Breakout Operator - 3rd Shift

PL Developments Careers•Piedmont, SC

About The Position

The Breakout Operator is a highly skilled, cross-trained production professional responsible for maintaining continuous operation of multiple production lines and equipment throughout the facility. The role provides coverage during breaks, lunches, absences, vacations, and other production needs, transitioning between production areas and operating a range of manufacturing machinery with minimal supervision. The operator supports productivity, quality standards, and operational efficiency by maintaining production flow, troubleshooting equipment issues, and helping achieve line performance goals. The schedule is Sunday through Thursday, 10:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. The position involves working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and around moving machinery and chemical substances, including alcohol and peroxide solutions. Competitive pay, including shift differential premiums, is offered.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least three years of experience operating production equipment in a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated ability to operate and troubleshoot multiple types of production machinery.
Strong mechanical aptitude and understanding of machine operation, setup, adjustments, and basic troubleshooting.
Ability to maintain accurate production records and documentation with strong attention to detail.
Experience operating electric forklifts and pallet jacks.
Ability to read, understand, and follow technical manuals, work instructions, and standard operating procedures.
Strong quality and safety mindset.
Effective communication and teamwork skills.
Ability to adapt quickly to changing production priorities and work in multiple areas.
Ability to work independently with limited supervision.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during an eight-hour shift.
Ability to frequently bend, reach, twist, stoop, push, and pull.
Ability to regularly lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 pounds throughout the shift.
Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with exposure to noise, dust, temperature fluctuations, and moving machinery.
Ability to safely operate material handling equipment, including electric pallet jacks and forklifts.
Ability to work around manufacturing chemicals, including alcohol and peroxide solutions.
Ability to wear required PPE, including safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, hairnets, beard nets, and safety footwear.

Responsibilities

Operate production machinery in accordance with standard operating procedures, including fillers, cappers, conveyors, sleeve machines, accumulation systems, labelers, bottle coders, bottle hoppers and orienters, induction sealers, steam and heat tunnels, case erectors and packers, neck clip applicators, box sealers, palletizers, and robotic stacking systems.
Provide coverage across multiple production lines and work centers during breaks, lunches, absences, vacations, and other operational needs.
Set up machines correctly and ensure operating parameters are within specified tolerances.
Monitor production processes and machine performance to meet safety, quality, efficiency, and production goals.
Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve routine equipment or process issues to minimize downtime and maintain line performance.
Conduct visual product inspections, follow quality control procedures, and report non-conforming products to supervisors.
Perform routine machinery maintenance, including cleaning, lubricating, and minor repairs, and report malfunctions or maintenance needs to the maintenance team.
Maintain accurate records of production activities, downtime, output, and quality checks; complete reports and communicate issues or concerns to supervisors.
Follow Good Manufacturing Practices, company policies, safety procedures, and regulatory requirements; wear required PPE and report unsafe conditions, incidents, or near misses.
Work safely around production equipment, moving machinery, and manufacturing chemicals, including alcohol and peroxide solutions.
Cross-train and maintain proficiency on multiple equipment platforms and production processes throughout the facility.
Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, and waste reduction.