Production Associate

Job Description

Job Description

Hours: 10 hour days, 4 days per week (Monday – Friday). Hours may increase to 12 per day during busy season.

Job Summary  

The Printer Operator is responsible for operating and maintaining industrial fabric printing equipment used to apply patterns and designs to raw textiles. This role ensures printing equipment is operating properly, production runs meet quality standards, and finished materials are consistent and accurate. The Printer Operator also performs routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and basic repairs to keep equipment running efficiently and minimize downtime.

Responsibilities and Duties :

• Operate industrial-sized fabric printing equipment to produce high-quality, consistent printed textiles.
• Set up and prepare printing equipment for production runs, including loading materials, selecting appropriate settings, and verifying print patterns.
• Monitor equipment throughout production to ensure machines are performing properly and prints meet established quality standards.
• Inspect printed textiles for color, pattern alignment, coverage, defects, and other quality issues.
• Identify and correct printing or equipment issues before they impact production or product quality.
• Perform routine cleaning, maintenance, adjustments, and calibration of printing equipment.
• Troubleshoot equipment problems and perform basic repairs as needed.
• Work with maintenance, engineering, or other team members when issues require additional technical support.
• Monitor machine performance and identify opportunities to improve reliability, efficiency, and print quality.
• Maintain accurate production and quality records.
• Follow established work instructions, safety procedures, and quality requirements.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area.
• Properly handle and store raw textiles, inks, chemicals, and other production materials.
• Perform regular inspections of equipment and promptly report issues that could affect safety, quality, or production.
• Assist with testing new materials, patterns, equipment settings, and printing processes as needed.
• Support other production activities as needed to meet team and company goals.
• Follow all company policies and procedures, including those related to safety, quality, security, and confidentiality.

The Ideal Skill Set for This Role Includes:

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Previous experience operating industrial machinery, textile equipment, printing equipment, or similar production equipment preferred.
• Mechanical aptitude and the ability to troubleshoot and resolve equipment issues.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality work.
• Ability to read and follow work instructions, production specifications, and quality requirements.
• Comfortable working with computers and electronic equipment used to operate and monitor machinery.
• Ability to perform basic equipment maintenance and repairs.
• Ability to identify problems, determine likely causes, and take appropriate corrective action.
• Ability to work independently while also working effectively as part of a production team.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and perform repetitive physical tasks.
• Ability to lift, move, and handle materials as required for the position.
• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment and follow all required safety procedures.
• Willingness to learn the company's specific printing processes, equipment, and quality standards.

Other Requirements

• Must be US Person, per US government contracts
• Overtime as required. 

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 lbs regularly
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, twist, and stoop for extended periods
• Manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination for handling small parts or tools
• Tolerance for working in varying temperatures and industrial environments
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, safety glasses, and hearing protection
• Adequate vision (with or without corrective lenses) for reading labels, documents, and operating machinery safely
• Ability to perform repetitive tasks and remain focused on quality and safety