Lead Extrusion Operator, 2nd Shift (D957) - Wellness Pet Company

*This position is 2nd Shift: 2:00 PM - 10:30 PM*

Location:Decatur, AR – Manufacturing Plant

About Wellness Pet Company

The Wellness Pet Company crafts and produces premium natural pet food, treats, and dental chews. We believe that natural, premium nutrition focused on proven health outcomes is the foundation of creating a mutual wellbeing for pets and their families. As a community of people, Wellies are positively obsessed about how to win for pets and their parents. We believe in the difference we make every single day, and we know that when we work collaboratively, Wellies are unstoppable -- Not only in providing the best nutrition to pets, but in building a better tomorrow for pets, their parents, and the world.

When you join Wellness Pet, you join a team whose aligned values and purpose create a unique and exciting place to work every day. Join us on our adventure to fulfill a life of wellbeing together with pets and their parents.

Our Decatur manufacturing facility is committed to nutritional innovation, product quality, and safety. To ensure our product quality, we control the entire manufacturing process in Decatur, from consistent quality checks on all raw materials coming into the plant, to the shipment of our finished product to customers. Our employees take pride in the natural products we produce for the pets who depend on us. We offer our employees a positive, friendly work environment where you can grow your skills, competitive pay, and excellent benefits – Come for a walk with us today!

Position Summary: The Extrusion Lead is responsible for maintaining production flow for extrusion lines, general production housekeeping and operator supervision. Oversight of quality of product being produced and ensuring all checks are completed and accurately recorded. Must be able to operate, troubleshoot extrusion equipment according to scheduled production needs. Extruder Leads regularly work 40 hours per week with overtime as business needs require.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Responsible for setting up, starting up and operation of extruder equipment according to the production schedule.
• Monitors equipment and uses tools to make adjustments, change over’s, small repairs and perform basic maintenance as required.

• Play an active role in the training of extruder operators
• Maximize the efficiency and throughput of the extruder and produce quality pounds
• Maintain production records and ensure extruder personnel are completing records accurately
• Recommend measures to improve production methods, equipment performance, and quality of products
• Performs sanitation tasks to ensure area meets quality standards.
• Interface with shift supervisors to ensure packaging lines are adequately suppliers and IS bins are not overfilled
• Maintain housekeeping at a high level in extrusion area, through the involvement of all extruder employees
• Initiate, recommend, investigate, troubleshoot, and provide solutions and actions to prevent occurrence of any nonconformities relating to products, processes, and quality systems
• Manage and/or adjust work procedures to meet production requirements
• Work with maintenance to develop operator PMs for equipment
• Monitor condition of die plates
• Interface with maintenance and engineering to develop and test new die plate concepts
• Develop standards and routines for extrusion
• Create recipes with Controls Engineer to establish standard run starts by recipe or recipe family
• Establish extrusion density conversion (by recipe) for operator reference
• Work with product development on trials and commissioning runs to ensure consistent results as well as replicable production
• Perform and document in-process quality checks on a periodic basis on representative samples in order to ensure that product meets quality standards.
• Clean, disassemble and reassemble line equipment in order to prepare machine for inspection or deep cleaning.

• Actively follow safety procedures and policies in all job tasks.
• Follow and hold others accountable for following all company Good Manufacturing Practices.
• All other duties as assigned.

Workplace Safety:

• Completes safety system documentation and verifies compliance to program standards. Reports deviations to Supervisor.
• Participates in mandatory safety trainings and adheres to all safety policies
• Required to report all safety issues, near misses, and injuries

Quality & Food Safety:

• Completes quality & food safety system documentation and verifies compliance to program standards. Reports deviations to Supervisor.
• Participates in mandatory food safety and quality training program requirements
• Preserves the integrity of the BRC system through adherence to the policies and procedures outlined. Takes actions necessary to resolve food safety and quality system deficiencies
• Required to report food safety and quality system failures and take actions necessary to preserve the BRC system.

Position Requirements:

• Must have a minimum of 3 years’ experience in extruder operation
• Must have a minimum of 1 years in a supervisor/lead role in a manufacturing plant
• High School Diploma or GED required
• Knowledge of Safety, HACCP, GMP’s, and OSHA standards
• Strong knowledge of extrusion – the process and equipment
• Ability to effectively train new operators
• Positive attitude and willingness to learn
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow instructions and procedures
• Knowledge of 5S is a plus
• Experience with or ability to learn computerized equipment (i.e.: scales, controllers, computer-based operator interfaces, etc.)
• Ability to read, write, and communicate using the English language.
• Ability to work in an environment which includes frequent exposure to elements such as odor, noise, heat, cold, dust and chemicals.
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift 35-50 pounds in order to move ingredients and finished product, stand, walk, push/pull up to 50 pounds, reach overhead, and bend to the floor.
• Demonstrate mechanical aptitude.
• Must be familiar with use of hand tools.
• Good verbal and mathematical capability at a high school level.
• Proficient with computer applications and Microsoft Office products

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in pet food manufacturing.

The Wellness Pet Company is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We celebrate diversity and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or veteran status.