Process Technician - Premise

AFL manufactures industry-leading fiber optic cable, connectivity and accessories and provides engineering and installation services for some of the largest telecom customers in the world. Our company was founded in 1984 with a single fiber optic cable and today, we manufacture thousands of products, generate an excess of $1B in revenue, and employ more than 5,800 associates worldwide.  At AFL, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We hire and train each individual, investing in them to ensure success in their careers. With a commitment to professional development and growth, let us connect you to your next career opportunity.

The Process Engineering Technician will be a member of the Cable Technology team and will be dedicated to supporting, maintaining, and improving the performance of assigned production lines and/or areas. He/She will work directly with the process engineer to become a process expert, capable of applying technical skills and experience to establish process setup parameters, conduct process development trials, maintain process tooling, troubleshoot the process and equipment, and implement improvements.

He/She will be accountable for delivering tangible results in support of business plan objectives by directly supporting the daily production operations, implementing process improvements, assisting with new product industrialization, and improving capacity utilization.

The position will report to the Process Engineering Manager, or designee, and will be responsible for all aspects of one or more production processes.

The position is in one of our Duncan, SC manufacturing facilities which operates on a twenty-four hour, seven days per week schedule. To support operations, this role will follow the same 2-2-3, 12-hour schedule as the production associates, and will rotate from days to nights every two months.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide daily process and quality support for assigned production lines and/or areas to include the investigation of process and equipment issues, the disposition of items with defects, and the execution of corrective and preventive actions
• Lead efforts to improve performance and resolve recurring quality issues by applying methodical problem-solving techniques to identify root causes and implement sustainable corrective actions
• Select, design, modify, and maintain process tooling, fixtures, and equipment to sustain and improve safety, quality, throughput, and productivity
• Deliver hands-on support for new product development and industrialization, ensuring that the new processes are capable of safely producing high quality products that meet the product specifications, productivity expectations, and cost targets
• Develop and maintain process training documentation, and actively participate in operator training
• Work with internal and external suppliers of materials, equipment, and services to execute projects, resolve issues, and improve processes
• Improve housekeeping and safety by applying 5S principles and participating in audit programs
• Support business plan objectives to increase productivity, reduce waste, improve quality, and enhance safety
• Interact with Process Engineers to support efforts to resolve customer complaints
• Identify, justify, plan, and lead continuous improvement, equipment upgrade, and capacity expansion projects

Personal Qualities

• Dependable and reliable professional that is a self-starter with integrity and confidence, who strives to achieve even the most challenging objectives with limited supervision
• Team player with well-developed interpersonal skills that is comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic, cross-functional, and multi-cultural environment
• Results-oriented individual that is comfortable in a challenging professional environment where complex problem solving is required

Knowledge / Skills / Competences

• Demonstrated ability to resolve processing and quality issues using facts, data, and analysis
• Strong analytical, math, mechanical, and electrical skills
• Intermediate or higher user of MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook)
• Excellent communication skills with ability to convey complex issues in simple terms to all levels of the organization
• General understanding of mechanical drawings and electrical schematics
• Basic understanding of Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) management systems including general safety rules, personal protective equipment, hazard recognition, behavioral based safety, incident reporting requirements, and environmental regulations
• General understanding of quality management systems including ISO 9001
• Basic understanding of budgeting
• Practical understanding of lean manufacturing principles including 5S, SMED, and waste identification and elimination
• Familiarity with Oracle R12 or other ERP systems with a fundamental understanding of work-in-process, inventory management/control, cycle counting, material planning, and production transactions

Requirements & Experience

• Associates degree or higher, preferably in a technical field is strongly preferred
• Degree requirements may be waived based on sufficient (3 years), relevant work experience in manufacturing or maintenance
• Previous manufacturing experience as a production operator, team-lead, maintenance technician, or engineering/process technician is a plus
• Preferential consideration will be given to those candidates with recent manufacturing experience in fiber optic (or other electrical) cable or extrusion