TITLE: Junior Associate Engineer - Plant/Quality Engineer
REPORTS TO: Jr. VP of Ops or Plant Manager
UPDATED: March 2024
Position Summary:
This position is responsible to successfully operate onsite lab for quality testing and data analysis of industrial product. Also provides backup supervision of all phases of plant operations including: production, quality control, maintenance, safety, receiving, and shipping as assigned by the Plant Manager. Provides backup scale operation for product to be weighed prior to leaving Company premises and assuring that accurate amounts are recorded for billing purposes. This position will also provide timely and accurate support to move product orders and related information through our sales and delivery process to order fulfillment including assist with sales quotes.
Essential Functions Responsibilities:
The duties described below are indicative of what likely will be asked to perform. This is not an exhaustive list of job responsibilities and therefore other duties may be assigned:
Plant Management
1. Learns, understands, and complies with applicable plant safety rules and regulations at all times. Holds self and others accountable for safe operations, wears required PPE, participates in regular MSHA and safety training/testing.
2. Provides leadership for the successful day-to-day operation of the operations.
3. Learns and assists with product scheduling.
4. Works closely with quality control to review product specs.
5. Reviews established production schedules ensure inventory levels established by the Plant Manager are met while operating at the highest efficiency possible.
6. Monitors operation expenses as assigned by Plant Manager and research ways to reduce costs and gain efficiencies.
7. Work closely with the Plant Manager and Safety Manager to ensure all employees, truck drivers, and public customers are aware of safety policies to provide a safe workplace for our employees.
8. Maintain and support a superior safety and housekeeping program for both plant and lab locations. Assists with maintenance schedules and documentation.
9. Approves manual and completes electronic labor/operator timecards.
10. Maintain performance documentation and provide coaching and guidance to all operations employees.
11. Order consumable inventory as requested by Plant Manager. Research inventory options to reduce costs without reducing quality of materials.
12. Coordinates and directs employees regarding the activities that need to be performed in the absence of the Plant Manager. Maintains production schedule and release of orders during the absence of the Plant Manager.
13. Recommends to the Plant Manger optimum use of the equipment and available manpower to ensure better productivity to ensure orders are fulfilled to the quality standards and delivered by the given deadline.
14. Maintains, compiles, stores and retrieves any data and information related to production as required by Plant Manager. Assists in the documentation of Company measurements as assigned.
15. Assists with special projects and other work as assigned.
16. Handles MSHA inspections and reconciles and handles citations and potential citations a required. Makes sure all MSHA documentation is current and to standard.
17. Executes all compliance requirements including air, storm water, environmental, NSF, AWWA, etc. as required and takes steps to keep all certifications and regulations current and compliant.
18. Communicates with other employees regarding status of work in process to ensure smooth operation of the order fulfillment and shipping process.
19. Reacts quickly to problem situations and to directions given by management.
20. Operates, skid steer, and forklift, as required.
21. Documents all procedures and job responsibilities, participates as directed in the development of written training modules, and trains others on all aspects of operations as directed.
22. Other duties as assigned.
Lab Services
1. Learns, understands, and complies with applicable plant safety rules and regulations at all times. Holds self and others accountable for safe operations, wears required PPE, participates in regular MSHA and safety training/testing.
2. Provides leadership for the successful day-to-day operation of the operations.
3. Maintains a clean and orderly office, entry and laboratory and maintains equipment in a clean and properly functioning state. Is responsible for the scale/lab building and site area management; including but not limited to identifying building and site maintenance and repair issues, obtaining approval for expenditures as required for same, and managing efforts from self, other employees, or vendors to complete these activities.
4. Conducts sieve analysis tests on product in accordance with established procedures and at the request of management.
5. Learns, then performs other detailed laboratory analysis on industrial products as required, including quality control tests.
6. Collects samples from industrial plants and other locations as assigned.
7. Prepares samples for third party testing, and tracks results. Manages and organizes sample inventory.
8. Accurately communicates the outcome of testing to the Land Manager, Business Development, Plant Manager, and CEO. Can create professional reports for internal and external customers.
9. Enters product lab testing results into computer systems and generates required reports.
10. Establishes and documents all related procedures.
11. Evaluates laboratory product data.
12. Ships samples, as requested by Business Development, to customers and other laboratories.
13. Maintains laboratory equipment performance by establishing quality standards; developing operations, quality, and troubleshooting procedures. Arranges equipment replacement, service, and repair.
14. Maintains laboratory supplies. Recommends equipment changes and enhancements to CEO. Places orders for supplies and verifying receipt of supplies.
15. With the approval of the Jr. VP of ops, implements new tests, methods, instrumentation, and procedures by investigating alternatives; preparing proposals; developing and performing parallel testing; monitoring progress.
16. Learns and operates as directed laboratory column testing and executes tests, writes reports, records results as directed.
17. Trains new employees on sieve analysis. Creates and maintains training mods for all aspect of job to company standards.
18. Other duties as assigned.
Other Backup Duties – when assigned
1. Ensures all trucks are properly and accurately weighed when entering and leaving the yard site.
2. Follows procedures for order fulfillment including but not limited to:
a. Securing customer name/job location for each load when applicable, and other necessary billing information necessary for billing purposes.
b. Prints completed tickets to verify pick up information, and tracks no-invoiced orders for accuracy.
c. Corresponds with customers on their order questions and changes via phone, email, internet, etc. Professionally addresses and resolves problems/complaints within scope of responsibility, and documents correspondence and results. Refers unresolved issues to Manager.
3. Processes cash and credit card sales, batches tickets to Great Plains, prepares deposit, and files necessary related paperwork to the main office.
4. Upon completion of training through intermediate level quoting, completes Request for Quotes as directed by Business Development.
Working Relationships:
Reports directly to Plant Manager. Works closely with others in Land Manager, Order Logistics, Production, Maintenance, Sales, CEO, and frequently with other employees in the office. Regular, daily contact with customers and vendors, by phone, e-mail, and in person.
Performance Expectations and Competencies:
Work performed is expected to meet or exceed guidelines for safety, quality, accuracy, timeliness and thoroughness. Must be reliable and timely in reporting to work. Competencies include the ability to: think and work safely, interact professionally with external contacts (customers, freight vendors, drivers, etc.), accurately troubleshoot and resolve order and logistics problems, gain the trust and respect of co-workers and management, communicate effectively and develop good working relationships with others, conduct self with honesty and integrity, take initiative to notice what needs to be done and the good judgment to act appropriately.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
1. Observes all safety rules and regulations, conducts self in a safe manner at all times.
2. Ability to work with a variety of lab equipment.
3. Ability to accurately analyze data.
4. Ability to maintain a professional demeanor when dealing with the public.
5. Ability to comprehend, retain and effectively carry out policies and procedures.
6. Ability to use mainframe computer system and personal computer with, MS Excel, MS Project, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, accounting software and other company specific software.
7. Ability to learn proficiency in Microsoft Lync.
8. Ability to prepare written reports and documents and maintain accurate files records.
9. Knowledge of modern office practice and procedures including business correspondence, and filing techniques. Correct English usage, including grammar, spelling, punctuation, filing systems, and vocabulary covering common administrative terminology.
10. Ability to operate a variety of modern office equipment, computer terminals, utilizing word processing, spreadsheet, and PowerPoint software, and peripheral equipment such as facsimile machines, printers, scanners, and copiers.
11. Ability to perform detailed work accurately in compliance with stringent time limits with minimal direction or supervision.
12. Ability to independently initiate, prioritize, perform or solve problems related to deviations in work assigned in order to meet fixed or fluctuating deadlines and achieve work objectives.
13. Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize multiple tasks and demands. Ability to understand, interpret, apply and explain policies and procedures.
14. Ability and willingness to learn the operation of equipment such as skid steer and forklift.
15. Ability to work the allocated hours of the position.
16. Ability to travel as needed by the Company.
Minimum Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree Preferred (will consider associate degrees with experience in plant and/or industrial materials or construction applications) Industrial Engineering or closely related program.
Experience in maintenance and repair of industrial, construction or plant equipment – Including support activities including parts requisition, hands on repair/maintenance or preventative maintenance.
An affinity for mechanical systems and repair.
Experience in conducting lab services or order production management a plus.
Must be proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and/or computerized order processing and accounting systems (Great Plains experience preferred).
Previous operation of forklift is preferred. CDL or wheel loader experience a plus.
Must be able to read and clearly interact professionally with other people by telephone and in person, follow written and verbal instructions, write legibly for logs and documentation, accurately perform math operations (add, subtract, multiply, divide, fractions and decimals), use a computer proficiently and other standard office equipment. Must be willing to learn new skillsets to meet customer needs. Must be able to work both independently and as a team member, and multi-task effectively.
Physical Environment:
The physical and work environments described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.
The duties of this job include physical activities such as stooping, kneeling, standing, reaching, standing, walking, lifting and/or move (up to 40 pounds), fingering, grasping, talking, hearing/listening, seeing/observing, and repetitive motions.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus.
Working Conditions:
Work is performed mostly indoors in an office and lab environment within an industrial setting. Will be required to be outdoors and/or in plants with exposure to weather - heat, cold, humidity, rain, snow, etc. Requires excellent eye-hand coordination for data entry, periods of sitting and standing, working at a computer terminal, use of a variety of office equipment and other operator equipment.
Red Flint Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, RFG will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
This job describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It does not state or imply that these are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to the job. Employees may be required to perform other job-related duties as requested by management. All requirements are subject to change over time and to possible modification.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $60,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
Work setting:
Ability to Commute:
- Eau Claire, WI 54701 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Eau Claire, WI 54701: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person