Automation Technician

Business Unit Overview

Michael Foods, Inc. is a leader in the food processing and distribution industry with business in egg products, refrigerated grocery and potato products. We offer exciting job possibilities throughout our organization where you can enhance your career, sharpen your talents and make an impact. Join our company and be part of an innovative team that's First in Food.


Location Description

Michael foods, Inc. located in Chaska, Minnesota is known as the "best small town in Minnesota" with a highly rated school system and home of the PGA Tournament in 2018! As our community grows, we strive to preserve the small town atmosphere. Minutes away from beautiful lakes, major highways, shopping malls and the Twin Cities, it is the perfect location to work!. Our location produces a variety of potato products. For over 100 years, the Michael Foods family of businesses has leveraged quality ingredients and innovative processes to offer the finest products and solutions to our customers and to food-loving consumers.
Responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY: The Automation Technician will safely and efficiently maintain, troubleshoot and work to improve
the electrical and automation subsystems within the production facility.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

General
• Must be self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision.
• Work in a fast-paced environment, responding appropriately to changing priorities.
• Respectfully interact with a diverse group of people.
• Adhere to safe work practices, complete monthly safety audits/observations, follow GMP's, maintain
sanitary conditions and ensure that product quality is maintained. Report to management any conditions or
practices that may adversely affect food safety, food quality or personnel safety.
• Effectively communicate the status of issues and projects with management, vendors, peers and
production personnel.
• Provide technical leadership and support to the electrical and instrumentation technicians at the facility.
• Use the appropriate tools (e.g. multimeter, software) to troubleshoot and diagnose the root cause of
electrical, electronics, Instrumentation and controls issues in the facility.
• Work with internal and external resources to resolve issues as quickly and effectively as possible.
Technical
• Interpret electrical schematics and user manuals.
• Troubleshoot process issues with automation software.
• Troubleshoot hardware issues with PLCs (programmable logic controllers) and touchscreens.
• Use advanced network troubleshooting to diagnose control networking issues.
• Work with IT to troubleshoot and maintain automation servers.
• Create user manuals and training documentation; train all technicians as appropriate.
• Identify and facilitate process and automation improvements.
• Identify necessary program changes and work with Corporate Controls to implement.
• Assist and consult with management/engineering on projects as needed.
• Provide support and leadership to the electrical, electronics and instrumentations technicians.
• Manage, backup and organize all automation related documentation for the facility (programs, schematics,
network information, manuals, etc.)
• Perform other duties as assigned.


Qualifications

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION:
Two year certification from college or technical school or equivalent combination of education, training and/or
experience.

EXPERIENCE:
Five years strong industrial electrical background in a manufacturing environment (Food Processing Plant
preferred). Experience in mechanical systems, and pneumatics helpful.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
In order to promote a manufacturing environment that is safe and efficient for both personnel and food, the ability to
effectively communicate in basic English (both verbal and written) is required. This includes the ability to speak,
read and comprehend safety instructions, rules and warnings for self and others in both normal and emergency
situations.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read, analyze and interpret documents such as electrical schematics, safety rules, operating and
maintenance instructions, general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, governmental
regulations and procedure manuals in English.
Ability to write routine reports, procedural manuals and correspondence in English.
Ability to effectively present information in both one-on-one and in group situations. Ability to respond to questions
from internal/external customers/vendors at all levels including the management.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measures, using whole numbers, common fractions, and
decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percentages, and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages,
fractions, ratios. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra.

REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive
variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form ,and deal with several abstract and concrete
variables.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, REGISTRATIONS:
Electrical Apprentice or Journeyman's license preferred (but not required).

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Specific skills and abilities required that are not included in other sections:
• Experience with Allen Bradley/Rockwell automation required.
• Shift/weekend work may be required.
The pay range for this position is $36.00 to $47.00 per hour.