Apprentice Maintenance

Sonoco • Horsham, PA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Maintenance Apprentice installs, maintains, and troubleshoots machinery and tooling, ensuring parts meet applicable instructions, prints, work orders, tolerances, and finish requirements. The apprentice uses shop equipment and machine tools, including lathes and grinders, and may perform welding, heat treating, and plant facilities maintenance. The role includes preventative maintenance, recordkeeping, communication between shifts, housekeeping, and compliance with safety, food safety, environmental, and company procedures.

This is a typically four-year apprenticeship involving required on-the-job and classroom training. Pay increases yearly after on-the-job training competencies are met, provided the employee remains in good standing. The schedule is a 3/4/4/3 rotation of 12-hour shifts, with flexibility between days and nights monthly; weekly hours are 36–40. Overtime may be required regularly, and the employee may be placed on call as directed. Sonoco pays 100% of approved schooling costs after grants and scholarships. The employee must maintain a 3.0 average while in school and remain with Sonoco for at least three years after earning the degree or repay the schooling costs. The position reports directly to the Shift Supervisor.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds.
• Experience with hand tools.
• Ability to communicate and write effectively, read and comprehend instructions, and follow complicated verbal and written directions.
• Ability to work the assigned 12-hour rotating schedule, including monthly flexibility between days and nights, Monday through Sunday.
• Ability to work overtime regularly and be on call as directed by management.
• Maintain a 3.0 average during schooling.
• Complete the approved degree or certification program and remain employed by Sonoco for at least three years after obtaining the degree, or repay the schooling costs.
• Meet the knowledge, skills, abilities, physical requirements, and working conditions described for the role.

Nice To Haves

• Interest in completing an associate degree or certification in Mechatronics or a related manufacturing maintenance field; the program must be approved by Sonoco’s Corporate Maintenance Excellence team.

Responsibilities

• Comply with plant and corporate safety practices, policies, and procedures, and support the food safety system.
• Install, maintain, and troubleshoot machinery and tooling, ensuring parts and tooling conform to instructions, prints, work orders, and precision requirements.
• Use shop equipment proficiently to install, maintain, and troubleshoot machinery and tooling.
• Interpret drawings and calculate dimensions, indices, and tapers; work raw materials to specified finished dimensions and tolerances.
• Receive tools and paperwork and establish and maintain logbooks.
• Select, grind, and adjust tools, setting appropriate speeds and feed rates for efficient machining.
• Set up and operate machine tools, lathes, and grinders.
• Repair and maintain assigned machines and equipment, including performing preventative maintenance.
• Keep the work area organized and clean; perform cleanup, painting, and housekeeping duties.
• Perform welding and heat treating as needed.
• Monitor supply conditions and inform management as necessary.
• Provide support for plant facilities maintenance as needed.
• Initiate, review, and follow standard operating procedures for the area of responsibility.
• Communicate pertinent information to the next shift and maintain effective working relationships.
• Work the assigned schedule, including rotating day and night shifts, and work overtime or be on call as directed.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance and follow company policies, procedures, practices, and standards of conduct.
• Maintain safe and healthful working conditions and follow safety rules and regulations.
• Attend scheduled environmental training, comply with hazardous-waste and other environmental requirements, recognize waste streams, minimize waste, and properly dispose of, segregate, accumulate, and store waste.
• Complete required on-the-job and classroom training.
• Perform additional assignments as directed by management.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, including FSA and HSA options.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Wellbeing tools and resources, including an Employee Assistance Program.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Company-paid and voluntary employee-paid insurance plans, including life, personal accident, and disability insurance.
• Tuition reimbursement; Sonoco pays 100% of approved schooling costs after grants and scholarships, subject to the stated repayment condition.

What This Job Offers

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