Filling Lead

Description

SUMMARY 

The Filling Lead ensures the smooth operation of can filling equipment, maintains product quality, and upholds a safe working environment. The role includes setting up and operating machinery, troubleshooting issues, collaborating with maintenance and quality teams, and maintaining accurate production records. The Filling Lead also identifies potential areas for improvement and communicates them to the relevant teams. A strong technical background, mechanical aptitude, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail are crucial for success in this role. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Machine Setup: Prepare the Krones can filling machine for production runs by configuring settings, such as can size, fill volume, and product type. Ensure the machine is clean, sanitized, and ready for production according to established CIP protocols.
• Machine Operation: Monitor the can filling machine during operation to ensure consistent product quality. Load cans into the machine, oversee the filling, sealing, and labeling processes, and make minor adjustments as needed. 
• Leadership, Training and Support: Conduct hands-on, day-to-day training for new operators or team members transitioning to more advanced tasks. Provide specific technical training on the operation of can filling machinery, troubleshooting procedures, and how to respond to issues that arise during production. Share best practices on machine calibration, product changeovers, and optimizing line efficiency to ensure smooth and consistent production. Manage smooth transitions between jobs, providing clear communication to teams regarding changeover instructions and any changes to production schedules. 
• Quality Control: Conduct frequent quality checks to verify filled cans meet required standards. Perform visual inspections, measure fill levels, and check seals to ensure quality compliance and prevent defects. Verify attainment percentages for each job, investigating variances from intended completion levels and root causes of excess scrap or other discrepancies. 
• Troubleshooting: Identify and address minor machine malfunctions. Perform basic adjustments and routine maintenance or escalate more complex repairs to the maintenance team to minimize downtime.  
• Cleaning and Maintenance: Perform routine cleaning and preventive maintenance on the filling machine. Adhere to sanitation and food safety standards, including GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), and ensure the machine remains in optimal working condition. 
• Record Keeping: Maintain detailed and accurate records of production data, machine settings, quality control checks, and any maintenance activities for regulatory compliance and operational efficiency. 

Food Safety  

Responsible and required to notify management about actual or potential food safety issues; and empowered to act to resolve food safety issues within their scope of work. If this position is vacant for any significant period of time the obligation for completion of all food safety and quality related tasks will become the responsibility of the direct manager or a qualified designee. 

QUALIFICATIONS  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Education: 

High school diploma or general education degree (GED) with at least one year of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience in can filling, packaging machinery, or a similar role. Prior experience with Krones can filling machines is preferred. 

Skills/Knowledge: 

Has learned the basic skills and routine tasks necessary. Possesses advanced mechanical skills, with a thorough understanding of the full production process flow. Demonstrates strong troubleshooting abilities for mechanical and operational issues, ensuring smooth and efficient production. Attention to detail is essential, along with a commitment to maintaining consistent quality standards throughout the process. Familiarity with CIP (Clean-in-Place) processes and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) guidelines in a food and beverage production environment is crucial to ensure compliance with safety and sanitation protocols. 

Computer Skills:  

Basic computer skills, including proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, and database management systems for production and maintenance documentation. 

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.  

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle and feel objects, tools, and controls. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, bend, and reach with hands and arms. 
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.