Material Handler, Shipping & Equipment Preparation

Material Handler Shipping & Equipment Preparation

The Material Handler Shipping & Equipment Preparation position is responsible for the safe movement, handling, staging, loading, and unloading of materials and industrial equipment throughout the manufacturing facility. This position also plays a key role in preparing finished industrial equipment for shipment to customers.

The position requires experience operating forklifts and material-handling equipment and the ability to safely work around large, heavy, and irregularly shaped manufactured equipment. The Material Handler will assist with preparing, protecting, securing, staging, and loading finished equipment to help ensure it arrives at the customer's location safely and without damage. This is a hands-on position requiring a strong commitment to safety, attention to detail, organization, and teamwork.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Material Handling

• Safely operate forklifts and other authorized material-handling equipment.
• Move raw materials, components, fabricated parts, finished equipment, and supplies throughout the manufacturing facility.
• Load and unload trucks, trailers, and shipping containers.
• Receive incoming materials and move them to appropriate staging or storage locations.
• Stage materials and equipment to support production and shipping schedules.
• Move large and irregularly shaped industrial equipment safely through manufacturing and shipping areas.
• Assist with positioning equipment for production, inspection, shipment preparation, and loading.
• Maintain organized material storage and staging areas.
• Perform required pre-use inspections of forklifts and other assigned material-handling equipment.
• Report damaged equipment, unsafe conditions, or material-handling concerns to supervision.

Industrial Equipment Shipping Preparation

• Prepare finished industrial equipment, machinery, components, and assemblies for shipment to customers.
• Inspect equipment prior to shipment preparation for obvious damage, loose components, or conditions that could affect safe transportation.
• Clean equipment as necessary prior to packaging and shipment.
• Protect finished surfaces, stainless steel, instrumentation, controls, fittings, piping, and other vulnerable components from damage during transportation.
• Wrap and cover equipment using appropriate protective materials.
• Install protective padding, barriers, covers, or other materials where needed.
• Secure loose components and accessories prior to shipment.
• Assist with blocking, bracing, strapping, and securing equipment for transportation.
• Prepare smaller components, loose parts, and accessories for shipment with the associated equipment.
• Clearly identify and organize components that are shipped separately from the primary equipment.
• Assist with crating, skidding, or palletizing equipment and components when required.
• Stage completed equipment in designated shipping areas.
• Verify that equipment is prepared according to established shipping requirements before loading.

Loading & Rigging Support

• Assist with the safe loading of industrial equipment onto trucks, trailers, flatbeds, and shipping containers.
• Use forklifts and other approved equipment to safely position loads for shipment.
• Assist with basic rigging activities involving large or heavy equipment within the employee's training and authorization.
• Properly use approved slings, straps, chains, binders, and other material-handling or load-securing equipment.
• Inspect material-handling and rigging equipment prior to use.
• Work with Production, Shipping, and other personnel to determine safe methods for moving and loading equipment.
• Maintain awareness of load weight, balance, center of gravity, clearances, and surrounding personnel when moving equipment.
• Follow established procedures for securing loads and preparing equipment for transportation.
• Stop work and seek assistance whenever a load cannot be moved or handled safely.
• Take or assist with pre-shipment photographs when required.
• Communicate shipment-readiness issues to the appropriate supervisor.
• Maintain clean and organized shipping and staging areas.

Safety Responsibilities

• Follow all MXD Process safety policies, procedures, and work instructions.
• Operate forklifts only after completing required training and company authorization.
• Follow established safe lifting, material-handling, and rigging practices.
• Wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Inspect forklifts, rigging, straps, chains, and other assigned equipment before use.
• Never exceed the rated capacity of forklifts, lifting devices, rigging, or other material-handling equipment.
• Maintain safe clearances from employees, machinery, structures, and overhead hazards.
• Maintain good housekeeping in material storage, staging, loading, and shipping areas.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Previous material-handling experience in a manufacturing, fabrication, warehouse, or industrial environment preferred.
• Previous forklift experience required.
• Ability to successfully complete company-required forklift training and authorization.
• Experience handling large industrial equipment or fabricated products preferred.
• Previous shipping, packaging, crating, or equipment-preparation experience preferred.
• Basic rigging knowledge or experience preferred.
• Ability to read and follow written and verbal instructions.
• Basic ability to read shipping documentation, labels, measurements, and equipment identification.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to protecting finished products from damage.
• Dependable attendance and ability to work effectively as part of a manufacturing team.

Physical Requirements

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, including:

• Frequently standing, walking, bending, stooping, reaching, pushing, and pulling.
• Regularly handling shipping materials, tools, components, and supplies.
• Lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds independently, with heavier items handled using team assistance or appropriate mechanical lifting equipment.
• Safely entering, exiting, and operating forklifts and other authorized material-handling equipment.
• Working around large industrial equipment and moving vehicles.
• Maintaining sufficient visual and spatial awareness to safely maneuver materials and equipment.
• Working on concrete floors and other manufacturing and loading-area surfaces for extended periods.

Work Environment

This position primarily works in a manufacturing, fabrication, warehouse, and shipping environment. The employee may also work outdoors while loading or unloading equipment. Working conditions may include:

• Manufacturing noise.
• Dust, dirt, grease, and other conditions typical of an industrial manufacturing facility.
• Hot conditions during summer months and cold conditions during winter months.
• Exposure to outdoor weather conditions during loading and unloading activities.
• Moving forklifts, trucks, trailers, machinery, and industrial equipment.
• Required PPE must be worn in accordance with company safety requirements.

Performance Expectations

Successful performance in this position includes:

• Safe and efficient operation of forklifts and material-handling equipment.
• Finished equipment prepared for shipment accurately and on schedule.
• Equipment adequately protected from transportation-related damage.
• Correct components and accessories included with shipments.
• Safe loading and unloading practices.

Other Duties

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to contain a comprehensive list of every duty, responsibility, or qualification required. Additional duties may be assigned based on production and business needs.

Equal Employment Opportunity

MXD Process is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to legally protected characteristics and in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.