Machine Operator

Summary: 

The Machine Operator is responsible for operating, monitoring, adjusting, troubleshooting, and maintaining packaging equipment used in the manufacture and packaging of dry powder products. The role supports safe, efficient, and compliant production operations by ensuring products are packaged according to approved specifications, batch records, work orders, and customer requirements.  

The Machine Operator is responsible for supporting equipment setup, changeovers, line clearances, in-process quality checks, documentation accuracy, and verification of packaging materials, labels, lot numbers, and expiration dates. The position plays a critical role in maintaining compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), food safety programs, allergen-control procedures, HACCP requirements, USDA/FDA regulations, sanitation standards, and traceability requirements while ensuring product quality and preventing contamination or allergen cross-contact. 

 Responsibilities: 

• Operate, monitor, adjust, troubleshoot, and maintain packaging equipment including fillers, hoppers, seamers, labelers, over-cap machines, and box erectors to ensure safe and efficient production operations.  

• Perform equipment setup, line clearance, product changeovers, and start-up verification activities to ensure equipment is properly configured and ready for production.  

• Package milk powder and other dry powder products in accordance with approved batch records, work orders, packaging specifications, customer requirements, and production schedules while complying with FDA, USDA, HACCP, food safety, and cGMP requirements.  

• Verify product weights, lot numbers, expiration dates, labels, packaging materials, package counts, and coding information to ensure product identity, traceability, and compliance with customer and regulatory requirements.  

• Follow established allergen-control procedures, including proper material identification, segregation, equipment cleaning, line clearance, and changeover requirements to prevent allergen cross-contact and protect product integrity.  

• Maintain complete and accurate production, packaging, quality, downtime, inventory, and traceability documentation and ensure records are completed in real time and according to company requirements.  

• Immediately report and escalate food safety, allergen, quality, equipment, material, safety, or process deviations to supervision and Quality personnel.  

• Safely operate packaging equipment, forklifts, pallet jacks, skyjacks, scanners, and other authorized production equipment while following all required safety procedures and PPE requirements.  

• Maintain clean, organized, and sanitary work areas, demonstrate dependable attendance, support overtime requirements when necessary, and perform other duties as assigned.  

• Perform additional duties assigned to support business objectives. 

Safety Responsibilities: 

• Follow all company safety policies and procedures. 

• Participate in required safety training. 

• Report unsafe conditions, near misses, and incidents promptly.  

 Qualifications: 

Education: 

• High school diploma or equivalent required.  

 Experience: 

• 1-2 years of manufacturing experience preferred, preferably in an FDA or USDA regulated environment.  

• Forklift and skyjack operation experience preferred.  

• Food, dietary supplement, nutraceutical, pet nutrition, or other regulated manufacturing experience preferred.  

• Working knowledge of food safety, cGMPs, sanitation, allergen controls, and manufacturing documentation preferred.  

 Skills & Abilities: