Controls Technician

J.M. Smucker Co•Scottsville, KY

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Controls Technician is responsible for the manufacturing of consumer foods, ensuring compliance with all food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements. This role supports company and site safety policies, performing work in a safe manner, and identifying/addressing unsafe working conditions. The technician will operate and maintain production equipment, adhering to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). A key aspect of this role is owning preventative maintenance activities for electrical/controls systems, coordinating with ATRs and PM coordinators, and creating work orders to maximize equipment performance. The technician will also improve and modify these preventative maintenance activities as needed. This position involves inspecting, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing electrical, instrumentation, controls, and automation equipment and software. The role requires demonstrated knowledge in operating and troubleshooting various systems including Power Distribution Controls, motor controls (starters, drives, servos, PLC motion control), safety circuits (TUV Training), FactoryTalk ME & SE, Ethernet/IP Control Network, managed/unmanaged switches, and food manufacturing/utility instrumentation. The ability to understand and modify electrical prints, properly operate electrical testing equipment, and utilize drawings, prints, and manuals for maintenance and repairs is essential. The technician will coach other team members on electrical, instrumentation, and controls skills, machine functionality, and defect resolution. Travel for training and qualification programs is expected, as is active participation in assessments to ensure consistent qualification standards. The role utilizes continuous improvement tools, such as breakdown elimination, to identify root causes and implement corrective/preventative actions. Documentation, including SOPs and Job Aids, is a key responsibility. Maintaining knowledge through technical training, vendor visits, and advanced E&I technology expertise is required. Proficiency with technology, including Microsoft Office Suite and online resources, is necessary for record-keeping and data management. Effective communication of controls activities to operations and translation of technical issues to engineers and ATRs are crucial. The technician may lead/manage projects to improve safety, quality, and production, delegating tasks to develop ATR skills. The ability to work independently and collaboratively, with a proven track record of good attendance and performance, is expected. Flexibility for after-hours and weekend work is required for coverage during operational issues or training. This role serves as the primary contact for electrical/controls issues during escalations and is responsible for packaging problem resolution and deciding on further escalation. The technician will track skill gaps, coordinate training, and perform on-the-job training. Adherence to change management processes for electrical and controls changes, including documentation in asset center, is required. Proficiency in using Proficy historian/trend client for troubleshooting and preventative maintenance, including safety circuit audits, device calibrations, electrical thermography, and disaster recovery tools, is also expected.

Requirements

Minimum 2 years of relevant work experience with electrical systems, PLC, motor and motion controls, SCADA systems, device and information networks, sensors, and instrumentation equipment for manufacturing.
Demonstrated ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
Proven track record of good attendance and consistent performance.
Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
Willingness to help solve problems and implement solutions.
Flexibility with working after hours and weekends to provide coverage during operation issues or training needs on off shifts.

Nice To Haves

Associates or technical degree or training preferred.
TUV Training for safety circuits.
Experience with FactoryTalk ME & SE for troubleshooting issues.
Experience with Ethernet/IP Control Network, Managed/Unmanaged switches.
Experience with Food Manufacturing and Utility Instrumentation.
Experience with continuous improvement tools, including breakdown elimination.
Experience with Proficy historian / trend client.
Experience with preventive maintenance tools such as safety circuit audits, device calibrations, electrical thermography, and disaster recovery tools for controls equipment.

Responsibilities

Assume responsibility for the manufacturing of consumer foods, complying with all food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
Support company and site safety policies and perform work in a safe manner.
Recognize unsafe working conditions, coach peers, and suggest new safety standards.
Operate and maintain production equipment.
Follow and improve documented operational, maintenance, and sanitation standards in a GMP environment.
Own preventative maintenance activities related to electrical/controls, coordinate with ATRs/PM coordinators, and create work orders.
Improve and modify preventative maintenance activities as appropriate.
Inspect, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair electrical, instrumentation, controls, and automation equipment and software.
Demonstrate knowledge in operation and troubleshooting of Power Distribution Controls, motor controls, safety circuits, FactoryTalk ME & SE, Ethernet/IP Control Network, and Food Manufacturing/Utility Instrumentation.
Understand electrical prints and make minor changes.
Properly operate electrical testing equipment.
Utilize drawings, prints, and instruction manuals for equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs.
Adhere to company drawing and documentation standards.
Coach other team members on electrical, instrumentation, and controls skills, machine functionality, defect identification, and equipment repair.
Travel and actively participate in training and qualification programs, assessments, and ensure effective training standards.
Use continuous improvement tools, including breakdown elimination, to eliminate losses and drive issues to root cause.
Document, communicate, and implement corrective and preventative actions.
Own one or more technical, safety, or quality systems.
Create documentation such as SOPs, Job Aids, and PM Improvements.
Maintain knowledge/skill/ability by attending technical training, participating in vendor visits, and attaining expertise in advanced E&I technology.
Utilize technology (computer, Microsoft Office suite) for accurate record-keeping and data management.
Effectively communicate controls activities and daily work with operations.
Translate technical problems into actionable items for ATRs and communicate issues to engineers.
Lead/manage projects to improve safety, quality, and production results in a designated area.
Delegate and coordinate project tasks with ATRs to develop skills.
Work independently and in a team environment to solve problems and implement solutions.
Provide coverage during operational issues or training needs on off shifts, including after hours and weekends.
Serve as the primary contact for electrical/controls related issues during escalation events.
Track skill gaps and coordinate training for those gaps.
Perform on-the-job training during issues.
Follow change management processes for electrical and controls changes, leaving effective change descriptions in asset center.
Use Proficy historian/trend client to pull pre-fault data for troubleshooting and prevention.
Use and coach others on preventive maintenance tools related to electrical and controls technologies.