Tower Operator

CHEESE TOWER OPERATOR

Supervisor’s Title:             Cheese Team Leader
Department:                       Cheese Production
Exempt Status:                   Hourly

MWC is a state of the art cheese and whey production facility in St. Johns, MI. MWC is a joint venture between Glanbia Nutritionals, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) and Select Milk Producers Inc. (Select). 

JOB SUMMARY
Ensuring towers are running smoothly and maintain daily log sheets.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
•    This includes operation of gussetters, betavacs and conveyors.
•    Reworking misshapen blocks and blocks with big missing corners back into the cowl.
•    When re-bagging leakers use fingers to puncture bag and tear open.
•    Keeping a supply of 40# bags near the tower area and keep towers full.
•    Understand meanings of lights on towers and how to fix issues with them.
•    Sanitary collection of in process samples both at startup of production and end of run.
•    Ensure that cheese is not left on the table more than 10 minutes before re-worked into the cowl.
•    Ensure Towers are inspected as stated on log and completely filled out.
•    Keeping area generally clean during production (picking up trash/waste cheese off the floor).
•    X-ray cheese in white tubs and transfer to TCO.
•    Tower preparation for CIP.
•    Ensure Salt whey tanks are rinsed and drained and put to TCO.
•    Ensure White trays are x rayed and put to TCO.
•    Ensure bags are stocked at tower area for operators.
•    Ensure metal detects are tested every hour and recorded on chart/logs.
•    Ensure operators have towers at full operating speed throughout production.
•    Re-bag any leakers if they still hold their shape.
•    Tower CIP/ Cowl CIP.
•    Ensure that the barrel liner clamp is washed during CIP daily.
•    Tower area environmental cleaning (cleaning up, logs, inspect area before leaving etc.).
•    May perform task assigned by Team Leader or Assistant Team Leader.
•    Keeps records in accordance with good manufacturing process and local and state laws.
•    Utilizes GPS processes, driving zero losses and upholds the culture of MWC non-negotiables.
•    Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to the Occupational Safety and Health  Act which are applicable to his/her own actions and conduct.
•    Complies with all applicable food safety regulations and mandates (Safe Quality Foods, Food and Drug Admin, Pasteurized Milk Ordinance)

Delivering on Glanbia’s Values:

•    “Showing Respect” - Research issues & incidents with internal teams, business partners and customers in a collaborative manner that includes professional, honest and transparent communication.
•    “Find a Better Way” - Work with internal and external teams to implement process improvements and/or procedural changes that eliminate non-value added activities and drive more business value.
•    “Winning Together” - Assist with training of new team members.  Facilitate or oversee training and standard operating procedure reviews to ensure new hires develop proficiency of role.
•    “The Customer’s Champion” – Proactively engage to support our customer needs on an end to end basis and strive to meet or exceed SLA timelines.  Take ownership of customer requests and engage with internal teams as needed and within a timely manner.
•    “Performance Matters” – Meet or exceed all key metrics in line with expectations for role.  Continually update knowledge of products, product changes, processes and services offered to deliver a dynamic customer experience.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS
•    Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
•    A minimum of three years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
•    Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. 
•    Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. 
•    Provide leadership to others through example and sharing of knowledge/skill.
•    Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. 
•    Ability to prioritize tasks, handle multiply projects simultaneously and delegate assignments to others.
•    Comply with all safety policies, practices and procedures. Report all unsafe activities to supervisor and/or Human Resources.
•    Participate in proactive team efforts to achieve departmental and company goals.
                                                                                                          
TYPICAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Physical Demands
•    Regularly involves talking or listening, standing and walking, and the use of hands and fingers.
•    Frequently involves sitting, and reaching with hands and arms.
•    Occasionally involves crouching, stooping, kneeling and/or climbing or balancing.
Physical Requirements
•    Must be able to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.
•    Manual dexterity sufficient to reach/handle items, works with the fingers, and perceives attributes of objects and materials.
•    Involves moderate physical activity performing somewhat strenuous daily activities of a primarily product/technical nature.
•    Should be able to identify and distinguish colors, see clearly at 20 inches or closer and 20 feet or more, observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point, judge distances and spatial relationships, and adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus.

TYPICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
•    May be exposed to loud noise levels (i.e. manufacturing equipment).
•    May be exposed to humidity, intense heat, and areas with possible air contamination, fumes and toxic chemicals.
•    May work in areas with mechanical moving parts, above ground with risk of fall, or areas with risk of electrical shock.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
•    Minimal travel limited within the local area.