Wire Production Operator

Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTI) is a leading, technology-driven specialty minerals company that develops, produces, and markets a broad range of mineral and mineral-based products, related systems and services. MTI serves a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including household and personal care, paper, foundry, steel, construction and environmental solutions around the world. The company reported global sales of $2.1 billion in 2022.MTI focuses on two major segments - Consumer & Specialties and Engineered Solutions. 

Our Consumer & Specialties segment offers technologically enhanced products to consumer-driven end markets plus specialty additives that become functional components in a variety of consumer and industrial goods. This segment includes our Household & Personal Care and Specialty Additives product lines. The Household & Personal Care product line provides mineral-to-market products that serve consumer-oriented end markets including Pet Care, Personal Care, Fabric Care, Edible Oil, and Renewable Fuel Purification. Our Specialty Additives product line provides mineral-based technologies serving Paper, Packaging, Sealants & Adhesives, Paint & Coatings, Ceramics, Plastics, Food & Pharmaceutical markets.

Our Engineered Solutions segment offers advanced process technologies and solutions that are designed to improve our customers' manufacturing processes and projects. This segment includes our High-Temperature Technologies and Environmental & Infrastructure product lines. Our High-Temperature Technologies product line offers specially-formulated blends and technologies primarily for Foundry and Steelmaking industries. Our Environmental & Infrastructure product line provides waterproofing, water purification, remediation and other fluid management technologies for critical projects for Remediation, Water Purification, and Infrastructure.

MTI provides a business environment and promotes a culture that encourages all employees to contribute to our success. We have long been committed to the recruitment and advancement of the most talented and qualified people. We recognize that MTI's ability to provide the highest caliber of products and services is enhanced by a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities and countries in which we work.

What We Offer:

• Competitive pay, commensurate with experience
• Health/Dental/Vision plans
• 401k company match
• Life Insurance
• Short Term Disability & Long-Term Disability
• Educational Assistance
• Employee Assistance Plan

Position: Wire Production Operator

Location: USA | Canaan, Connecticut

Job Summary

The basic purposes of this position are to manage the flow of materials/product into and out of the department and operate equipment/machinery to produce granular calcium, calcium core wire, and finished wire product meeting all specifications to fulfill customer needs.

The Wire Production Operatorposition is a continuum beginning at Wire Production Operator I and progressing through Wire Production Operator IV as skills are gained. Employees may be assigned to perform any task for which they have been qualified. Employees may also be assigned to positions for which they are working to become qualified as a portion of the training process.

Material Handling

• Unload shipments of materials (pallets, spools, powders, steel strip, finished wire for resale) and transport to and organize within warehouse.
• Follow ISO procedures to sample materials as needed.
• Complete receiving paperwork for materials.
• Tag materials approved for use by Quality Assurance department.
• Provide operators of cladder machines with needed supply of materials to minimize downtime, filling bins as needed for use in the machines.
• Use computer to view open customer orders and enter units picked for shipping into computer ensuring approved units are used.
• Package product per customer requirements as noted in the profile using equipment/tools as necessary.
• Load trucks with finished goods per documented procedures ensuring that units picked and packaged are shipped.
• Enter ship date into computer to ensure correct inventory of product.
• Maintain organization of packaged and unpackaged finished goods in the warehouse.
• Assist with inventory management of packaging supplies, raw materials, and finished goods.
• Transport materials/equipment to/from inventory or work area for use as needed.

Grinder Operation

• Complete area inspection sheets to ensure properly equipped/functioning work area.
• Use computer interface software to monitor the grinding system functions and to start, stop, and control the system.
• Move drums of material onto equipment to be run through grinding system and maintain feed to the system as the process dictates.
• Operate the barrel crusher, disposing of crushed barrels into the scrap metal dumpster.
• Identify and correct problems with grinding/screening/conveying equipment to ensure proper function.
• Change and/or unplug the internal grinder screen and calcium sizing screens to ensure proper material flow/system function.
• Package calcium for inventory or shipment to customers, label product, and complete paperwork.
• Understand the function and operation of the fire detection/suppression system, following established procedures when alarm sounds.
• Replace empty argon gas cylinders as needed with full ones.
• Work with operator of core wire machines to ensure proper coverage of work areas.
• Properly blend all types of calcium feed stock and feed it to the core wire machines.

Core Wire Operation

• Complete area inspection sheets to ensure properly equipped/functioning work area.
• Set up machines with proper inventory of product in hoppers, run and monitor machines to produce core wire product per specifications.
• Troubleshoot issues with machines to ensure proper function and production of core wire.
• Resplice wire when a break occurs and document the weight of the product at that time.
• Adjust traverse based on tracking of wire on spool to ensure proper winding.
• Remove spools of core wire from machines and package.
• Weigh spools and record production/inventory information.
• Empty scrap hoppers once per shift to avoid overflow of material.
• Visually inspect for oil leaks in pump room and check oil levels at least three times per shift.
• Complete core wire log at the end of the shift recording necessary information.
• Complete core wire break chart documenting necessary information to provide to operator of cladder machines.
• Oversee grinder operation to ensure proper level of material in hoppers.
• Assist with packaging as needed.
• Work with operator of cladder machines when needed to address wire issues.
• Empty oil cans under core wire machines once per shift.
• Understand the function and operation of the fire detection/suppression system, following established procedures when alarm sounds.
• Sharpen chisels and screwdrivers for use to clean buildup of material on press wheels.

Cladder Operation

• Complete area inspection sheets to ensure properly equipped/functioning work area.
• Set up, run and monitor machine to produce clad wire product per specifications and ISO work procedures.
• Use operating controls to run machine.
• Inspect quality of wire during the wire making process.
• Sample and remove finished product from machine, perform math functions to determine finished product conformance to requirements (average pounds/foot of fill, % fill).
• Change tooling/adjustments/crudes to produce each of the products per customer specifications.
• Complete production and quality records for each spool of wire.
• Communicate with other operators of cladding line at shift change regarding product.

Miscellaneous

• Effectively and accurately use computer systems to record data and/or communicate (i.e. e-mail, work order systems, etc).
• Operate sweepers to ensure cleanliness of work areas.
• Operate other mobile equipment such as fork truck in performing duties above.
• Operate box truck in transport of material between departments.
• Record pertinent labor and/or production information from work shift.
• Complete safety inspection sheets for work areas and/or mobile equipment.
• Review daily write-up for special instructions for the workday.

Other Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist maintenance staff with repairs of equipment as needed.
• Clean and organize work area using equipment/tools as necessary on daily basis.
• Train other employees to learn the duties of the job.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Note: Management reserves the right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

The requirements listed in the sections that follow are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required to perform the duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions (primary duties) of the job.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: Knowledge of the English language, math, computer systems, commercial motor vehicles, and hazardous materials is required. Knowledge of clerical procedures, manufacturing/production processes, shipping/receiving, ISO, lean manufacturing tools/techniques, and welding preferred.While performing the duties of this job, an employee is typically required to have the ability to exert physical strength continuously throughout the work shift, coordinate movements, use repetitive motions, regularly stand, walk, bend, squat, climb, reach, lift, push and pull throughout a work shift, have manual dexterity, lift materials weighing up to and including 50 pounds, move barrels weighing up to and including 375 pounds, select and use appropriate equipment/tools to accomplish job duties, weld, use/read micrometers, calipers, scales, blueprints, and conversion charts, have the ability to operate mobile equipment, read, write, listen, speak, and understand English, follow all instructions and other oral/written information including ISO and standard work procedures, visually inspect equipment/work area/product, complete paperwork/labeling and other documentation accurately, use judgement and mechanical aptitude to identify, analyze, troubleshoot and solve equipment/work area/product issues, communicate effectively with others, record labor distribution/production information from the work shift in writing and on a personal computer, perform mathematical calculations, be aware of oneself in relation to surrounding equipment, work independently and as a team with others, and use, monitor and adjust equipment and related processes. Ability to instruct/transfer job information/knowledge to others is preferred.Being under general supervision, the employee is expected to be self-directed, take initiative and be persistent when appropriate to accomplish necessary duties and keep busy without prompting from the supervisor. Additionally, the employee is expected to be adaptable/flexible to changing work assignments, have a high level of integrity, dependability and self control to maintain composure, perform multiple tasks at once, learn and memorize procedures, manage time effectively and efficiently, meet established deadlines, display a cooperative demeanor, read, understand and follow all ISO, company, job specific, and safety policies/procedures, and attend/use all required training.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent required.

Experience: Prior experience is not required. However, it is preferred.Licensing: Current valid Commercial Driver's License with hazardous materials endorsements is required for operation of motor vehicle transporting calcium metal (or other hazmat material). Other endorsements may be required, depending upon the nature of the vehicle being operated. Incumbent must meet applicable Federal and/or State regulations/requirements regarding qualifications of drivers.

Work Hours: Must have ability to work the shift/number of hours in which duties need to be accomplished, including overtime, holidays and weekends, as necessary.

Working Conditions: While performing the duties of this job, an employee is typically exposed to dust, loud noise, outside weather conditions and hazardous materials, and may be exposed to high places. Works alone or as part of a team working in close proximity to others and works in close proximity with equipment.

Safety Equipment: Safety equipment typically required while performing the duties of this job includes a personal red lockout/tagout lock, ANSI approved hard hat and safety glasses with sideshields, safety boots/shoes with steel toe protection and metatarsal guards, as well as company provided uniforms (shirt/pants). Additional required equipment includes cut resistant gloves and dust masks when performing duties for cladder machines, and arm protectors and double leather palm work gloves when performing duties for core wire machines. Hearing protection is required when performing duties for the grinding operation and when welding, appropriate welding safety equipment is required. Additional personal protective equipment is available for use if a situation arises where it becomes required or if it is simply desired by the employee.

Safety Training: A new employee hired to perform the duties of this position is to be provided New Employee Training from a qualified individual, which consists of eight hours of classroom training and 16 hours of on the job training. It will include, but is not limited to, the following: forklift/mobile equipment operation and certification/licensing, hazard communication, hearing conservation, respiratory protection, electrical safety, lock ou...