Production Technician (Machine Operator)

H&A Farms•Mount Dora, FL

55d•$22 - $30•Onsite

About The Position

H&A Farms is seeking a dependable, mechanically inclined Production Technician for its blueberry packing house team. The role operates and monitors blueberry packing equipment, prepares the assigned line for production, maintains steady product and packaging flow, makes authorized equipment adjustments, completes changeovers, records production results, and promptly communicates operating problems. The successful candidate is observant, organized, comfortable around automated equipment, and able to remain calm while solving problems in a fast-paced production environment. The technician coordinates immediate line workflow, monitors production against targets, maintains accurate production and downtime records, and provides clear shift handoffs. Training covers line operation, startup and shutdown, authorized adjustments, bottleneck recognition, interruptions, changeovers, production tracking, communication, and shift handoff. Before working independently, the technician must demonstrate the ability to operate the line at a stable rate, identify bottlenecks and make permitted adjustments, respond appropriately to interruptions and changeovers, complete production records, and escalate unresolved problems.

Requirements

Basic mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting ability.
Ability to read production orders, follow equipment instructions, use basic production measurements, and perform simple calculations.
Ability to complete production records accurately and work independently after training.
Effective communication with supervisors, maintenance personnel, and production employees.
Fluent English to communicate with manufacturers and management.
Dependability and attendance, attention to detail, production awareness, problem-solving, clear communication, sense of urgency, organization and recordkeeping, calm decision-making, willingness to learn, team coordination, and appropriate escalation.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and perform bending, reaching, and repetitive movements.
Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds.
Ability to work in a refrigerated, cold, wet, fast-paced production environment around conveyors and automated equipment.
Ability to work overtime, weekends, holidays, or extended shifts during peak production periods.
Ability to wear required personal protective equipment.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
Previous production, packaging, or manufacturing equipment experience preferred.
Experience in food, produce, agriculture, or blueberry packing is helpful but not required.

Responsibilities

Review daily production orders, package requirements, and order sequence; confirm required packaging materials are available.
Prepare conveyors, fillers, weighers, labelers, sealers, printers, and related equipment for startup; select and verify programs or operating speeds, reset counters and displays, and test the line.
Confirm line workers are in place and understand assignments, then bring the line to its planned rate and maintain stable operation.
Monitor product feed, conveyors, package spacing, hopper levels, container flow, labeling, printing, and case packing.
Recognize disruptions and bottlenecks, identify their likely source, correct routine operating problems within training and authority, and verify normal operation after adjustments or interruptions.
Make authorized, controlled adjustments to equipment settings and request supervisor or maintenance support when a problem exceeds the technician's authority.
Track recurring interruptions and communicate patterns that may require permanent correction.
Prepare for changeovers by staging materials and change parts, clearing the line in sequence, changing authorized settings and parts, testing packages, recording changeover times, and reporting delays.
Coordinate immediate line workflow, assignments, starts, stops, product or package changes, material replenishment, and temporary support; refer personnel matters to the Production Manager.
Monitor hourly output against targets and record startup times, output, downtime, changeover time, interruptions, authorized adjustments, and maintenance requests.
Notify the Production Manager when the line falls behind, providing output expectations, shortfall, cause, actions taken, and support needed.
Complete an accurate end-of-shift production report and provide a thorough handoff of order status, settings, problems, temporary adjustments, unresolved issues, and upcoming changes.
Communicate operating problems early and factually, contact maintenance for repeated or unresolved interruptions, and seek clarification when instructions conflict.
Ensure the line is clear and ready for the sanitation crew at the end of the shift.