Extrusion Operator, Sr. jobs in Yakima, WA

EXTRUSION LEAD

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Extrusion Lead position will leverage their industry experience to help Kwik Lok effectively innovate and support Kwik Lok production activities through the manufacture of Kwik Lok closures with a focus on continuing improvement of quality, food safety, and manufacturing processes. This position is a critical component to ensuring Kwik Lok employee safety and success during each extrusion shift.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Kwik Lok has been producing a product that most of us have depended on our entire lives – the clip that closes your produce and loaves of bread to keep it fresh! Kwik Lok is an innovation and engineering organization focused on sustainability. We are in the business of “hacking the package” – innovating clever advantages in packaging to get food to the table faster, fresher, and safer while reducing waste. Kwik Lok is a 3rd generation, family-owned company headquartered in Yakima, WA with 8 offices and 6 plants worldwide. We are a mid-size company delivering our product to almost 100 countries.

We know that people are looking for jobs that are a better fit in their lives right now. Here are a few pieces of information that might help you decide whether Kwik Lok is a good fit for you:

• Inclusive culture: Kwik Lok is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion to increase the success of our employees and customers. We want every person to feel part of the team! Our team members come from a variety of backgrounds, and we see value in learning from each other’s different perspectives.
• Innovation: Our goal is to create an environment where employees can be curious and express ideas to identify new and better solutions. We want every employee to be engaged in improving our workplace and work processes. Innovation isn't just for engineers!
• Meaningful work: We know that every job has things you'll love doing and things you'll love less. Our goal is to engage our employees in our vision for the company and provide them with meaningful work where they can learn, grow, and be part of solutions that improve the lives of our customers and their communities while protecting the health of our planet. No matter what your job entails, we want you to know that what you do makes a difference.
• Impacting the community and environment: Kwik Lok takes corporate social responsibility seriously, and we appreciate that our position in the industry gives us the ability to help do good in so many areas. We are committed to providing educational and economic opportunity, improving well-being, fostering innovation, and protecting the planet. You can read our most recent Sustainability Report on our website.
• Work-life balance: At Kwik Lok, we know that in order for you to be your best at work, you need time to recharge as well. Whenever possible, we offer flexibility in start/stop times and even opportunities for remote work. We want you to be energized at work, and when the day is done we want you to go home and enjoy your personal life!

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES AND RESULTS

General

• Perform routine line checks several times daily to ensure efficiency and to check on progress of machine, production, and personnel.
• Work closely with maintenance personnel to ensure all equipment is running at optimal levels for expected output and product quality.
• Maintain plastic master roll inventory, wood inventory for pallet making, and report re-ordering needs to Manager.
• Take colorant inventory the first Monday of each month.
• Monitor product and packaging materials to ensure cleanliness of finished product and food safety for our customers.
• Ensure the quality of product through constant monitoring, regarding color, thickness of material, and free of any defects.
• Follow all company established food safety and quality guidelines and procedures.
• Stock and clean assigned work area daily to ensure a clean and safe work environment for teammates on the following shift, and integrity/safety of our finished product.
• Monitor the production area to ensure all personnel in the area are authorized to be there, report anything suspicious or anyone without a badge. Immediately, ask the person without a proper badge if they are supposed to be in the building and if they have signed in.
• Additional functions as assigned and needed for the good of the organization.

Extruding

• Run orders as assigned by Production Management in the proper sequence.
• Safely operate extrusion equipment in the manufacturing of plastic Master Rolls.
• Maintain extrusion production schedule to support slitting operations and die cut production orders/schedule needs.
• Assist with operating granulator, recycling production and extrusion waste into regrind material for use in extrusion.
• Monitor regrind to be mixed at a rate per company specifications.
• Enter Resin and colorant batch/lot number into ERP system to be applied to master rolls, providing traceability of product throughout the entire manufacturing process.
• Develop and maintain advanced knowledge of Kwik Lok extrusion processes.

Personnel Responsibilities

• Monitor employee attendance and safety during shift.
• Be a mentor to teammates: Provide direction and continual, just-in-time feedback.
• Work with team and management to create and work towards shared goals and plans for departmental success.
• Foster collaboration and active communication within team to ensure resources are shared and team goals are accomplished.
• Assist management in gaining buy-in from team, and demonstrating value of change to the status quo; Identifies how change will impact self and others. Identifies personal reasons for resistance to change.
• Collaborate with management to create or deliver trainings; Understands depth of information needed by recipient and tailors communication appropriately.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 5 years of previous extrusion experience required
• Demonstrated experience working with others in a lead capacity
• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug and background screening
• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship

KEY SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Self-motivated, innovative, takes ownership of position
• Team player who leads by example; Good work ethic
• Strong decision-making skills
• Strives for continual improvement; looks for new ways of doing things, streamlining processes and making recommendations that will boost productivity
• Advanced emotional intelligence with the ability to analyze feelings of self and others; Ability to view situations from multiple perspectives; Consciously engages in different viewpoints with curiosity and respect
• Able to take direction and feedback from management; Seeks and accepts feedback for personal development

ALL THE DETAILS…

• Compensation: $27.46 – 34.08 per hour, depending on experience
• Insurance Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription, Life and Disability Insurance plans (60 day waiting period)
• Retirement Benefits: 401K Plan with company match (90 day waiting period - restrictions apply)
• Paid Time Off: (90 day waiting period, prorated for first year)
• Vacation: 120 hours a year, with increases based on years of serviceo Holidays: 70 hours a year (8.5 days): 1 Floating Holiday, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday following, half day on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day
• Holidays: 70 hours a year (8.5 days): 1 Floating Holiday, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday following, half day on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day
• Sick Leave: 40 hours a year, accrued at 1 hour per 40 hours worked for hourly employees, salary employees prorated for first year
• Other Compensation: Employees may be eligible for annual performance bonuses
• Schedule: Monday – Thursday 3:30pm – 2:00am (2nd shift)
• Location: Yakima, WA
• Work Environment: Manufacturing facility – noise level 85-95 dB, frequently lifting to 40 lbs., intermittent physical activity (bend, squat, kneel, reach, sit, stand, walk). Constantly seeing, hearing, and talking. Occasionally bends, squats, reaches, and kneels. Regularly sits, stands, and walks.

To learn more about Kwik Lok, click here.

Kwik Lok is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply. We value a diverse workforce and provide equal opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, genetic information, or status as a veteran. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job or participate in the application and interview process.

To view labor compliance information, click here.