Production Specialist - AM Shift

Grande Cheese Company•Town of Jefferson, WI

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Grande Cheese Company is a family-owned enterprise dedicated to tradition, quality, and outstanding performance, fostering cultural pride, professional excellence, and respect for its Associates. The company operates under a High Performance Work Team (HPWT) structure, emphasizing continuous growth and improvement through a Skill Block model where Associates develop knowledge and skills. Production Specialists encompass roles in Dairy Production, Packaging, Equipment Operations, Intake, and Receiving & Inventory/Warehouse. These individuals are responsible for manufacturing, processing, and distributing cheese/whey, ensuring adherence to company specifications, quality, and safety objectives across all skill levels.

Requirements

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

High School or GED preferred

Responsibilities

Carry out production duties from preparatory to critical stage processes, including loading/unloading, setup and monitoring of equipment, mixing, cooking, testing, analyzing, inspecting, final preparation, and recording data.
Setup, monitor, calibrate, and troubleshoot equipment, making adjustments as needed.
Ensure production efficiency and adherence to Grande and regulatory standards.
Operate packaging equipment, monitor product flow, and ensure proper execution of processes for various products.
Perform visual inspections, rework or discard defective products, and make decisions to correct and prevent issues.
Operate, inspect, calibrate, adjust, and troubleshoot dairy manufacturing equipment, and perform preventive/general maintenance.
Monitor instruments and equipment to ensure correct processes and efficient production flow.
Perform sampling and testing related to temperatures, moisture, consistency, fat, protein, pH, etc., and record data.
Coordinate unloading of milk from trucks, ensuring quality and safety, and prevent expired milk.
Verify seals, wash tags, and weights from farm pick-up slips.
Agitate milk, collect samples for quality testing and payments.
Load out cream, whey, and milk from storage areas.
Perform monitoring of equipment, temperatures, and sanitation.
Maintain inventory and order supplies.
Handle receiving of materials from suppliers, inspect trailers, unload and inspect incoming materials, and ensure proper placement and accounting.
Assist packaging operations, prepare pallets, and set up internal transfers.
Coordinate packaging, shipment, and return of materials due to defect or damage.
Coordinate outbound shipments, including customer and transfer orders, bill of lading, and pick lists.
Analyze physical storage locations for efficiency and utilize FIFO procedures.
Receive and store chemicals according to procedures, ensuring identification and MSDS paperwork.
Operate forklifts, 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.
Perform sanitation of production areas and equipment, including vats, conveyors, machines, tanks, pipes, fans, silos, hoses, and other dairy and packaging equipment.
Maintain a clean working area by performing general sanitation of 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 for improvements in quality, safety, efficiency, waste reduction, cost savings, and process optimization.
Obtain & renew licenses/certifications required for this role in a timely manner.