Utility Labor / Material Handler

Welch Packaging Group•Grand Rapids, MI

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Utility Labor / Material Handler operates forklift equipment according to company standards and receives, unloads, loads, processes, tags, stores, and organizes materials and products. The role supports production by operating banders and conveyor lines as needed, keeping equipment supplied, assisting material handlers, shipping personnel, and clamp drivers, and maintaining an organized warehouse. Work takes place in a production environment and requires adherence to safety and quality procedures while meeting targeted production rates and supporting on-time customer delivery. Day-to-day work may include assembling, stacking, wrapping, stapling, gluing, stickering, and taping boxes. The employee also inspects incoming and outgoing products and supplies, completes assigned documentation, tracks and handles waste and quarantined products, operates plant computers and systems, and submits maintenance work requests. The role requires teamwork and communication with colleagues and the oncoming shift. The position involves regular standing, walking, and communication with team members; frequent hand use, reaching, and stooping, kneeling, or crouching; climbing into and out of forklifts or clamp trucks; and regularly lifting or moving up to 50 pounds, with occasional lifting or moving up to 75 pounds. The work environment includes moving mechanical parts, ambient temperatures, occasional fumes or airborne particles and vibration, and usually loud noise.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Prior forklift experience.
Ability to pass basic forklift and clamp truck training.
Ability to read and write English.
Ability to read tape measures and perform basic mathematical calculations.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Organization and attention to detail.
Analytical and problem-solving skills.
Time-management skills.
Systems-analysis skills.
Mathematical and deductive reasoning.
Critical thinking and active learning.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including regularly lifting or moving up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 75 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Responsibilities

Follow safety procedures and processes; immediately report unsafe conditions, near misses, and any property damage involving lift equipment to a supervisor.
Ensure products are built to specification and accurately, and maintain productivity to support on-time customer delivery.
Maintain plant housekeeping standards, including keeping docks, aisles, and the bander area clean and removing trash as needed.
Work as a team with facility employees, including other material handlers, shipping personnel, clamp drivers, and forklift drivers.
Perform production tasks as assigned, including assembling, stacking, wrapping, stapling, gluing, stickering, and taping boxes.
Keep converting equipment lines supplied so machines do not wait for product.
Read and understand the production schedule and inform the supervisor in advance of issues.
Handle bales efficiently, minimize forklift damage, and cut and remove banding and dunnage for machines as directed.
Operate and maintain forklift equipment as required and perform the required daily forklift inspection at the beginning of the shift.
Follow lockout/tagout procedures when loading and unloading trailers.
Process, tag, and store incoming raw materials as required.
Inspect incoming and outgoing products and supplies and document defects.
Inventory and organize finished products and complete assigned documentation, such as load verification forms.
Operate plant PCs and appropriate systems to complete assigned tasks.
Enter maintenance work requests for safety, scheduled, and unscheduled tasks as needed.
Rework spilled or potentially unsafe bales or pallets of finished goods.
Track waste bales according to plant procedures, properly weigh and identify shredded waste loads, and place quarantined product in the quarantine area.
Communicate relevant information to the oncoming shift before leaving.
Perform other tasks as assigned.