Hood Packaging Corporation has a rich history in North America as a leader in the packaging industry. From day one, our company has been at the forefront in the design and manufacture of a wide range of packaging materials. Our goal at Hood Packaging is to provide a product that is manufactured in a safety conscious environment with attention to high quality, timeliness, and that consistently exceeds customer expectations. We are able to meet our goal every day because we employ some of the best packaging people in the industry. We couldn't succeed without our dedicated employees. If you are looking for more than just a job and you want a career. Consider Hood Packaging Corporation.
Hood Packaging is currently seeking a Process Engineer in our Arden Hills, MN facility.
SCOPE OF POSITION
To provide technical assistance to Hood Packaging Manufacturing Plant Operations by way of Continuous Process Improvement, Cost Reductions, Safety Enhancements, and overall Plant Efficiency.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBLITIES
The Process Engineer has primarily functional responsibilities with limited managerial responsibilities:
Functional Responsibilities
- Identifies, develops, and manages process improvement projects specifically aimed at improving operational efficiencies/KPIs (safety, quality, productivity, waste and costs). This includes the ongoing development and training of required methods and procedures.
- Leads Kaizen Teams utilizing Lean methodologies to achieve future state goals. This position plays the role of “Lean Expert” on site.
- Trouble Shoots daily production and process problems, communicates with Plant Engineer, Manufacturing Manager, General Manager, Supervisors and Operators regarding run problems, investigates root causes and recommends and implements corrective actions using Lean tools.
- Works in conjunction with manufacturing and maintenance personnel to ensure consistent operation of equipment to prescribed conditions, once developed. Identifies any/all of the following: set-up and run parameters; maintenance intervals; and/or material specifications.
- Develops supporting set up, run and change-over documentation and facilitates all training.
- Writes, performs, analyzes, and reports on validations to support process standardization.
- Develops project justifications, ROI analysis and proper project/capital requests consistent with company policy.
- Takes lead on management and implementation of safety initiatives. Always operates with safety considerations as paramount.
- Assists Manufacturing in preparing standard operating conditions with the appropriate input from the machine operators, supervisors and technical personnel.
- Determines the need for and justifies capital projects such as source equipment and components by completing and routing “Allocation for Capital” form.
- Assists Sales and Packaging Engineer in the development of customer specifications.
- Acquires knowledge of procedures, work instructions, and associated forms as required by the Supervisor.
- Assist in ensuring HACCP, GMP’s Work Instructions, and safe quality food system requirements are in compliance.
Managerial Responsibilities
- Supervise projects working with Management, Supervisors, Maintenance and Production employees.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
- Regular contact with the General Manager to review projects.
- Frequent contact with Region Project Engineer to review projects.
- Frequent contact with Sales Reps, Customer Service, Quality Manager, Production and Maintenance personnel.
- Some contact with Customers.
FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Regular use of computers, phones and other types of office equipment.
- Some knowledge of AI tools a plus.
- Must organize complex tasks and meet deadlines.
- Available between all shifts within reason.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Significant time is spent on the floor and the remaining time is spent in an office setting. Hazards are those normally associated with a Plant position and include: noise levels above 85 decibels, warm building temperature during mid-summer months.
- Personal and product safety requirements for the plant include: hearing protection, safety glasses, safety shoes and hairnets in facilities that require them.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Office in plant and entire facility
QUALIFICATIONS
Education & Experience
- Four-year degree in Engineering preferred and at least 3-5 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment.
- A complete understanding of quality management systems and tools, including SPC, Pareto charts, Histograms, brainstorming, and Lean Manufacturing concepts and applications.
Skills
- Strong mechanical/electrical and process knowledge understanding.
- PC knowledge for statistical methods and engineering tools.
- Knowledge and understanding of Plastic Consumer Packaging a plus.
- Good communication skills – written, verbal and interpersonal.
- Ability to work independently or as a team member.
Hood Packaging offers excellent benefits including medical, dental, life insurance, 401K retirement, paid vacations and holidays.
EOE/M/F
Skills Required
- Four-year degree in Engineering
- At least 3-5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment
- Understanding of quality management systems and tools, including SPC, Pareto charts, histograms, brainstorming, and Lean Manufacturing
- Strong mechanical, electrical, and process knowledge
- PC knowledge for statistical methods and engineering tools
- Knowledge of plastic consumer packaging
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to organize complex tasks and meet deadlines
- Availability to work across all shifts within reason
What We Do
Hood Packaging is a quality manufacturer of packaging materials with 23 production facilities located in the United States and Canada. We have grown by acquisition and innovation. Our oldest, continuously running business, started over 100 years ago in the Jute and Cotton trade and we have expanded our flexible packaging skills into Paper, Plastic, and Woven packaging substrates as more advanced technology has developed for these products. A brief history to our growth: + TC Transcontintental (Multiwall Operations) acquired in 2020 + Bemis Corporation (Multiwall Operations) acquired in 2014 + Glopak Inc. acquired in 2006 + Bonar Packaging acquired in 2000 + Charleston Packaging acquired in 1986 + Southern Bag began in 1978 Each operation brings a particular skill, product, or other strength to our company – Liquid VFFS filling from Glopak and High Density printing are just a few of our innovative technologies. We are organized along two product types – Paper and Plastic. The Paper Division has 15 geographically diverse locations across the United States and Canada making flexible paper packaging structures with a very wide range of types, formats and closures. The Plastics Division has 8 production locations, again with the broadest possible selection of structures and many with unique applications. Cross selling our products allows us to develop unique product and supply arrangements. We plan to continue to innovate, to acquire and to develop strong industry relationships that will advance our technology, our skills and our products.
