Production Specialist - Block 1 - Ricotta Warehouse

Grande•Juda, WI

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Grande Cheese Company is seeking a Production Specialist to join their team. This role operates within a High Performance Work Team (HPWT) structure, focusing on continuous growth and improvement. Associates are empowered to develop their knowledge and skills through a Skill Block model. Production Specialists perform various processes in cheese/whey manufacturing, processing, and/or distribution, ensuring product quality, safety, and timely delivery according to company specifications. The role encompasses multiple areas including Dairy Production, Packaging, Equipment Operations, Intake, and Receiving & Inventory/Warehouse, with duties varying based on attained skill levels.

Requirements

Math, reading, and writing skills
Ability to comprehend and follow technical instructions/policies/procedures in written, verbal, or diagram form.
Computer skills

Nice To Haves

Prior related work experience and/or training in a food manufacturing organization is preferred.

Responsibilities

Carry out production duties from preparatory to critical stage processes such as loading and unloading, setup and monitoring of equipment, stirring/mixing, cooking, testing, analyzing, inspecting, final preparation, recording data and providing feedback.
Setup, monitor, calibrate, and troubleshoot equipment to ensure effective operation and make adjustments as needed.
Ensure production runs efficiently and processes follow Grande and regulatory standards.
Operate packaging equipment and ensure continuous flow of product, monitoring for proper positioning, spacing, sealing, and correct codes/labels.
Perform visual inspection for defects and rework or discard defective products.
Perform preventive/general maintenance on dairy manufacturing and packaging equipment.
Coordinate unloading of milk from trucks and transfer to proper storage units, ensuring quality and safety.
Prevent expired milk by prioritizing and unloading trailers correctly, and ensuring operation of critical control points.
Verify seals, wash tags, and weights from farm pick-up slips.
Properly agitate, collect milk samples for quality testing and payments.
Load out cream, whey and milk from storage areas for appropriate processing.
Maintain inventory and order supplies to keep production running efficiently.
Handle receiving of materials from approved suppliers, inspecting condition of trailers and incoming materials.
Ensure received items are properly placed in designated areas and accounted for.
Assist packaging operations to prepare pallets for transfer and storage.
Coordinate the packaging, shipment and return of materials due to defect or damage.
Coordinate outbound shipments such as customer & transfer orders, bill of lading, pick list, sample requirements, and commodity C.
Analyze physical storage location of material for efficiency and utilize FIFO procedures.
Receive and store all chemicals according to procedures, ensuring identification and MSDS paperwork.
Operate forklifts and perform inspections, troubleshooting, and general maintenance of forklifts, hand carts, and racking.
Conduct cycle counting of materials and supplies to assure proper levels for production, logging and alerting of discrepancies, investigating root cause, and taking corrective action.
Assist with questions related to supplier service, delivery times, service or quality issues.
Perform sanitation of production areas and equipment, including vats, conveyors, machines, tanks, pipes, silos, hoses, and other dairy and packaging equipment.
Maintain a clean working area by performing general sanitation including cleaning walls, floors, windows, sinks, scales, drains, footbaths, and electrical panels.
Complete all required documentation, recordkeeping, and reporting as required by law and/or regulatory agencies.
Follow all SAFETY (food & workplace) policies and procedures.
Complete required paperwork, logs, and data entry into required computer systems.
Thoroughly understand processes and independently make decisions that affect product quality.
Follow company policies and procedures.
Be a resource and assist with training new Associates on equipment and procedures.
Provide back-up relief as needed.
Provide recommendations and feedback to Process Leaders and Managers regarding improvements for quality, safety, efficiency, cost savings, and eliminating redundancy.
Obtain & renew licenses/certifications required for this role in a timely manner.