Grinding and Buffing - Starting at $27/hour - Smith, Watertown SD

ITW • Watertown, SD

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Grinding and Buffing Operator prepares, grinds, sands, and buffs metal or other manufactured parts to meet established quality, surface-finish, and production standards. The role uses hand tools and powered equipment, inspects completed work, and maintains an organized work area.

The operator also uses metal-cleaning and finishing equipment, including metcote tanks, a thermal deburrer, electro-plating tanks, and soap and rinse tanks. The position uses test equipment to monitor chemical balances, temperatures, and cleanliness; assists with wastewater treatment; and troubleshoots and performs routine maintenance on finishing equipment and the assigned work area. The operator follows procedures for handling, storing, and disposing of hazardous materials and supports department production, quality, safety, and continuous-improvement goals.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• No allergies to oils, solvents, or solutions.
• Ability to lift, carry, and maneuver 50 pounds.
• Ability to stand all day.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively in a team-oriented environment.
• Effective verbal and written communication with customers, suppliers, and other employees.
• Ability to read and interpret applicable blueprints, schematics, and diagrams.

Responsibilities

• Operate grinders, sanders, buffers, and related hand or powered equipment to remove rough edges, excess material, scratches, weld marks, and surface defects.
• Select and install abrasive wheels, belts, discs, compounds, pads, and fixtures appropriate to material and finish requirements.
• Read work orders, drawings, specifications, and quality standards to determine required processes and surface finishes.
• Inspect parts before, during, and after processing; identify defects and rework or report nonconforming materials as directed.
• Measure or visually verify dimensions, surface quality, and finish using required gauges and inspection tools.
• Maintain production records, including quantities completed, scrap, rework, material usage, and other department records.
• Perform routine equipment checks, replace worn consumables, and promptly report equipment malfunctions or safety concerns.
• Follow safety procedures, use required personal protective equipment and machine guards, and maintain a clean work area.
• Handle and move materials, parts, and finished products according to workplace procedures.
• Use metal-cleaning and finishing equipment, including metcote tanks, a thermal deburrer, electro-plating tanks, and soap and rinse tanks.
• Use test equipment to maintain appropriate chemical balances, temperatures, and cleanliness.
• Assist in maintaining the wastewater treatment system and chemical supplies and other regular consumables.
• Troubleshoot and perform routine maintenance on metal-finishing equipment and the assigned work area; keep the department and machines clean and orderly.
• Use proper storage, handling, and disposal methods for hazardous materials.
• Support team production goals and continuous improvement by suggesting process or setup improvements and assisting with related documentation and process control.
• Recommend ways to prevent quality problems, improve procedures and methods, and increase productivity using TQC problem-solving techniques.
• Support ITW/Smith principles and philosophies, including simplify, focus, flow, empower, and trust, and set goals and targets that support company, department, and assigned tasks.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 401(k) match and an additional retirement contribution.
• 11 paid holidays, 5 sick days, and vacation time.
• Company-paid life, AD&D, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance.
• Four weeks of paid parental leave.
• Adoption reimbursement.
• Tuition reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED