Production Operator

SGL Carbon’s Moses Lake facility is located in the heart of Washington state. This facility takes advantage of the abundant renewable electricity provided by nearby hydro-electric dams located throughout Grant County. It utilizes this electricity to power its large convection ovens and furnaces, converting Polyacrylonitrile into high strength carbon fiber. The Moses Lake facility is the premier Carbon Fiber producer of SGL Carbon’s North American operations. Built in 2011, this facility is one of the most technologically advanced 50K carbon fiber producers in the world. The campus consists of 3 production buildings housing 5 operating carbon fiber lines, a warehouse and an administration building. SGL Carbon’s Moses Lake facility employs over 150 well trained, dedicated, and safety minded team members.

SUMMARY OF JOB CONTENTS

The Production Operator is an hourly position and is expected to understand and safely execute all duties as outlined in the Standard Work Instructions. In addition, this person will have responsibility for maintaining productivity and efficiency of the carbon fiber line, periodic machine cleaning and other assignments as deemed necessary. The position requires the ability to push, pull and lift up to 50lbs, climb ladders and stairs and walk or stand for considerable lengths of time. 

KEY ACCOUNTABILTIES

Production Operator
•    Perform all duties associated with producing carbon fiber in a safe and efficient manner. 
•    Work in and maintain a team culture and assist co-workers in performing tasks, as necessary.
•    Keep processing equipment and machinery clean and functioning efficiently.
•    Monitor fiber quality, spool size and size content to ensure that fiber meets customer specifications.
•    Must quickly, safely and consistently respond to line issues.
•    Must wear and ensure co-workers wear badge and all safety required personal protective equipment for the position.
•    Must properly maintain all equipment and tools; including but not limited to PPE, HCN monitors, radios, cleaning tools, knives, scissors and uniforms.
•    Successfully complete all scheduled safety trainings and procedure trainings.
•    Must meet and maintain qualification status for all Production Operator Benchmarks as outlined in the Production Performance Assessment Training Curriculum. 
•    Ensure proper techniques are used in key situations such as correcting wraps, stringing up winders, packaging various quality levels of spools, splicing etc.
•    Assist in training new hires
•    Other necessary duties as assigned by Supervisor.

Senior Production Operator
•    Perform all duties listed above as well as the following:
•    Train and mentor Operators and new team members 
•    Recommends measures to improve production methods, equipment performance and quality of product.
•    Must be able to serve as a member of the wrap team.
•    Conducts regular shift safety inspections with building supervision. 
•    Suggests changes in working conditions and use of equipment to increase safety and efficiency of department and work crew.  
•    Reviews and suggests changes to operating procedures.
•    Suggests or initiates plans to motivate co-workers to achieve work goals.  

Expert Production Operator
•    Perform all duties listed above
•    Must have in depth knowledge of all line operating systems and complete functionality from the Creel input through the Winders. 
•    Troubleshoot problems in the production process using Lab Data and SPC charts.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

Production Operator
•    Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
•    Must have and maintain an excellent safety and attendance record.
•    Must be able to work a rotating shift schedule which includes nights and weekends; must also be able to work overtime when required
•    Must possess good written and verbal communication skills.
•    Must have basic mathematical skills
•    Must be able to monitor fiber winding process and react safely and quickly to process problems.
•    Must be able to learn, comprehend and retain the information to become efficient at monitoring the product during packaging and process line, ensuring finished product quality and troubleshooting  equipment function.
•    Successfully complete benchmark testing 
•    Must demonstrate a clear understanding of product traceability and how to segregate material.
•    Must demonstrate the ability to accurately and consistently identify and correctly manage various quality defects.

Senior Production Operator
•    Must meet above knowledge, skills and abilities.
•    9 months of carbon fiber experience required.
•    Must have knowledge of all operating systems and complete functionality from the Creel input area through the packaging area.
•    Able to work independently and make safe, efficient and effective appropriate level decisions.
•    Must be recommended for promotion by 3 members of shift leadership (Supervisor and/or Shift Manager) and meet the standards stated on the 360 Feedback form completed by 3 members of shift leadership (Supervisor and/or Shift Manager)
•    Must have good attendance and performance record; minimum of 6 months in good attendance status (cannot be on a Written Warning or above).
•    Must have good performance standing, cannot be on a written warning or above

Expert Production Operator
•    Must meet above knowledge, skills and abilities.
•    18 months of carbon fiber experience required.
•    Able to meet all requirements and achieve a level 2 rating for the Production Operator position.  Take this out I believe bc we doing feedback form
•    Must possess an overall knowledge of plant equipment machinery and be able to learn processes.
•    Must be able to troubleshoot using Lab Data and SPC.
•    Must be certified on 2 of the 3: forklift, aerial lift and/or scissor lift 
•    Must be recommended for promotion by 3 members of shift leadership (Supervisor and/or Shift Manager) and meet the standards stated on the 360 Feedback form completed by 3 members of shift leadership (Supervisor and/or Shift Manager)
•    Must have good attendance and performance record; minimum of 6 months in good attendance status (cannot be on a Written Warning or above).
•    Must have good performance standing, cannot be on a written or above

 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS 
The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is continuously required to stand, walk; regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms; occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk or hear. 

Employees must occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds and repetitively lift and carry 35 lbs and push or pull up to 60 pounds. Must be able to control and manipulate pallet lifting device.  Must be able to prove ability to safely and efficiently manipulate Carbon Fiber material through winders/rollers.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to extreme heat, minimal concentration of chemicals and HCN below DOSH standards, frequently exposed to work near moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is below OSHA required PPE levels but considered loud in some areas.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. 
This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and Team Member and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

What we offer:

• Medical with Prescription Drug Program
• Dental Plan
• Vision Plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts / Health Savings Account
• Company-paid Short and Long Term Disability
• Company-paid Basic Life / Accidental Death and Dismemberment / Travel Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Optional Life Insurance / AD&D for Employee and Dependents
• 401k Savings Plan with company match
• Additional Company contribution to 401k after 1 year of employment
• Paid Time Off: 120 hours annually (increases by 8 hours each year, rollover up to 80 hours)
• Company Paid Holidays: 12 paid holidays plus up to 3 additional floating holidays based on hire date