The apprentice Extruder Operator role will be a developmental role to build the capability of future Processing/Extruder operators. This role will teach to safely and efficiently receive, analyze, and process raw ingredients through four major areas/systems (batching, extrusion, coating, and digest) to make high-quality pet food that meets or exceeds all specifications set by Mars Petcare in the amount and schedule dictated by business needs. This role will rotate with the core production team on a rotating 12-hour shift. This role will also spend time in batching, receiving and SKD processes to fully develop the skill set.

What are we looking for?

Education & Professional Qualifications

• Associate degree or the equivalent of 2-3 years experience (manufacturing environment preferred).
• Good math, reading, and writing skills.
• High level of mechanical aptitude and knowledge with good skills in troubleshooting and problem-solving.
• Excellent housekeeping skills and knowledge of GMPs.
• Good knowledge of personal computers.
• Ability and willingness to develop and manage self, demonstrate self-directed workgroup leadership, and contribute to efficiency, quality, and cost optimization with minimal supervision and a positive attitude.
• The position will be physically demanding. The successful candidate must have:
• Ability to lift 50 lbs.
• Ability to work 12-hour rotating shifts.
• Ability to work under variable conditions such as heat, cold, high, and /or confined spaces.
• Ability to climb ladders.
• Ability to travel up and down stairs, repetitively.
• Ability to do repetitive bending and twisting.
• Ability to work with hazardous chemicals (phosphoric acid) and work with exposure to pressurized steam.
• Forklift certified.

What will be your key responsibilities?

This role will be an entry-level role in the Extrusion/Processing role and will develop the capability to perform the following responsibilities:

• Perform all of the following duties on a rotational basis in the processing area of the plant. This includes operating all systems, performing all quality checks, maintaining conformance reports and system logs, and troubleshooting all aspects of each system:

Batching - schedule, batch and assure accurate dispersion of the correct commodities, control hard stock grinding and amounts into each recipe that is delivered to the mixed meal system.

Extrusion - extrude mixed meal and dry kibbles that meet all quality specifications and optimize plant capacity.

Coating - coat and blend kibbles with tallow and digest into the finished product according to recipe requirements; coordinate with packaging and extrusion to optimize product stream and bunker inventory levels.

• Manage and set strategy for the five processing systems to ensure meeting or exceeding production schedule in the most efficient manner possible.
• Maintain a safe and clean work environment to promote associate safety and product integrity.
• Ability to actively address food safety and quality concerns.
• Troubleshoot processing systems that are not performing properly and take corrective action to ensure product quality while minimizing unnecessary downtime.
• Improve operations through individual and group problem-solving and provide leadership in solving problems on the floor and in meetings.
• Promote a high-quality environment through effective teamwork and self-management with a positive attitude.\
• Able to start and stop the extrusion system within 90 days of assignment to the area.
• Able to perform all testing and sampling in the extrusion area and complete conformance sheets accurately.
• Demonstrates knowledge of area GMPs
• Demonstrates a basic understanding of the process flow and equipment in the immediate area.
• Able to make Color, clean & assemble die plates, and forklift experience.
• Able to safely operate all equipment and systems in extrusion.
• LOTO training complete.
• Demonstrates understanding of E-stop strategy for the area and can locate all E-stops.
• Able to do weekly processing start-up and shut-down procedures.
• Able to identify quality issues and make parameter adjustments to correct these.
• Able to set up any recipe and input initial parameters and run effectively on any extrusion system.
• Able to run Quality and R&D tests.
• Takes ownership of the area in terms of safety and housekeeping.
• Understand the meat process.
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of all equipment in the area, how it operates, what normal conditions are, and can identify abnormal conditions.
• Able to assist in identifying solutions to problems and short-term alternatives to circumvent problems.
• Demonstrates ability to consistently run all KKM products at 95% A grade while optimizing moisture and minimizing regrind.
• Able to optimize extruder efficiency by balancing finished product inventory mixed meal level and extruder rates.
• Able to accurately troubleshoot mechanical and control system issues.
• Able to help maintenance/tech services find long-term solutions to problems in the area.
• Able to cover for one other processing position and keep up to date in that area.
• Able to provide on-the-job training for new process associates on extruder operation, quality parameters, GMPs, and safety.
• Able to understand and adjust the schedule when needed.
• Demonstrates consistent application of product knowledge in solving quality issues.
• Able to work with engineering and maintenance to make upgrades to area systems.
• Works on PMs regularly.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain a clean, safe work environment that promotes associate safety and product integrity.
• Improve operations through individual and group problem-solving and provide leadership in solving problems on the floor and in meetings.
• Promote a high-quality team environment through effective teamwork and self-direction with a positive attitude.
• Obtain and maintain proficiency in job-specific business systems such as Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel systems. Remain current with facility-utilized business systems.
• May have to perform special non-routine tasks associated with corporate requests, projects, and tests.
• Participate in site action circles and focus groups as appropriate.
• Train other area associates in the operation of all areas and systems.
• Other duties as required.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose-driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.