Controls Technician

Blommer Chocolate Careers•East Greenville, PA

About The Position

The Controls Technician troubleshoots plant control systems to minimize downtime and coordinates with other skilled personnel as needed to restore systems. Systems include PLCs, robotics, networked and supervisory controllers, process controllers, and AC or DC motors and drives. The role maintains, troubleshoots, and improves existing instrumentation and control systems, and leads implementation of new systems, including design, specification, installation, calibration, and qualification. The technician supports safety, equipment reliability, productivity, capital projects, process optimization, and environmental and safety compliance. The role also provides controls training and practical guidance to maintenance and production personnel. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Five or more years of manufacturing experience designing, installing, and troubleshooting PLC and motion-control software and hardware.
Five or more years of experience repairing and maintaining equipment or electronics such as servo drives, HMIs, and programmable controllers.
Experience interfacing with PC-based control systems such as Ignition.
Experience with HMI-SCADA-Historian system design, development, and testing.
Experience with error recovery and troubleshooting for robot operations.
Ability to operate a teach pendant, reteach positions, and understand operation flow charts.
Ability to load recipes and programs into controllers and transfer drive parameters for AC or DC motor drive replacement.
Ability to run diagnostics and tune process controllers, such as temperature controllers.
Ability to coordinate an instrument calibration program and calibrate equipment according to manufacturer instructions.
Basic computer skills, including use of a computer, tablet, scanner, and iPad for recording information.
Ability to read and write English to review and prepare shipment paperwork and documents.

Nice To Haves

Industrial trade certification or a diploma in a specific work-related area, such as PLC or drive certifications.
Specific training related to Allen Bradley drive equipment.
Experience with automated packaging.

Responsibilities

Troubleshoot plant control systems quickly to minimize downtime and coordinate with other skilled personnel to restore systems.
Maintain, troubleshoot, and improve existing instrumentation and control systems, and lead implementation of new systems, including design, specification, installation, calibration, and qualification.
Provide technical input to improve safety, equipment reliability, and productivity.
Provide technical support for capital projects involving electrical, controls, instrumentation, or programming integration.
Coordinate integration contractors according to resource and technical expertise requirements.
Conduct basic controls training for maintenance personnel and coach production personnel on reducing automation downtime.
Assist with environmental and safety compliance.
Identify and correct control problems involving PLCs, HMI displays, safety and operational interlocks, photo eyes, drives, and servos.
Use a laptop to run diagnostics on controllers, including networked controllers.
Read electrical schematics, P&IDs, control loops, and ladder logic to support troubleshooting.
Recommend and implement process optimization strategies and improvements aimed at cost savings.
Maintain proficiency in control software and PLC-equipped machinery through vendor training and interaction with engineering personnel.
Load recipes and programs into controllers and transfer drive parameters when replacing AC or DC motor drives.
Troubleshoot robot operations, operate teach pendants, reteach positions, and understand operation flow charts.
Coordinate the site instrument calibration program using internal and external calibration resources.
Calibrate equipment according to manufacturer instructions, including transducers.
Evaluate and implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs for AC and DC motors, drives, and other electrical equipment.
Perform other duties assigned as needed by the business and operations.