Color Blend Technician

Shaw Industries•Bainbridge, GA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Operates all compounding extrusion systems and PET processing equipment, at posted process specifications while insuring quality color products meet requirements. This role involves operating compounding extrusion systems to produce quality color products that meet specific requirements, including being free of contamination and consistently the correct color shade, pellet form, and size. The technician will review work in progress with the outgoing operator, record operating conditions, and perform necessary procedures like screen pack changes to maintain extruder back pressure within specifications. Ensuring correct additives are blended per the pre-mix, verifying labels and pigment color, and notifying management of discrepancies are key responsibilities. The role also includes managing additive percentages with the on-line blender, entering data into the blender control computer, determining and installing correct weigh hopper components, and calibrating weigh hoppers. Monitoring blender functions, recording data, and performing color change procedures, including saving, packaging, and delivering remaining material for recycling, are also essential. This involves cleaning and preparing the blender, determining purge amounts to minimize waste and prevent contamination, disassembling and cleaning the Rotex screener, and reassembling it. The technician will also set pelletizer blades, ensure downstream equipment is ready, and restart the compound line. Maintaining accurate downtime records, assisting with color changes on other lines, performing pellet count tests, and maintaining pellet size within specifications using SPC charting are part of the duties. Troubleshooting processing problems, performing minor mechanical repairs, verifying equipment settings, changing quench bath water, adding de-foamer, and immediately notifying management of any issues or nonconforming material are also critical. The technician is responsible for maintaining equipment in safe, operable condition, operating and performing checklists for lift trucks, changing lift truck batteries, adhering to lock-out/tag-out procedures, and performing housekeeping in production and warehouse areas. Compliance with the Shaw Management System (SMS), active participation in the Quality P.R.I.D.E. Process, performing all job duties using safe work methods, and adhering to absenteeism and tardiness policies are required. The role also involves complying with S.A.F.E. System procedures and working normally scheduled days, adhering to starting and stopping times, and working overtime as required. Other duties include assisting Color Plant associates as needed.

Requirements

Must successfully complete Lift Truck Operator certification.
Must possess good interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
Must be able to work holidays, weekends, and overtime as required.
Must be able to sit, walk, stand, bend, stoop, squat, lift, carry, climb, and reach, as required.
Must be able to lift up to fifty (50) pounds, as required.
Must be able to ascend and descend stairs/ladders, as required.
Must be able to operate a hoist, as required.
Must be able to push pallet jacks loaded weighing up to 1800 pounds, as required.
Must be able to work with hands over head, as required.
Must attend a one (1) day orientation training session familiarizing new associate with the Plant and basic procedures.
Must attend Quality/Safety training as required.
Must participate in an on the job training session familiarizing the new associate with their job duties.
Responsible for safety equipment issued including safety glasses, earplugs, and safety vest.
Responsible for equipment, materials, and supplies necessary to perform assigned tasks.
Must maintain a safe and clean work area at all times.
Must report any unsafe conditions to supervision.
Must report all accidents no matter how slight to supervision immediately.
Must wear personal protective equipment as required while on the job.
Must comply with all plant and department safety rules and regulations.
Must wear safety required shoes.

Responsibilities

Operates all compounding extrusion systems at posted process specifications while insuring quality color products meet requirements.
Reviews status of work in progress with off going Compound (Line) Operator.
Records operating conditions reading at the start of the shift, every hour, any condition change and start up.
Performs screen pack change procedure as required to keep extruder back pressure within process specification tolerances.
Insures correct additive are blended per the pre-mix. Checks container label. Verifies color of pigment, per labeling and the pre mix sheet. Notifies management of any discrepancy.
Insures all additives are blended at the correct percentages with the on line blender. Enters all percentages into blender. Insures a constant supply of raw material to all blender weigh hoppers. Enters weigh hopper presets into the blender control computer. Determines and installs correct gearbox/auger/sleeve combinations for each weigh hopper at product change. Calibrates weigh hoppers at every product change of each shift. Monitors all blender critical functions and records on operating conditions form and color batch verification form as required.
Performs color change procedure as required. Saves all remaining material from previous batch for recycling, package and delivers to Color Weigh and Inventory Technician. Cleans and prepares on line blender for upcoming color batch. Determines amount of purging necessary to transition from one color batch to the next with least amount of waste possible and no contamination of color batch being started up. Purges compound line. Disassembles Rotex screener. Cleans all pellets and dust from pelletizing system components and material handling components. Reassembles Rotex screener. Sets pelletizer blades. Insures downstream equipment is ready to receive product before any product transfer is initiated. Restarts compound line.
Maintains accurate records of all down time (cause, result, total time).
Assists in color changes on other lines other than the lines he/she is operating.
Performs pellet count test as required.
Maintains pellet size within process specification by means of SPC pre-control charting.
Troubleshoots processing problem as required.
Performs minor mechanical repair work as needed: clears stopped water pipes, removes wraps from cutter hubs, and replaces worn blades as needed.
Verify equipment settings are correct per posted process specification sheet.
Changes out quench bath water on strand lines.
Adds 3 droppers of de-foamer to quench water as needed.
Notifies management immediately of any mistakes, unexpected occurrences, equipment malfunctions, and the creation of or discovery of nonconforming material. Follow the Control of Nonconforming Product Handling for disposition of nonconforming product.
Maintains all equipment in a safe, operable condition.
Operates lift truck as required.
Performs lift truck checklist as required.
Changes lift truck battery as required.
Adheres to all lock out/tag out procedures.
Performs housekeeping in the production area and the concentrate warehouse and rail siding, as required.
Complies with procedures found in Shaw Management System (SMS).
Actively participates in the Quality P.R.I.D.E. Process.
Performs all job duties using safe work methods.
Complies with Corporate Absenteeism and Tardiness Policy.
Complies with S.A.F.E. System procedures.
Works normally scheduled days adhering to starting and stopping times. Works overtime as required.
Assists Color Plant associates, as needed.