Machine Operator

Position Summary for Operator

Machine Operators at Sugar Foods serve as owners of a particular machine or line within a process area. The Sugar Foods Villa Rica operation is a food manufacturing, packing and distribution facility. Machines at Sugar Foods include ovens, baggers, and case erectors among others. The Villa Rica plant is a fast-paced 24-hour operation. Operators are responsible for ensuring that their machine and/or line safely produces the highest quality products for Sugar Foods customers. Operators are expected to exercise good judgement with an emphasis on safety first and attention to quality. Operators are expected to follow standard work processes in order to maximize the effectiveness of their equipment while always looking for opportunities to continuously improve how their machine, line, and team operates. Operators work closely with Line Associates, Pod Leaders, Maintenance and Quality technicians on daily operations and continuous improvement projects. To be successful at Sugar Foods it is critical that our Machine Operators embrace and teach the Sugar Foods Way to all of our team members.

The Sugar Foods Way

At Sugar Foods the Customer is King and our team is our Family. The vision of Sugar Foods is for our products to be on every plate and in every cup. To accomplish this we continue to grow our business and adapt to changing business conditions and consumer preferences by continuously exploring new technologies, methodologies, and opportunities to help our team get better every single day without changing our core identity -- which is to consistently provide value to our customers, our associates, and our community -- by adhering to high standards of quality and safety and always acting in a respectful and responsible manner.

Your Responsibilities as a Sugar Foods Machine Operator

Safely and Effectively Run Your Machine and Manage Your Line

• Prepare your machine, line and team
• Meet with the machine operator from the previous shift to learn about any problems, challenges, or concerns they may have encountered in order to ensure a smooth hand-off and start-up
• Review daily schedule and properly prepare for the requirements of that day's shift
• Communicate effectively with material handlers who supply your line to ensure you have the right materials for proper line set-up for your run
• Communicate effectively with line associates and temp staff (packers and stackers) to ensure proper line set up (materials and settings) and schedule execution
• Check that all safety mechanisms are working properly and that all team members understand and adhere to safety rules
• Run your machine and lead your line safely and effectively
• Check settings and match to product run using graphical interface
• Start-up machine
• Run machine at expected standards

- Zero Quality Defects

- Zero Safety violations

- 80% OEE machine / line productivity

• Regulate machine flow, speed, and temperature
• Monitor production line and output and resolve jams, pile-ups, and poor seals
• Inspect products to verify conformity to specifications such as measurements, code dates and weights and remove/record rejected items
• Conduct scheduled safety and quality inspections
• Troubleshoot machine operations and determine when to take the machine off-line in the event of a safety and/or quality problem
• Work with maintenance team on any mechanical problems
• Conduct preventative maintenance on machines and line
• Relieve all line associates for breaks as needed
• Monitor and record waste

Manage and Optimize Your Machine and Line

• Clean, lubricate and make minor adjustments/repairs using basic hand tools
• Perform basic preventative maintenance
• Clean and organize work area
• Maintain your equipment
• Optimize and Improve your team & equipment
• Optimize utilization of line associates and equipment resources to ensure the safest and most valuable use of your team and equipment
• Identify process improvements

Keep Yourself and Your Teammates Safe

• Understand and Adhere to Sugar Foods Safety Rules
• Maintain 5S in your area
• Know your lock out/tag out procedures
• Check your equipment
• Ensure all machine safety devices are intact and working
• Ensure proper use and storage of all safety tools, lifts, knifes, etc.
• Coach your line and teammates
• When you see something unsafe say something
• Share safety tips

Deliver High Quality Products

Own Quality and Strive for "First Time Quality" Every Time

• Ensure machine and line are properly set to produce to our quality standard
• Perform all required quality checks and record (scales, seal testing, package integrity)
• Conduct metal detection verifications and record
• Stop production of line or machine when quality is not at expected level
• Continuously Lean, Train and Coach
• Seek out QA Technicians to get guidance when needed
• Train line associates on quality procedures and expectations

Successful Sugar Foods Team Members Are:

• Works proactively to solve problems and overcome crisis
• Fearlessly takes on challenges and produces the best products on the market
• Driven
• Flexible
• Strives for the best way to meet customer needs even if it's "out of the box"
• Willing to innovate, take risks and try something new
• Acts like an owner and is accountable for their team
• Understands the business requirements
• Collaborative
• Collaborates with peers and leaders to continuously learn and improve
• Rationale and calm in dealing with challenges
• Family oriented
• Demonstrates care and respect for everyone in the Sugar Food Family
• Passionate for developing other team members to make the team stronger