Material Handler

Position: Material Handler

Location: Grandview, MO Manufacturing Facility

Reports To: Production Supervisor

Position Summary: Included in the summary are all duties performed by Material Handlers in all departments. Material Handlers are responsible for the receiving of materials and other supplies, shipping finished goods, operating equipment required for material movement, operating equipment required for material grinding, spraying, packaging, and classifying. Other miscellaneous duties may be assigned by supervision.

When assigned to a specific department, a Material Handler will perform only those duties typical for that department.

Essential Job Functions

Following prescribed guidelines and under general supervision, the Material Handler performs the following duties:

• Operates all equipment required for material movement including fork trucks, pallet movers, conveying equipment, pumps, hoses and other equipment.
• Prepares materials for shipment by labeling, marking, banding, palletizing and other methods. Moves and stacks materials in their department ranging in weights of 50-pound cartons, 110-pound drums, 250-pound lever-packs and 1833-pound bulk sacks.
• Monitors volumes, levels and amounts in vessels in which they are adding or removing materials. Ensures that vessels are not over-filled and checks and maintains temperatures in vessels and transport equipment.
• Operates equipment to grind, classify, spray, package, and accurately weigh products. Controls feed rate from silos and tanks, sets equipment to properly grind, classify, or spray product to proper product quality. Adjusts and operates weighing systems to give proper amount of product in a container.
• Hand stacks or maneuvers product on pallets at the following typical rates:
  1. Lactylate Tower

7,500 to 10,000 lbs per hour packaged in 50 lb cartons and up to 1800 lb bulk sacks.

1. Hydrate Plant

8,500 to 10,000 lbs per hour packaged in 50 lb cartons and up to 450 lb drums.

1. DM Plant

8,500 to 10,000 lbs per hour packaged in 50 lb cartons, up to 250 lb drum, and 1833 lb Bulk Sacks.

• Gathers packaging and other materials needed for their operation. Operates package forming and conveying equipment. Packages, palletizes, stretch wraps, labels, marks, identifies and prepares finished product in packages.
• Repairs damaged containers promptly to ensure product is not contaminated. Checks all discarded product, trash and salvage, and reports to supervision. Aids in rework of recycled materials as requested (recycled drums are hand dumped into vessels, drum weights are from 100 to 350 pounds).
• Clean pipes and equipment. Performs cleaning and sanitation on equipment as required by Plant Operating Standards. Maintains a clean, neat, and orderly work area to meet plant sanitation standards including periodic full system hot water washes.
• Takes action as instructed by the Production Supervisor or other management by direct written or verbal communication.
• Completes an effective shift crossover communication with incoming crews to ensure efficient continuous operation.
• Responsible for the quality of the product from both in bulk liquid/intermediate form, as well as finished packaged while in the custody of the manufacturing plant including but not limited to the chemical composition, accurate lot coding, and packaging presentation.
• Investigations into quality issues and effective communication with the QC control department are a requirement for Material Handlers.
• Takes action consistent with the established procedures during any emergency condition. Notifies appropriate personnel when they observe that emergency conditions exist. Always work in accordance with established safety procedures and use prescribed safety equipment.
• Follows all safety rules.
• Carries out troubleshooting and maintenance on equipment and instruments and promptly seeks further technical and/or maintenance help when such repairs fail to yield corrective action. For example, adjusting equipment settings, tightening flange bolts or clamps, inspecting for equipment faults, and other.
• Performs other duties as instructed by supervision which may include other jobs in other classifications as required.
• Assists in training personnel as required.
• Prepares records of activities in log books, on batch log sheets, or on other forms and presents them to supervision. Correctly indicates all repairs made, parts used, analysis performed, and other related information.
• Enters and retrieves information from various computer based sources. Accurately completes production posting utilizing established business planning software.

General Working Environment

• Material handlers are required to work in dusty areas, and will be expected to wear dust protectors, such as dust masks, paper coveralls and/or respirators.
• Samples hot truck loads of material and acid, and is required to wear the appropriate PPE including but not limited to face-shields, rubber gloves and acid proof clothing.
• Temperature in the facility will range between 45oF and 110oF depending on location and the activities involved i.e. hot water washes.

Usual Physical Activities

Through the course of a typical shift an individual in this position will perform the following activities;

• Sits,
• Stands,
• Walks,
• Kneels,
• Bends,
• Reaches above and below the shoulders,
• Traverses multiple levels via stairs,
• Hand stack pallets of boxes ranging from 45 pounds to 55 pounds,
• Positions drums on pallets with weight ranges from 110 to 450 pounds,
• Corrected vision, speaking ability, and hearing are usually involved in performing written and verbal job functions.