Laboratory Technician Entry

LyondellBasell North America•Akron, OH

About The Position

The Laboratory Technician supports safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations by performing laboratory testing, maintaining laboratory equipment, and ensuring products meet internal and customer quality requirements. As the primary quality resource for the assigned shift, the technician provides technical support related to product quality, testing, nonconforming materials, and quality concerns. The role supports quality management system activities through laboratory testing, documentation, audits, investigations, sample line order fulfillment, and maintenance of quality information in SampleManager and SAP. The position works closely with Production, Engineering, Maintenance, and Quality personnel to support manufacturing operations and continuous improvement initiatives. The work takes place in a manufacturing and laboratory environment, with regular interaction with production operations and office staff. The position may involve up to 12 hours of standing and physical activity, lifting materials up to 55 pounds, operating powered industrial vehicles and material-handling equipment, and exposure to heat, cold, dust, noise, chemicals, and strong odors. Required PPE includes steel-toed footwear, gloves, hard hats, safety glasses, hearing protection, and respiratory protection. The employee must be able to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation and participate in required respiratory-protection medical evaluations and fit testing.

Requirements

High school diploma or G.E.D.
At least two years of experience in a manufacturing, laboratory, quality, technical, or related industrial environment.
Ability to work overtime, weekends, and varying schedules as required.
Ability to read, understand, and apply procedures, specifications, technical documents, and laboratory test methods.
Strong mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency with computer-based systems, including Microsoft Office applications and data management systems.
Ability to accurately collect, document, and communicate technical and quality-related information.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively across Production, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and other cross-functional teams.
Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation and participate in respiratory-protection programs, including medical evaluations and fit testing, as required.
Ability to perform physical activities including standing, walking, climbing, bending, kneeling, reaching, twisting, and lifting materials up to 55 pounds.
Ability to operate powered industrial vehicles and other material-handling equipment in support of laboratory operations, sample management, and sample line activities.
Ability to work amid exposure to heat, cold, dust, noise, chemicals, and strong odors and use required personal protective equipment.

Nice To Haves

Associate's degree or certification in Laboratory Science, Chemistry, Instrumentation, Engineering Technology, Quality, or a related technical field.
Experience in an industrial laboratory, quality control, quality assurance, manufacturing, or another technical environment.
Experience using SAP, SampleManager, or other laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
Experience supporting quality management systems, audits, investigations, corrective actions, or continuous improvement initiatives.
Experience troubleshooting product quality, process, or laboratory issues.
Working knowledge of laboratory instrumentation, measurement devices, and testing equipment.

Responsibilities

Comply with safety requirements, site procedures, and policies; participate in safety meetings, observations, audits, training, and corrective actions.
Prepare, test, evaluate, and document raw material, in-process, retained, and finished product samples to ensure specification compliance.
Monitor product quality; communicate nonconforming results and support investigations involving customer complaints, process deviations, quality incidents, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
Apply laboratory test methods, quality standards, technical procedures, and analytical techniques to support manufacturing operations.
Compile, interpret, and communicate analytical results and technical findings.
Perform laboratory transactions, product dispositions, test-result entry, and master-data activities within SampleManager and SAP.
Generate, review, maintain, and distribute Certificates of Analysis (COAs) and other quality documentation.
Maintain plant and laboratory specifications, procedures, work instructions, forms, controlled documents, records, and quality information.
Perform calibration, verification, certification, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance of laboratory instrumentation and equipment.
Support quality management system, customer, regulatory, and audit requirements through compliance activities, inspections, audits, corrective actions, and record-retention practices.
Communicate laboratory status, testing priorities, equipment issues, quality concerns, and production impacts during shift handoffs and operations meetings.
Manage laboratory inventories, including consumables, standards, chemicals, retained samples, and testing supplies.
Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and perform housekeeping activities associated with sample line order fulfillment systems.
Maintain a clean, organized, and inspection-ready work environment, with proper control of tools, equipment, samples, and materials.
Support quality management system, laboratory, and plant operational activities, including special projects, process improvements, compliance initiatives, data management, training support, and cross-functional efforts.