Plastic Process Technician

Job Title:
Molding Technician TX

Type of Role:
Contract to Hire

Shift / Hours:
3rd Shift (10:00 PM – 6:30 AM)

Location:
Round Rock, Texas

Hourly Range:
$26 – $35 per hour, depending on experience

About the Job:
Join a leading plastics manufacturing team as a Molding Technician. In this role, you’ll ensure production start-up success, support new product trials, and monitor and optimize molding processes to drive safety, quality, and efficiency.

Role and Responsibilities:

Job Summary

1. Job Start Up: Ensure end-to-end start up procedure is followed, from last good part to first good part, overseeing all elements related to a job start up (Tool and Insert staged, material ready, auxiliary support equipment, secondary operation equipment, gages/fixtures, partial inventory staging, part qualification, operator training acknowledgment).
2. New Product Introduction: Facilitate mold trials, in coordination with Manufacturing Engineer, for new product introduction. Assist in design of experiments, testing, material handling, measuring outputs, and recording all input/output for creation of technology.
3. Production Monitoring and Optimization: Monitor scrap rates and secondary operation constraints with respect to lifecycle products. Measure and record production process outputs (mold, machine, method, materials, manpower) and develop statistically driven models for process capability studies and optimization to improve productivity, safety, quality and/or cost. Review production data quarterly, or as needed, and summarize through pareto to focus continuous improvement efforts in highest-yielding opportunities.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Set up and approve processes for scheduled production on plastic injection-molding machines.
• Set machine controls and regulate/monitor molding temperature, plastic volume, molding pressure and time, according to standard molding procedures and company-based practices.
• Ensure correct & approved materials are used for production by referencing WO BOM.
• Establish, maintain, and measure the set points & process outputs to produce a quality part at the approved optimum cycle.
• Maintain quality parts according to approved cycle time, control plan, part print dimensions, and validate date stamp.
• Routinely inspect products once released for production.
• Electronically record process inputs & outputs to produce a repeatable and transferable process and enable optimizations and value engineering.
• Responsible for new product/process development and working alongside Quality Department to facilitate PPAP Process.
• Run material testing trials for alternate/secondary resin approval process. Report all findings and observations.
• Sign off on production articles for production staff to use as an aesthetic/quality reference in accordance with approved First Article at start up.
• Collect/retain samples to be submitted to customers for FAI and Approval in accordance with QA Department.
• Retain/label samples from “last untrimmed shots” before mold changes.
• Ensure all aspects related to operating supplies, work instructions, packaging, drilling operations, and poke yokes are in place before releasing production approval.
• Document all scrap produced at Start Up/Color Change.
• Monitor scrap rates throughout production or at job conclusion, generating mold performance reports and pareto data to help guide/focus improvement plans.
• Ensure scheduled production work orders are started in Mattec before beginning production.
• Calculate & mix material blend ratios as needed for testing/production.
• Troubleshoot and resolve plastic injection molding defects within tool capability.
• Effectively communicate processing/tool capability concerns with management.
• Lead by example for production staff and assist in staff training and development.
• Assist Quality Departments in auditing all operational processes pertinent to assured quality & FFF of product.
• Conduct and record preventative maintenance on molds in production.
• Work collaboratively with Tooling/Set Up Department to ensure all molds are labeled with ID Numbers, Utility, and Auxiliary Equipment Information.
• Update tooling tracker status.
• Other duties as directed by supervisors.
• Perform additional duties/tasks as assigned by Supervisor.

Team / Interpersonal Skills / Values:

• Embrace and follow company policies, procedures, and work & safety rules.
• Create an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding.
• Support a high-performance culture while ensuring an efficient and flexible organization.
• Take initiative to accomplish results, approved goals, and expectations.
• Serve as a role model for all employees (110%).
• Be part of the team and demonstrate enthusiasm and pride in the company.

Skills and Experience:

• Education: High School diploma/GED required.
• Experience: 3+ years in manufacturing, molding, or as a process technician. MUST
• Knowledge of Scientific Molding Principles and RJG Courses: Master Molder preferred. MUST
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills to interface with other departments and company personnel.

Working Conditions:

• Regular exposure to dust, fumes, odors, and warm working temperatures.
• Must be able to walk behind machines in narrow places.

Essential Functions:

• Ability to see objects clearly at close and far distances; corrective lenses permissible.
• Ability to distinguish colors and use depth perception and peripheral vision.
• Ability to hear verbal communication in person or over paging systems.
• Ability to distinguish between odors and tolerate potentially strong smells.
• Dexterity for writing, typing, trimming parts, packing, labeling, and operating equipment.
• Ability to perform repetitive motions, grasp, hold, and manipulate objects.
• Ability to bend, stretch, kneel, lift objects over 50 lbs., ascend steps and ladders, and work in confined spaces without durable medical equipment (DME).

Balance Staffing is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.