Colors Production Engineer - Erlanger, KY

Production Engineer - Erlanger, KY
This is an exempt level position.

Position Summary:
The Production Engineer is responsible for providing Engineering support for the Operations Colors team at our Erlanger facility.  This includes designing, managing, and improving manufacturing processes to ensure products are made efficiently, safely and at a high quality.  They work closely with operations, quality, maintenance and capital project engineers.

Essential Job Functions:

• Collaborate with Operations to optimize daily productivity (cycle time, quality, etc.) with process improvements to delivery KPI’s.
• Collaborate with CD&D and chemist to improve current product line and the development of new products.  
• Assist Quality with the development of Quality standards and requirements for Colors.   
• Identify and design process improvement through equipment upgrades or improved processing.
• Troubleshoot and analysis data to identify bottlenecks to optimize downtime.
• Assist with the development of SOP’s and training.
• Collaborate with the Capital team to provide process engineering support as needed to develop and sustain productivity and quality products.
• Proactively participate in safety, environmental, quality, and production processes in order to ensure compliance with all company policies and procedures.

Education/Training: 

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work-related experience required.

Qualifications: 

• Minimum of three years previous process engineering experience preferred.
• Experience with Colors in the Flavors industry is preferred
• Familiar with raw material strength testing, color matching, mixing, milling, and blending process.
• Experience with batch production ula based manufacturing
• Demonstrated strong commitment and leadership in safety systems.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to plan priorities effectively, including assisting with capital planning and project management.
• Proficient in mentoring, training, and development of colleagues.
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written) for coordination, training, and reporting.
• Able to utilize independent judgement to solve problems, have excellent organizational skills to effectively handle multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and strive for continuous improvement and high expectations for direct reports.
• Ability to achieve and track excellence using performance driven metrics leveraging Performance Excellence or similar continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, TPM.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of CMMS and enterprise management systems.

Working Conditions:

• Dust
• Allergens
  • The scope of the position may require exposure to and use of materials containing allergens such as seafood and nuts.
• Some manufacturing processes within the facility are highly reliant on machinery and other processing equipment and, as a result, noise levels may reach or exceed 85 decibels and require use of hearing protection for most of the work shift.

Physical Requirements:

• Able to lift and transport materials and equipment weighing up to 40 pounds on a frequent basis, up to 50 pounds on an occasional basis and up to 55 pounds overhead.
  • Lifting or carrying weights over 50 pounds is rare. Employees are encouraged to request assistance in lifting or carrying objects that weigh more than 50 pounds.
• Able to move about or to a work site by stooping, bending, kneeling or squatting frequently during the course of a workday.  May require periods of prolonged sitting or standing.
• Able to operate equipment or diagnose / detect issues of machinery that may be located at different heights.  May require work on ladders, scaffolding or other work at heights.