Extruder Operator

Job description

A mutually rewarding experience.

Work. Realize your ambitions. And realize there's more to being in business than just making a profit. That's the Mars philosophy. And the opportunity we offer every one of our Associates. An opportunity to take what you do and make it mean more for you, for those around you and for the planet. What you get here is challenging, interesting work. You get the tools you need to do a great job and you get to have the best possible people on your side to help you do it. And at the same time as getting to find ways to do business better today than we did it yesterday and driving a great career, you also get to build a more enlightened business and drive sustainability.

Because it's never just about a single person, a single project or a single brand. It's about how you can grab everything that's within your reach here and use it to pursue mutual, long-term gain. It's about having ideas. And ideals. Being prepared to risk failure because the promise of success means we'll all be a little better off. It's that mix of integrity and ambition that makes Mars such a special place to work. And why working here is always about more than just a job.

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With almost $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world's best-loved brands: M&M's®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN'S®, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD® Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.

JOB TITLE: Extruder Operator

JOB REPORTS TO: Shift Manager

POSITION SUMMARY:

Responsible for ensuring quality product is extruded and will operate/change over specified machinery in the assigned area. Operator must have the skillset to train and/or perform tasks of other associates in the area as needed. This job requires strong communication skills, interpersonal and team building skills to support site objectives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

·  Perform all of the following duties in the processing area of the plant. This includes operating all systems, performing all quality checks, maintaining conformance reports and system logs, and troubleshooting all aspects of each system:

Extrusion - extrude mixed meal and dry kibbles that meet all quality specifications and optimize plant capacity.

Coating - coat and blend kibbles with tallow and digest into the finished product according to recipe requirements; coordinate with packaging and extrusion to optimize product stream and bunker inventory levels.

·  Manage and set strategy for the three processing systems to ensure meeting or exceeding production schedule in the most efficient manner possible.
·  Maintain a safe and clean work environment to promote associate safety and product integrity.
·  Ability to actively address food safety and quality concerns.
·  Troubleshoot processing systems that are not performing properly and take corrective action to ensure product quality while minimizing unnecessary downtime.
·  Improve operations through individual and group problem solving and provide leadership in solving problems on the floor and in meetings.
·  Promote high quality team environment through effective team work and self-management with a positive attitude.

·  Able to start and stop extrusion system with 90 days of assignment to area
·  Able to perform all testing and sampling in extrusion area and complete conformance sheets accurately
·  Demonstrates knowledge of area GMP’s
·  Demonstrates basic understanding of the process flow and equipment in the immediate area
·  Able to clean & assemble die plates
·  Able to safely operate all equipment and systems in extrusion
·  LOTO training complete
·  Demonstrates understanding of E-stop strategy for area and can locate all E-stops
·  Able to do weekly processing start up and shut down procedures
·  Able to identify quality issues and make parameter adjustments to correct these
·  Able to set up for any recipe and input initial parameters and run effectively on any extrusion system
·  Able to run Quality and R&D test
·  Takes ownership for area in terms of safety and housekeeping, and problem escalation
·  Understand the meat process
·  Demonstrates a thorough understanding of all equipment in the area, how it operates, what normal conditions are, and can identify abnormal conditions
·  Able to assist in identifying solutions to problems and short term alternatives to circumvent problems
·  Demonstrates ability to consistently run all VIC products at 95% A grade while optimizing moisture and minimizing regrind
·  Able to optimize extruder efficiency by balancing finished product bin level and extruder rates
·  Able to accurately troubleshoot mechanical and controls system issues
·  Able to help maintenance/tech services find long-term solutions to problems in area
·  Able to cover for one other processing position, and keeps up to date with changes in that area
·  Able to provide on-the-job training for new process associates on extruder operation, quality parameters, GMP’s, and safety
·  Able to understand and adjust the schedule when needed
·  Demonstrates consistent application of product knowledge in solving quality issues
·  Able to work with engineering and maintenance to make upgrades to area systems
·  Works on PMs on a regular basis

·  OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES :
·  Maintain a clean, safe work environment that promotes associate safety and product integrity.
·  Improve operations through individual and group problem solving and provide leadership in solving problems on the floor and in meetings.
·  Promote high quality team environment through effective team work and self-direction with a positive attitude.
·  Obtain and maintain proficiency in job specific business systems such as Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel systems. Remain current with facility utilized business systems.
·  May have to perform special non-routine tasks associated with corporate requests, projects and tests
·  Participate in site action circles and focus groups as appropriate.
·  Train other area associates in operation of all areas and systems.
·  Other duties as required.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

·  Have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent education and 18 years of age or older
·  Good math, reading and writing skills.
·  High level of mechanical aptitude and knowledge with good skills in troubleshooting and problem solving.
·  Excellent housekeeping skills and knowledge of GMP's.
·  Good knowledge of personal computers.
·  Ability and willingness to develop and manage self, demonstrate self-directed workgroup leadership and contribute to efficiency, quality and cost optimization with minimal supervision and a positive attitude.
·  Ability to lift 50 lbs.
·  Ability to work 8-12 hour shifts under variable conditions such as heat, cold, high and /or confined spaces and have full mobility with ability to climb ladders and stairs and do repetitive bending and twisting. Must be able to cover peers on off-shifts.

Who Should Apply… We are looking for individuals who demonstrate the following behaviors:

·  Team Player
·  Action-Oriented
·  Problem Solving Abilities
·  Strong Communication Skills
·  Continuous Self-Development

All interested Associates please get approval from your manager and apply online.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.

Nearest Major Market: Riverside
Nearest Secondary Market: Los Angeles
Job Segment: Engineer, Engineering