderly work area around their workstation, including around and under machines and equipment.
• Other duties, as needed.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Strong math, reading, writing and literacy required.
• Must be able to understand and operate the Mixing machinery in a safe and productive manner, according to SOP’s.
• Ability to identify all machine and work center stop buttons, machine guards, hoods, doors and safety warnings, among other items, to ensure safety and efficient operation of the mixing machinery.
• Regular and reliable attendance required.
• Previous experience, aptitude and/or willingness for hands‑on mechanical troubleshooting.
• Follows 5S principles in Production areas; embraces and practices continuous improvement program at Bowman Andros.
• Basic Computer skills strongly preferred.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be always worn in the Production Area.
• Must be able to communicate with all levels of management and maintenance.
• Safe use of sharp instruments, mechanical tools (such as wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.), a non‑powered pallet jack, a powered industrial truck, and a drum hauler.
• Ability to work in fast paced environment where priorities change frequently.
• Excellent oral and communication skills.
• Detail‑oriented.
• Ability and willingness to work as part of a team.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a teammate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The PET Mixer Operator is required to work on the production floor. While performing the duties of this job, the teammate frequently will be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and extreme heat and/or cold. The teammate continuously works near moving mechanical parts and is exposed to pinch points and hot surfaces. The teammate will be exposed to loud noises from production equipment and thus will be required to wear PPE. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may be high at times due to production and mechanical equipment noise.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be performed by an teammate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the teammate is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel objects, reach with hands and arms; see, talk and/or hear. The teammate will be required to lift, climb, balance, bend, stoop, crawl and crouch. The teammate is required to stand for up to a 12-hour period (with breaks). The teammate is required to taste, touch and smell.

The teammate will regularly need to lift up to 50 pounds, and occasionally push or pull up to 75 pounds.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of teammates under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.