Production Mechanic

Production Mechanic (Level 3)

The Production Mechanic (Level 3) plays a key role in keeping high-speed packaging and production lines running safely and efficiently. This position performs all duties of Production Mechanic Levels 1 and 2, and additionally handles complex changeovers, major overhauls, corrective repairs, fabrication of parts, and specialist services in areas such as machine shop work, industrial electricity, pipe fitting, and predictive maintenance. The role focuses on maintaining and improving equipment performance on fillers, cappers, labelers, conveyors, and packaging machinery within a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) environment.

Responsibilities

• Examine, test, and measure product from the assigned area to verify adherence to quality specifications, checking for visual defects and taking corrective action when necessary.
• Review the established production schedule at the start of each shift to determine production runs, required changeovers, and scheduled maintenance for the assigned area.
• Readjust production lines and perform changeovers on assigned equipment for product type, materials, size, and pack pattern, then run first-piece production to confirm conformance to quality standards.
• Perform preventive maintenance checks throughout the shift and take appropriate corrective actions to minimize downtime and maintain equipment reliability.
• Record production delays and maintain accurate downtime records for analysis and continuous improvement.
• Advise leadership and maintenance teams of recurring equipment malfunctions and participate in troubleshooting efforts to resolve root causes.
• Clean and sanitize equipment and all necessary parts as required or specified to meet GMP and safety standards.
• Monitor equipment for unsafe conditions and recommend or implement corrective actions to address equipment malfunctions and safety risks.
• Provide and use personal hand tools, as specified, to perform repairs and adjustments on production equipment.
• Analyze, diagnose, and resolve mechanical and operational problems on equipment in the assigned area, implementing corrective actions to restore optimal performance.
• Analyze defective production to determine the cause, take corrective action, and record and report issues for further analysis by others.
• Maintain the mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic functions of production equipment, ensuring proper operation and reliability.
• Replace mechanical and electrical components such as bearings, sprockets, chains, belts, limit switches, air cylinders, valves, and similar parts as needed.
• Perform major overhaul and repair work on all production equipment, including disassembly, repair, and reassembly of complex machinery.
• Maintain an inventory of spare parts for equipment in the assigned area, prepare purchase requisitions for parts and supplies, and route them for authorization.
• Assist in training production workers on proper equipment operation and required safety precautions when working on or near machinery.
• Assist in training Production Mechanics (Level 1 and Level 2), sharing expertise and helping develop their technical skills.
• Provide input on the development of specifications for new machinery, contributing practical insights based on equipment experience.
• Support the set-up, utilization, and evaluation of the plant maintenance program in collaboration with maintenance leadership and mechanics.
• Utilize data from the preventive maintenance program and other production records to identify root causes of equipment and production problems, and recommend and implement corrective actions.
• Perform extensive troubleshooting of packaging equipment such as unscramblers, fillers, cappers, cartoners, case packers, and labelers to minimize downtime and improve efficiency.

Essential Skills

• 4+ years of industrial maintenance experience, preferably in plastics or packaging environments.
• Strong electrical skill set combined with solid mechanical aptitude, with the ability to work confidently across multiple technical areas.
• Proficiency in at least three of the following: welding, machine shop operations, industrial electricity, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), or pipe fitting.
• Demonstrated ability to perform changeovers and repairs on at least eight production lines.
• Ability to troubleshoot PLC-controlled systems and perform electrical and mechanical troubleshooting on industrial machinery.
• Hands-on experience with preventive maintenance, maintenance repair, and machinery maintenance in a production setting.
• Ability to use standard hand tools such as hammers, screwdrivers, and wrenches for repair and adjustment tasks.
• Ability to read and interpret machinery and electrical blueprints and schematics, and apply setup and maintenance manual instructions.
• Capability to convert units of measure (e.g., ounces to pounds, grams to ounces, feet to meters) accurately for production and setup requirements.
• Ability to perform extensive troubleshooting of packaging equipment, including unscramblers, fillers, cappers, cartoners, case packers, and labelers.
• Proficiency in using precision measuring devices for equipment setup, alignment, and quality checks.
• Ability to stick weld stainless and mild steel in all positions.
• Ability to TIG and/or MIG weld stainless and carbon steel.
• Ability to cut, weld, and braze using gas welding equipment.
• Mechanical troubleshooting skills with experience in pneumatics, hydraulics, motors, three-phase power, and industrial machinery.
• Ability to set up machines for different products, sizes, and pack patterns and verify proper operation.
• Experience with electrical maintenance and industrial electrical troubleshooting in a production environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working with fillers, cappers, labelers, conveyors, and various packaging equipment in an industrial setting.
• Experience in a machine shop environment, including basic fabrication and machining of parts for production equipment.
• Familiarity with predictive maintenance practices and using maintenance data to improve equipment reliability.
• Comfort working with electro-mechanical PLC systems and integrating mechanical and electrical diagnostics.
• Ability to maintain spare parts inventory and prepare purchase requisitions for maintenance materials.
• Experience contributing to the development of specifications for new machinery and equipment upgrades.
• Experience in GMP or similar regulated production environments is beneficial.
• Strong communication skills to effectively collaborate with production teams and maintenance leadership.
• Ability to train others on equipment operation and safety procedures, supporting skill development across the production team.

Why Work Here?

This opportunity offers a supportive environment that values skill development and ongoing learning in a modern manufacturing setting. Team members earn 8 hours of vacation for every 400 hours worked, promoting work-life balance and time for rest. Once a year, each employee receives their choice of 24 products, adding a unique and tangible appreciation for their contribution. The culture encourages collaboration between production and maintenance teams, recognizes technical expertise, and provides the chance to work with a variety of equipment and technologies that keep the operation dynamic and engaging.

Work Environment

The role is based in a GMP-compliant manufacturing facility with active production and packaging lines. You will work around fillers, cappers, labelers, conveyors, and other industrial machinery in a warehouse and production area that can become warm during the summer months and may include exposure to menthol odors. Safety and cleanliness are priorities, and you will wear safety glasses, hair nets or beard guards, and closed-toed shoes while on the floor. The environment is structured and focused, with the use of cell phones and personal music devices not permitted on the manufacturing floor to maintain safety and attention to detail.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Oak Brook, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $74360.00 - $83710.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Will provide benefits to each candidate during the interview process.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Oak Brook, IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 21, 2026.