Production Technician (Machine Operator)

Job Description

Job Description

Production Technician

About Us

H&A Farms is a family-owned, multigenerational agricultural business with farming and packing operations throughout Florida and Georgia. We are looking for a dependable, mechanically inclined  Production Technician to join our blueberry packing house team.

Position Summary

We are seeking a dependable, mechanically inclined Production Technician to operate and monitor blueberry packing equipment. This position prepares the assigned line for production, maintains consistent product and packaging flow, makes authorized equipment adjustments, completes efficient changeovers, records production results, and communicates operating problems promptly.

The successful candidate is observant, organized, comfortable working around automated equipment, and able to remain calm while solving problems in a fast-paced production environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Line Startup and Operation

• Review daily production orders, package requirements, and order sequence.
• Confirm that required containers, labels, cases, and other packaging materials are available.
• Prepare conveyors, fillers, weighers, labelers, sealers, printers, and related equipment for startup.
• Select and verify the correct equipment program or operating speeds.
• Reset production counters and displays, run test packages, and confirm that all sections operate together correctly.
• Ensure all line workers are in place and understand their assignments before start-up.
• Bring the line up to its planned rate in a controlled manner and maintain stable operation throughout the shift.

Equipment Monitoring and Adjustment

• Monitor product feed, conveyor movement, package spacing, hopper levels, container flow, labeling, printing, and case-packing activity.
• Recognize product accumulation, empty conveyor spaces, repeated short stops, irregular feeding, and other disruptions.
• Make authorized adjustments to conveyor speed, product-feed rate, feeder vibration, timing, package spacing, guide position, and approved machine settings.
• Make one controlled adjustment at a time and verify that it corrected the condition.
• Clean or realign minor sensors when trained and authorized, and follow approved restart procedures.
• Do not make repairs or adjustments that require maintenance authorization.

Troubleshooting and Production Flow

• Recognize bottlenecks and identify where production flow is being restricted.
• Determine whether an interruption is related to equipment, materials, staffing, product supply, or instructions.
• Correct routine operating problems within the technician's training and authority.
• Stabilize the line before making adjustments and verify normal operation after an interruption.
• Request supervisor or maintenance support when a problem exceeds technician authority.
• Track recurring interruptions and communicate patterns that may require permanent correction.

Changeovers

• Review the next production order and confirm that packaging materials and change parts are staged before stopping the current run.
• Clear the line in the correct sequence.
• Change approved programs, settings, labels, printer information, guides, and change parts as authorized.
• Run test packages and confirm stable operation before returning to full production speed.
• Record changeover start and completion times and report causes of extended changeovers or startup delays.

Production Coordination

• Coordinate immediate workflow for employees assigned to the line.
• Confirm stations and immediate assignments and communicate line starts, stops, product changes, and package changes.
• Request material replenishment before supplies run out and demonstrate the correct work sequence when needed.
• Request temporary support when a station becomes a bottleneck.
• Refer attendance, discipline, conflict, and other personnel matters to the Production Manager.

Production Monitoring and Documentation

• Monitor actual hourly output against the production target.
• Record startup times, hourly output, downtime, changeover time, production interruptions, authorized adjustments, and maintenance requests.
• Accurately document reasons for lost production time.
• Notify the Production Manager when the line falls behind, including current and expected output, the shortfall, cause, action taken, and support needed.
• Complete an accurate end-of-shift production report.

Communication and Shift Handoff

• Communicate operating problems early, clearly, and factually.
• Contact maintenance for repeated or unresolved equipment interruptions and seek clarification when instructions conflict.
• Provide a complete handoff covering the current order, program or settings, production status, problems, temporary adjustments, unresolved issues, and upcoming changes.
• Maintain clear communication with supervisors, maintenance personnel, material handlers, and line employees.
• Ensure line is clear and prepared for sanitation crew at end of shift.

Qualifications

• 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.
• 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 required to communicate with manufacturers and management.

Required Competencies

• Dependability and attendance

• Attention to detail

• Mechanical aptitude

• Production awareness

• Problem-solving

• Clear communication

• Sense of urgency

• Organization and recordkeeping

• Calm decision-making

• Willingness to learn

• Team coordination

• Appropriate escalation

Physical and Work Requirements

• Stand and walk for extended periods and perform bending, reaching, and repetitive movements.
• Lift and move up to 50 pounds.
• Work in a refrigerated, cold, wet, and fast-paced production environment around conveyors and automated equipment.
• Work overtime, weekends, holidays, or extended shifts during peak production periods.
• Wear required personal protective equipment.

Training and Qualification

Training will cover complete line operation, startup and shutdown, authorized adjustments, bottleneck recognition, interruptions, changeovers, production tracking, downtime records, communication, and shift handoff.

Before working independently, the Production Technician must demonstrate the ability to:

• Prepare, start, and operate the line at a stable production rate.
• Identify bottlenecks and make permitted adjustments correctly.
• Respond appropriately to production interruptions and changeovers.
• Complete production records and escalate unresolved problems.

Compensation

• Pay range: $22-$30/hr

Join the H&A Farms team and help us keep our blueberry packing operation running smoothly and efficiently!