Maintenance Technician

AMPI owns eight Midwest-based manufacturing plants where 10 percent of the nation's American-type cheese, processed cheese and butter is produced. The cooperative's award-winning cheese, butter and powdered dairy products are marketed to foodservice, retail and food ingredient customers. In 2019, the co-op launched its Dinner Bell Creamery brand and accompanying Co-op Crafted promise, highlighting more than 50 years of dairy farm families partnering with skilled buttermakers and cheesemakers.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Maintenance Technician ensures that all equipment is operating effectively and efficiently, must have strong proficiency in preventative maintenance, over-hauls and medium electrical repair. Must have the ability to read electrical and mechanical blueprints. Strong trouble shooting and problem-solving skills are highly desired.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management may deem necessary from time to time.

1. All AMPI employees have an obligation to report employee safety, food safety and food quality issues to personnel of authority.
2. This position has a heightened food safety and food quality responsibilities.
3. Provide maintenance support effectively and efficiently. Timely respond to maintenance related issues, quickly resolve problems, and make necessary adjustments as needed to maintain employee safety, product integrity and production efficiencies.
4. Ensures safe operations through adherence to Environmental, Health, and Safety programs and procedures. Follow all lockout tagout, fall protection and confined space requirements.
5. Strict adherence to housekeeping, by maintaining clean work areas, and tool accountability.
6. Ensures operation of plant equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements on motors, pneumatic tools, conveyor systems, and production machines. Follows diagrams, sketches, operations manuals, manufacturer's instructions, and engineering specifications. Responsible for the startup, operations, shutdown and maintenance to ensure safe and efficient operations of plant equipment.
7. Perform all duties related to boiler operation, maintenance, recordkeeping and ensuring that the boilers are running safe, efficient and working properly.
8. Maintain ammonia refrigeration system.
9. Locate and isolate sources of problems by observing mechanical devices in operation by listening for problems and using precision measuring and testing instruments. Remove and fix defective parts and equipment to get the equipment running efficiently with minimal interruption to production. Assist in root cause analysis to prevent the issue from happening again.
10. Adjusts functional parts of devices and control instruments by using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, and straightedges. Determines changes in dimensional requirements of parts by inspecting used parts; using rules, calipers, micrometers, and other measuring instruments.
11. Perform mig, tig and stick welding for various types of metals including food grade stainless steel, steel, and aluminum.
12. Conserves maintenance resources by using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results. Anticipates needed equipment, parts, and supplies.
13. Demonstrate a cooperative effort to train and assist operators and peers in all aspects of equipment maintenance and operation, problem identification, and problem-solving skills.
14. Controls downtime by informing production workers of routine preventive maintenance techniques and monitoring compliance. Documents downtime concisely, document problems and corrective actions taken.
15. Interact with vendors and suppliers to ensure efficient repair, parts stocking, and maintenance of plant equipment and systems.
16. Assist in the development of maintenance projects, assemble the bill of materials, and work with management on upgrades and modifications for plant enhancement.
17. Participate in task meetings; suggest changes in work tasks and use of equipment to increase efficiencies.
18. Function as an engaged team member and contribute to the site's continuous improvement efforts.
19. Perform pneumatic, hydraulic system troubleshooting, and repairs of mechanical and electrical related issues. Diagnose, install, and repair all plant systems.
20. Effectively pass-down to next shift personnel, unfinished repairs and unresolved maintenance/production issues.
21. Participation in the Emergency Response program is required.
22. Assists with training new employees.
23. Adhere to all Quality and Food Safety, Employee Safety, and GMP policies and procedures, reporting any nonconformity.
24. Other duties as assigned.

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. The above list reflects the general details necessary to describe the principle and essential functions of the position and shall not be construed as the only duties that may be assigned for the position.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:
The following are required competencies of the position that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job:

• Able to effectively and safely operate standard maintenance tools such as power tools, basic hand tools, and basic electrical test meters.
• Demonstrate or gain the ability to safely operate welders and torches effectively.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply sanitary design concepts when fabricating or making plant repairs to meet plant quality guidelines. Understand when to use those concepts in various situations.
• Use graphic instructions, blueprints, schematic drawings, layouts, or other visual aids.
• Observe or monitor objects such as mechanical devices to determine compliance with prescribed operating or safety standards.
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions in the English language.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and necessary safety precautions applicable to mechanical maintenance and repair work, including lockout procedures and confined space entry procedures.
• Must have proven working knowledge of electrical/mechanical skills and have operational knowledge of basic tools and equipment. PLC experience a plus.
• Must be able to demonstrate an ability and willingness to communicate effectively in order to maintain high levels of Safety, Quality and Efficiency.
• Ability to read and comprehend standard operating procedures and company guidelines in order to maintain regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the products manufactured and the processes involved.
• Thorough understanding and broad application of safety regulations, standards, principles, theories, and techniques.
• Participation in a team environment safely.
• Detail oriented, be quality minded.
• Able to perform at a high level in a fast-paced environment.
• Completion of respirator fit testing and training is required.
• Possess traits of honesty, integrity, creativity and flexibility.
• Maintain a valid drivers' license.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED).
• Associates degree from a two-year college in a related technical field or certificate or diploma from a trade school in a related field is preferred.
• Prior maintenance experience in food manufacturing, preferably the dairy or cheese industry, is preferred.
• 1- 2 years of skilled experience in mechanical maintenance and repair work, or other combination of education and experience.
• CMMS maintenance tracking software experience is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMP's, OSHA and loss control programs is highly desirable.
• Ability to read and understand graphic instructions, blueprints, schematic drawings, layouts or other visual and electronic aids is highly desirable.
• Ability to obtain an Electrical/Boilers License.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS MENTAL DEMANDS:
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Manufacturing - Work is performed in a manufacturing plant. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee will frequently have to walk and stand. The employee should have the ability to regularly lift up to 55lbs. The employee must be able to push and pull up to 75lbs. Must be able to climb ladders and work at elevations above 4 feet. Employees are regularly exposed to cold temperatures when performing tasks in storage areas. Employees are regularly exposed to warm or hot temperatures with moderate to high humidity levels varying based on the location of the work area. The employee is regularly exposed to wet walking surfaces. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Manufacturing - Employee is occasionally exposed to risk of electrical shock, wet work conditions, fumes or airborne particles. Employee is occasionally exposed to warm conditions with regular exposure to temperature conditions in excess of 100*F or cold temperatures when working in cold storage areas. The employee is regularly exposed to work near moving mechanical parts. Employee is regularly exposed to chemicals during sanitation processes. The noise level in the work environment is occasionally at a high level. The employee is not routinely exposed to weather conditions. The employee may be exposed to very low levels of ammonia.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Personal protective equipment is required depending on the job being performed, including protective eye wear, or face shields, hearing protection, hair and beard nets, uniforms and footwear. Additional equipment is required when working with chemicals, such as rubber gloves and use of chemical proof aprons as appropriate for the job being performed.
AMPI offers competitive starting pay, PTO, 401k, short-term disability, health, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, employee assistance programs and more.
Associated Milk Producers Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Military and veterans are encouraged to apply.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)