Machine Assistant 1 - 1st Shift

ND Paper • Sturtevant, WI

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Machine Assistant 1 supports the Operator in the setup, operation, and changeovers. This role bridges hands-on machine work with quality accountability, serving as the primary quality check point during production runs and taking an active role in changeovers and minor adjustments. The Machine Assistant 1 is expected to be capable of safely operating the machine for short periods in the Operator's absence and actively developing toward full Operator competency.

Requirements

• High school/GED required.
• Minimum 6–12 months of experience in a manufacturing environment, converting experience is preferred.
• Ability to read and interpret job tickets including board specification, print spec, die layout, fold style, and bundle count.
• Basic understanding of corrugated quality standards: acceptable scoring, print defects, glue bond, and dimensional tolerances.
• Comfortable operating at machine speed while maintaining quality awareness — multitasking under production pressure.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual English, Mandarin, or Spanish a plus

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate safety as a core value and establish a safe work environment by actively leading the safe execution of work.
• Assist the Operator with all phases of job changeover: removing and staging plates, dies, anilox rolls, and ink systems; setting up fold sections and glue systems per job specifications.
• Set up and verify glue system temperatures, bead placement, and application weight at the start of each job; monitor glue quality throughout the run.
• Perform and document first-article quality inspections at job startup: verify dimensions, score depth, fold quality, print registration, and glue placement against approved specifications.
• Conduct in-process quality checks at defined intervals; document results on the quality log and communicate deviations to the Operator immediately.
• Make minor press adjustments (fold, score, glue, infeed timing) under Operator direction; develop independent adjustment capability over time.
• Outfeed, stacking, and quality sampling tasks.
• Monitor production counts, speed, and waste rate; alert the Operator to trends or anomalies.
• Assist with ink mixing, color matching, and ink viscosity checks as directed; maintain ink station cleanliness as assigned.
• Lead outfeed and cleanup at job end; ensure changeover area is ready for next job before shift handoff.
• Operate the machine independently for short durations (e.g., Operator break, brief absence) at the Supervisor's authorization.
• Participate in downtime logging: record reason, duration, and corrective action for any unplanned stop exceeding 5 minutes.
• All other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as voluntary benefits such as accident insurance, hospital indemnity, and critical illness for you and your family.
• Financial protection benefits, including life insurance, disability insurance, and business travel accident insurance.
• Tax advantaged accounts such as Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
• Paid holidays, personal days, and vacation days to support work-life balance.
• A 401K retirement plan with a company match and annual fixed contribution
• Wellness programs with incentives and an on-site clinic available at our Rumford and Biron location.

What This Job Offers

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