Craftmate Lead

Description

SUMMARY 

Responsible for overseeing the operational aspects of the Craftmate production line to ensure the efficient and high-quality filling and packaging of beverage cans. You will be responsible for coordinating production activities, maintaining equipment, and enforcing rigorous quality control measures to meet industry standards. You will play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of the Craftmate production process by organizing and securing the packaged pallets for storage and transportation. 

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Operations Oversight: Manage the setup, operation, and maintenance of Craftmate equipment to ensure accurate product filling, secure pallet stacking, and consistent adherence to safety and quality standards. Monitor production flow and promptly address any operational issues. Escalate matters to supervisor and/or manager as appropriate. 
• Troubleshooting & Equipment Maintenance: Lead efforts in diagnosing and resolving equipment malfunctions, coordinating with maintenance teams to minimize downtime. Oversee routine maintenance and cleaning to ensure optimal equipment performance and prevent contamination, ensuring compliance with Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) schedules.
• Quality Control & Documentation: Ensure consistent quality control throughout filling and palletizing processes by conducting regular checks and addressing any defects or deviations. Maintain detailed documentation on production activities, equipment performance, and quality inspections, while also ensuring thorough completion of all area quality checks. Verify attainment percentages for each job, investigating variances from intended completion levels and root causes of excess scrap or other discrepancies.  
• Leadership & Training Support: Lead, mentor, and coach team members on filling and palletizing processes, ensuring safety, operational efficiency, and competency. Provide hands-on training for new operators or team members transitioning to advanced tasks, focusing on equipment operation, troubleshooting, and production optimization. Share best practices on machine calibration, product changeovers, and efficiency improvements while assessing team performance to align with production goals. Manage transitions between jobs smoothly, using clear communication with team regarding transitions and changeover instructions, as well as any changes to existing production schedules. 
• Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement opportunities for process improvements, efficiency gains, and waste reduction. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to conduct process analysis and develop performance reports that enhance production performance and operational efficiency. 
• Safety Leadership: Promote a safety-first culture by enforcing compliance with safety protocols, guidelines, and regulatory requirements across filling and palletizing operations. Lead by example, fostering safety awareness and best practices, and ensuring compliance with established job safety practices. 
• Team Collaboration: Collaborate closely with Specialists and cross-functional teams, including shift supervisors and maintenance, to align efforts, share knowledge, and achieve production goals. Participate in early line leader tie-in meetings to facilitate effective communication and coordination. 

Duties Specific to Wet End

• Machine Setup: Prepare the Krones can filling machine for production runs by configuring settings, such as can size, fill volume, and product type. Ensure the machine is clean, sanitized, and ready for production according to established CIP protocols.
• Machine Operation: Monitor the can filling machine during operation to ensure consistent product quality. Load cans into the machine, oversee the filling, sealing, and labeling processes, and make minor adjustments as needed.
• Cleaning and Maintenance: Perform routine cleaning and preventive maintenance on the filling machine. Adhere to sanitation and food safety standards, including GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), and ensure the machine remains in optimal working condition.
• Record Keeping: Maintain detailed and accurate records of production data, machine settings, quality control checks, and any maintenance activities for regulatory compliance and operational efficiency. 

Duties Specific to Dry End  

• Palletizing cans (if applicable): Receive cans from the filler and stack them onto pallets according to established patterns or instructions. This includes manually lifting and placing cans onto pallets or operating automated palletizing equipment.
• Quality control: Inspect cans for defects, such as dents, damage, or mislabeling, before palletizing. Remove any defective cans and report issues to the supervisor.
• Pallet preparation: Ensure that pallets are clean, in good condition, and appropriate for the type of cans being palletized. Place pallets in the designated area and prepare them for stacking. 
• Stacking and securing: Stack cans or cartons on pallets in a stable and secure manner, following specific stacking patterns or instructions. This may involve arranging units in layers, interlocking them, or using dividers to prevent shifting during transportation.
• Labeling and documentation: Affix appropriate labels to pallets, indicating the product, quantity, lot number, and any other required information. Maintain accurate records of palletized cans, including counts and batch numbers.
• Equipment operation: Operate palletizing machinery, such as forklifts, pallet jacks, or automated robotic systems, to assist in the palletizing process. Ensure safe and efficient use of equipment, following all operational and safety protocols.
• Cleanliness and safety: Maintain a clean and organized work area, including removing empty cans, debris, and any hazards. Adhere to safety procedures, including wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and following proper lifting techniques to prevent injuries.

Duties Specific to Batching  

• Batching and Mixing Operations: Overseeing the batching and mixing of raw materials according to recipes and production schedules.
• Quality Control: Ensuring all batches meet quality standards through accurate measurements, testing, and adherence to specifications.
• Inventory Management: Monitoring and managing inventory levels of raw materials and finished products related to batching.
• Equipment Maintenance: Coordinating maintenance and cleaning of batching equipment to ensure optimal performance and safety. 
• Safety Compliance: Enforcing safety protocols and ensuring a safe working environment during batching operations.
• Team Leadership: Leading batching operators and providing guidance on procedures, troubleshooting, and best practices. 
• Documentation: Maintaining accurate records and documentation related to batching processes, including batch logs, quality reports, and inventory records.
• Process Improvement: Identifying opportunities for process optimization, efficiency improvements, and cost savings in batching operations.
• Training and Development: Training new employees on batching procedures, safety protocols, and quality standards.
• Communication: Collaborating with other departments such as production, quality assurance, and maintenance to ensure seamless operations and resolve any issues.

Food Safety  

Responsible and required to notify management about actual or potential food safety issues; and empowered to act to resolve food safety issues within their scope of work. If this position is vacant for any significant period of time the obligation for completion of all food safety and quality related tasks will become the responsibility of the direct manager or a qualified designee. 

QUALIFICATIONS  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Education: 

High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one year of related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Proven experience in a production environment with strong leadership and coordination abilities is required. Relevant certifications (e.g., Lean Six Sigma, TPM, OSHA safety training) are a plus. A commitment to safety, housekeeping, and preventative maintenance practices, as well as flexibility to work different shifts when required. 

Skills/Knowledge: 

Has learned the basic skills and routine tasks necessary. Beginning to learn advanced skills and gaining an understanding of the total process flow. Familiarity with CIP (Clean-in-Place) processes and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) guidelines in a food and beverage production environment is crucial to ensure compliance with safety and sanitation protocols. Strong mechanical troubleshooting aptitude or experience. 

Computer Skills:  

Must have basic knowledge of a variety of computer software applications, in word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. 

Physical Demands: 

The Physical demands 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.  

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle and feel objects, tools, and controls. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, bend, and reach with hands and arms. 
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.