Production Associate

Production Associate

The Production Associate accurately pulls, measures, and prepares ingredients for the mixing process to produce high-quality animal supplements and pet food products. This role focuses on precise batching, safe handling of raw materials, and strict adherence to food safety, quality, and production standards in a modern, clean manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Read and interpret batch sheets that list all ingredient types and amounts for specific products.
• Use a push cart to travel to various storage locations, pull individual ingredients, and load them onto the cart for batching.
• Verify that bin locations, product numbers, and product descriptions match the batch sheet to ensure the correct ingredients are used.
• Transport dry, powder, and liquid ingredients to the mixing station and pull an empty, clean tub to prepare for batching.
• Use digital scales, analog scales, measuring cups, and other measuring tools to weigh and measure ingredients with 100% accuracy.
• Ensure ingredient measurements meet exact specifications (for example, weighing exactly the grams listed on the batch sheet) to maintain product safety and effectiveness.
• Seal bulk containers of ingredients after use and return them to the correct shelving locations to maintain organization and readiness for future orders.
• Restock shelves and maintain appropriate inventory levels of raw materials as needed.
• Assist with the mixing process as required, supporting production mixer operators to complete individual batches.
• Clean tubs, tools, and equipment used in the batching and mixing processes according to food safety and sanitation procedures.
• Perform supplemental tasks such as packing, filling, and packaging products, as well as helping in other production areas as needed.
• Follow all company rules and policies, including attendance requirements, OSHA safety standards, Food Safety policies, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
• Produce high-quality, reliable, and safe pet products that meet customer specifications.
• Meet daily production objectives by managing effort and intensity to achieve production targets.
• Maintain a team-first attitude and willingly assist in areas that support overall team success.
• Clean and sanitize assigned areas within the facility to support a safe and hygienic production environment.
• Ensure First-In, First-Out (FIFO) procedures are followed correctly for all raw materials.
• Accurately complete production records, documents, and any required data entry related to batching, inventory, and production.
• Locate and pull correct items for production using inventory and storage systems.
• Accurately and safely weigh items, avoiding contamination of raw materials, finished products, equipment, and tools by following all food safety procedures.
• Follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), GMPs, guidelines, and policies consistently.
• Use inventory, supplies, and materials responsibly to minimize waste and support cost-effective operations.
• Effectively communicate with team members, supervisors, and other departments to coordinate work and address issues.
• Report department needs, questions, or concerns to the appropriate leader in a timely manner.
• Maintain a clean and safe work environment and contribute to a positive, inclusive, and rewarding work culture.
• Perform cycle counts, inventory control, and shipping or warehouse-related tasks as needed, including forklift operation if trained and authorized.
• Lift and move materials weighing up to 60 pounds repetitively as part of daily production activities.

Essential Skills

• Ability to accurately weigh and measure products using digital scales, analog scales, measuring cups, and other measuring tools.
• Strong attention to detail to ensure correct bin locations, product numbers, and product descriptions match batch sheets.
• Capability to read and understand Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), guidelines, and policies.
• Basic math skills, including converting kilograms to pounds and working with fractions and decimals.
• Ability to locate and pull correct items for production from various storage locations.
• Capability to accurately weigh items safely while maintaining strict food safety standards.
• Ability to avoid contamination of raw materials, finished products, equipment, and tools by following food safety procedures and GMPs.
• Physical ability to lift up to 60 pounds repetitively and perform tasks that require standing, walking, and pushing carts throughout the shift.
• Comfort working in a production, warehouse, or feed mill environment with batching, mixing, filling, and packaging tasks.
• Ability to follow SOPs, GMPs, Food Safety policies, and OSHA safety rules consistently.
• Strong communication skills to effectively interact with team members and other departments.
• Capability to complete production records, documents, and basic data entry accurately.
• Reliability in attendance and punctuality to support consistent production operations.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in cleaning and sanitation within a production or food manufacturing environment.
• Work experience in warehouse operations, feed mill work, or similar production settings.
• Experience with batching, mixing, filling, packing orders, packing boxes, and general packaging activities.
• Familiarity with inventory management, inventory control, and cycle counting processes.
• Experience with shipping and general warehouse logistics.
• Forklift experience or certification for material handling, if available.
• Comfort working with multiple mixers and production lines running simultaneously.
• Ability to follow FIFO procedures accurately for raw materials.
• Willingness to assist with cross-functional tasks and support other areas of production as needed.
• Openness to training and working with other production workers and shift supervisors to learn new tasks and processes.

Why Work Here?

You join a growing company in a modern, brand-new facility that offers a clean, well-organized, and professionally run production environment. The organization invests in growth and is expanding into a larger location, creating strong opportunities for advancement and long-term career development. Employees benefit from a supportive culture where experienced team members provide hands-on training, and demonstrated performance can lead to conversion to full-time roles and leadership opportunities. The company values a positive, inclusive, and rewarding work culture where teamwork, safety, and quality are central to everyday operations.

Work Environment

This role is based in a brand-new, modern, and very clean production facility focused on manufacturing animal supplements and pet food products. Production workers are exposed to strong food-related smells such as brewer's yeast, chicken, beef, and pork, which may take a few days to adjust to. The position operates primarily on 1st shift, when production runs heaviest and multiple mixers (typically three) run throughout the shift. The environment includes active production lines, mixing stations, batching areas, and warehouse spaces where raw materials and finished products are stored and handled. Employees use equipment such as digital and analog scales, measuring tools, push carts, tubs, mixers, and, where applicable, forklifts for material handling. The facility follows strict Food Safety and GMP standards, and employees must adhere to all safety and cleanliness protocols. The dress code requires pants, a t-shirt, and closed-toe, non-slip shoes, with additional GMP requirements including hair nets, beard nets, and no jewelry. Employees must keep a dedicated pair of non-slip shoes at work to avoid bringing outside contaminants into the production and warehouse areas. A shift supervisor and another production worker provide guidance and training, helping new team members learn tasks and integrate into the operation. The overall environment emphasizes safety, cleanliness, teamwork, and consistent, high-quality production.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of East Earl, PA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $20.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or