Production Lead

Dairy Farmers of America•Garden City, KS

4h•Onsite

About The Position

The Production Lead is responsible for ensuring safety, compliance with company policies and regulations (local, state, federal, AIB, SQF, QAI), and efficient product flow throughout the facility. This role involves operating and troubleshooting various dairy processing equipment such as evaporators, dryers, HTST, and managing bulk room operations. Key duties include monitoring usage and waste, driving cost reduction, maintaining a clean work area, and filling in for vacant production positions, including overseeing shifts when the Production Supervisor is absent. The lead also participates in plant committees and conducts shift meetings, while safeguarding company assets and proprietary information, and upholding company values and ethics.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED
Three years of experience in a manufacturing and or production environment
Knowledge company computer systems, specifically SAP
Skill in proficient computer usage
Able to lead a work group
Able to operate a forklift
Able to use and understand calculations, production rates and fluid inventories
Able to perform routine machine adjustments
Able to communicate clearly and effectively in English, both verbally and in writing
Able to be proactive in seeking solutions
Able to work in collaboration effectively and foster good teamwork
Able to follow directions and meet deadlines
Able to take appropriate steps to find solutions to problems
Able to present options and ideas to current processes or procedures
Able to interpret and apply company policies
Able to adapt and manage to change effectively
Able to perform task and duties without constant supervision
Initiative – shows willingness and aptitude to use own discretion in taking appropriate steps in finding solutions to problems; presents options and ideas to enhance current processes or procedures. Takes on additional responsibility when both big and small tasks need to be done.
Integrity – Firmly adheres to the values and ethics of Dairy Farmers of America. Exhibits honesty, discretion, and sound judgment.
Cooperativeness – Willing to work with others, collaborating and compromising where necessary; promptly share relevant information with others.
Flexibility – Is open to changing situations and is willing to perform all tasks when and where assigned.
Independence – Able and willing to perform tasks and duties without constant supervision.
Tolerance for Stress / Resiliency – Maintains a positive "can do" outlook, rebounds quickly from frustrations and unpleasantness, and maintains composure and friendly demeanor while dealing with stressful situations.
Mathematics: Must be able to use and understand calculations used for unit costs, labor costs, production amounts, and SPC.
Must be able to read, write, and speak English

Nice To Haves

Associates Degree or two years of college preferred

Responsibilities

Understand and support safety as the first priority
Ensure compliance with all company policies, local, state, and federal regulations
Ensure the following facility programs are followed: Safety, Food Safety, GMP, Preventive Maintenance, Quality Assurance, and Sanitation
Help ensure all policies and procedures for the American Institute of Baking (AIB), Safe Quality Food (SQF) and Quality Assurance International (QAI -- organic) are followed
Understand each step of product flow through the entire facility and teach it
Know how to start, run, shut down, troubleshoot, and CIP the entire process
Monitor the usage and waste of DFA's purchased items
Communicate and be aggressive in regards to cost reduction in all areas relating to the Production department (e.g., supplies, line efficiency, labor, services purchased, etc.)
Maintain a safe, clean, organized work area throughout the facility and office area
Fill in for vacationing, sick, or otherwise vacant production positions, with little or no notice at times
Oversee production shift while Production Supervisor is on vacation
Participate in plant committees, including safety and food safety for at least three months per year
Lead a shift meeting on a quarterly basis, covering training, pressing issues, and Q&A
Safeguard and protect all company assets in his or her care
Demonstrate good judgment in safeguarding customer, company, vendor, and employee information
Maintain a cooperative working relationship with customers, vendors, employees, and peers
Handle difficult situations diplomatically
Consistently show the ability to recognize and deal with priorities
Maintain a well-groomed, professional appearance for the position and the situation
Evaporator: Start up, operate, shut down, and clean separators, cream HTST, evaporator, and related equipment in east room. Monitor product for correct percentages, component composition, and temperature. Is responsible for tank hook ups and flow. Perform start up, operation, and shut down of RO
Dryer operation: Start up, properly operate, shut down, and cleanup of dryer and related equipment. Ensure proper moisture in finished product. Maintain charts and records. Is responsible for product flow, proper tank hook up, directing powder to proper silo, maintaining the air inlet and product transfer filters, bag compartments, dryer box cleaning, and general upkeep
Processor HTST: Perform duties of pasteurizing raw milk, condensed skim milk, and cream. Make the required tank connection and CIP lines and the HTST as required
Bulk Room Receiver: Unload raw milk, cream, and condense. Drive tractors and spot semi tankers. Wash tankers, silo, and lines as required as well as perform proper hook ups of tanks, silos, and lines. Monitor amount of milk products being unloaded to prevent overflow of tanks and silos
Bulk Room Loadout: Is responsible for load out and sampling of liquid products. Wash tankers, silos, and lines; and monitor flow of product. Ensure correct product is loaded and bill of lading is completed correctly. Ensure that all tankers have properly filled out wash tags and seals
Floorman: Operate equipment. Monitor liquid products that are being pumped to tanks and silos and match the amount to ordered products. Clean and sanitize all product lines
Powder Bagger: Fill, weigh, seal, and palletize milk powder. Keep accurate and legible records
Safeguard and protect all company assets and proprietary information
Maintain cooperative working relationships and communications with employees from all other departments and peers
Dedicate effort to safety as we expect every employee to leave work in the same condition as they arrive
Follow all DFA good manufacturing practices (GMP) and work in a manner consistent with all corporate regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements
Exhibit the values and ethics of Dairy Farmers of America through honesty, discretion, and sound judgment
Adhere to all DFA Quality, Safety and GMP policies and procedures and report any nonconformity
Attend required training, including but not limited to, Safety, GMP, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), and Safe Quality Foods (SQF)