Continuous Opr - A Shift - 7:30am - 7:45pm (4on - 4off)

Job Description

Job Description

Date Posted: 10-9-2026

Date Removed: 10-16-2026

Position: Continuous Operator

Department: Continuous

Pay Grade: NE07

Shift: A-Shift (7:30am-7:45pm 4on/4off)

Reminder: If you apply for a position and it is offered to you, and you decline the position, you will have to wait 6 months after posting for another position.

Posting for a position after the deadline will disqualify you.  (If posting is not able to be removed as soon as the 5pm deadline.)

LATERAL MOVES ARE NOW ALLOWED WITH THE REVISED JOB BID SYSTEM.

This requisition will be posted on the NGK recruiting board for 7 days. Members should also consider the following requirements after applying for a position.

• You must be on your current job for one (1) year if your job grade is 7 or lower.
• You must be in your current job for a minimum of two (2) years for job grades 8 or higher due to the more technical nature of the jobs.
• No disciplinary actions within the last year (low level points warnings may be waived if there are special circumstances that can be, or are, documented).
• Meet the minimum requirements of the open job description.
• Completion of the current learner’s assessment and other training requirements.
• Completed Career Readiness Certificate (CRC).

Members should be mindful of the shift, area, and job duties after applying for a job so as not to risk a six-month waiting period to apply for a future opportunity. The members should carefully consider all these factors to avoid rejecting a job offer.

JOB TITLE: Continuous Operator JOB GRADE: NE07
FLSA STATUS: Nonexempt DEPARTMENT NAME: P-1 / Continuous
DEPARTMENT CODE: FRMSCD REPORTS TO: Supervisor

I. POSITION SUMMARY

A. Operates, monitors, and assists in the drying and finishing processes, which involve the drying; the automated cutting; the visual inspecting; and the manual stacking of dried, formed products. Those products are supplied to the kiln area where they are fired in kilns, in which ceramic products are produced that meet the required specifications & quality standards.

II. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (The section is not intended to be an all-inclusive list and NGK Ceramics reserves the right to include other duties as assigned):

A. Performs established start-up procedures in accordance with the work instructions.

B. Verifies that the finishing machine set-up, as well as the production line set-up, have been successfully completed once the automatic processing has begun.

C. Inspects greenbody wooden pallet for damage; confirms that both sides of the wooden pallet have the same pallet number; and places finishing pallet cart on table lift in a safe and efficient manner.

D. Calculates and verifies the number of layers and pieces of greenbody per layer for each travel ticket quantity.

E. Picks up the product that is deposited onto the finishing table by the third transfer; applies part specific visual criteria understanding to visually inspect the entirety of each part; and places the approved parts onto the pallet in the proper manner

F. Places white cardboard between each layer of greenbody, using the proper technique; when proper amount of product has been placed on finishing pallet, lowers cart and rolls cart to a location where the pallet may be easily removed by the forklift; and places the Finishing Travel Ticket on the finished pallet.

G. Enters complete and accurate process information into the company’s information systems.

H. Determines maximum allowable values for dimensional characteristics (perpendicularity and length) by referencing the Target Sheet; checks length and perpendicularity; and determines location and magnitude of maximum perpendicularity variance by using the proper test timing.

I. Calculates accepted, rejected and handled part quantities; performs yield/defect rate
calculations; and calculates the number of total cuts on a specific blade and/or sets of blades and records the required information.

J. Segregates and stacks/disposes of shiro-modori; wraps pallet and completely and accurately fills out the modori tag.

K. Performs re-inspection tasks, including completely & accurately filling out the Re-Inspection Form.

NGK CERAMICS USA, INC. JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Code: 2401 Page 2 of 4 Effective Date: 08.23.2017

L. Completes the Drying/Finishing Activities Log to document the amount of time not processing parts; performs equipment setting adjustments and troubleshoots process and equipment problems; performs established change-over procedures, as required.

M. Starts dryer operations according to established power up procedures; verifies initial settings for: exhaust fan, heater temperature, supply fan, etc.

N. Calculates relay evaporation ratio when product forming begins.

O. Checks continuous dryer conditions twice per shift & records on the Continuous Dryer Condition Check Sheet; performs carrier change outs as needed, according to product being produced.

P. Adjusts machine settings to facilitate the manufacture of quality dried formed products.

Q. Works safely by avoiding forklifts; staying clear of forklift doors; and using personnel doors when entering or exiting the buildings.

R. Participates in PM (Preventive Maintenance), MMOL (Machine Maintenance Operator Leader), and G5S (Global 5S: Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain) activities as needed.

S. Follows all EMS (Environmental Management System) procedures, including the disposal of waste and used materials.

T. This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

III. REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Customer Focus. Environmental Awareness and Compliance. Functional & Technical Expertise and Computer Skills. Integrity and Accountability. Organizational Awareness. Respect and Humility. Safety Orientation. Teamwork.

IV. REQUIRED AND PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

A. Required Education and/or Experience

2. High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
3. 6 month manufacturing/warehousing experience or equivalent
4. CRC Bronze or above

B. Required Language Skills

1. Ability to read and comprehend work instructions. 

2. Ability to communicate information in one-on-one and small group situations to other
employees of the organization.

C. Required Mathematical Skills

1. Ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

D. Required Reasoning Ability

1. Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.

2. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

E. Preferred Qualifications

1. Basic knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC) software.

2. Certified Production Technician program completion

V. PHYSICAL DEMANDS (The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and will be determined on a case by case basis):

A. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.

B. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, or crouch.  

C . The employee is required to have 20/20 vision (natural or corrected vision).

D. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move
up to 25 pounds.

VI. WORK ENVIRONMENT

A. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to work near moving mechanical parts; airborne particles; and vibration.

B. The employee is frequently exposed to wet or humid conditions; work in high, precarious places; and extreme heat.

C. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

VII. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS/PPE

A. Safety shoes must be worn while on NGK property

B. Safety goggles may be required while performing certain job duties.

C. Task appropriate gloves may be required while performing certain job duties.

VIII. EMPLOYMENT DISCLAIMER

A. This job description is not to be considered a written contract. Employment with NGK is at will. This means that the employee, as well as the company, is free to terminate the employment relationship at any time and for any reason not prohibited by law. Also, this job description is not designed to be a complete listing of the tasks, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee.