Production Operator

Glanbia•Brookings, SD

About The Position

The Production Operator runs and operates equipment used in the throughput and refinement of colostrum and colostrum-based products, following company guidelines, standards, and customer specifications. The role monitors and adjusts production equipment, maintains production schedules and product flow, and keeps the work environment clean and safe. The position reports to a Production Supervisor or Production Manager and has no supervisory responsibilities. Work includes heating and regulating product temperatures using HTST equipment; cleaning equipment under SOP guidelines; curding colostrum in a cheese vat; operating filtration equipment; monitoring pasteurization in processing tanks; adding dry powders to liquid product; transferring product to finishing vessels; completing clean-in-place processes; and transporting product within the plant by forklift. The operator is also responsible for minimizing product waste and complying with company safety standards. The work involves standing and walking during 8–12 hour shifts, frequent lifting and carrying of up to 55 pounds, operating equipment by hand, reaching, and frequently climbing ladders to elevated platforms. The environment is moderately noisy, with running machinery, interruptions, moderate traffic, exposure to wet, dry, humid, hot, cold, and hazardous conditions, and occasional entry into confined spaces. Frequent handling of hazardous chemicals is required.

Requirements

Knowledge of the production process.
Safety and sanitization skills.
Ability to maintain company confidentiality.
Ability to remain on task, focused, and vigilant.
General knowledge of machines, equipment, production lines, and processing.
Ability to use automated controls and monitor electronic systems; specific computer program experience is not required.
Ability to alternate between standing and walking throughout an 8–12 hour shift.
Ability to communicate verbally and in writing and use hands or fingers to manipulate equipment.
Ability to frequently reach below and above waist level and below and above shoulders or head.
Ability to frequently lift and carry up to 55 pounds.
Ability to frequently climb ladders to elevated platforms.
Vision abilities including close, distance, and midrange vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and frequent near and far focusing.
Ability to frequently handle hazardous chemicals and knowledge of how to deal with them.

Nice To Haves

Previous production skills and experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Monitor and adjust equipment and settings to ensure colostrum production runs efficiently and within specifications.
Take steps to minimize product loss and waste.
Maintain a clean working environment.
Heat and regulate product temperature using HTST equipment, meet time and quality standards, and clean equipment according to assigned SOP guidelines after processing.
Complete curding of colostrum in a cheese vat as assigned, monitoring temperatures and processing time and adding rennet.
Operate and monitor filtration equipment to finish product according to customer specifications.
Complete and monitor product pasteurization in a processing tank within specified time and temperature limits.
Lift, move, and pour 44–55 lb. bags of dry powders into liquid product during processing.
Transfer product into finishing vessels for drying and packaging.
Complete established clean-in-place (CIP) processes to clean tanks and vessels after processing.
Operate a forklift to transport product within the plant.
Promote and comply with company safety standards to maintain a safe and healthy work environment.
Perform other duties as assigned and when needed.