Process Technician

Thermoforming Process Technician

The Thermoforming Process Technician operates and maintains specialized thermoforming machinery used to produce high-end retail and medical packaging. This role involves pre-staging materials, setting up and running 1–2 machines, monitoring production quality, troubleshooting issues, and performing routine preventive maintenance. The technician ensures that all products meet visual and dimensional standards while maintaining a clean, safe, and organized work area and collaborating effectively with team members across shifts.

Responsibilities

• Operate thermoforming machines and related equipment to produce high-quality packaging for retail and medical applications.
• Pre-stage, set up, operate, monitor, and troubleshoot thermoforming machines for assigned production runs.
• Perform machine line setup and lineout, including configuring tooling, materials, and process parameters for production.
• Develop and adjust machine setup parameters and heat profiles to achieve optimal product quality and efficiency.
• Start up and shut down machinery according to established procedures to ensure safe and efficient operations.
• Monitor machines through visual and auditory inspection to identify mechanical or process issues during production.
• Take corrective action on machine and process issues, assist in problem solving, and notify appropriate personnel when needed.
• Perform in-process inspection of parts to ensure they meet visual standards of acceptance and conformance to specifications.
• Recognize product defects and make necessary adjustments to equipment and process settings to maintain product quality.
• Calculate and verify dimensions, sizes, shapes, and tolerances of tooling and equipment based on specifications.
• Use visual inspection and dimensional measuring tools to monitor product quality and verify conformance.
• Review, complete, and maintain required logs, check sheets, inspection sheets, and work orders accurately and on time.
• Perform pre- and post-production tool inspections and preparations, including tool installation and removal.
• Ensure all materials, tooling, and master tooling are correctly labeled, segregated, and properly stored or returned before and after production.
• Assist in overall maintenance of machines and equipment, including minor repairs and adjustments.
• Complete preventive maintenance on machines in accordance with manufacturer instructions and company procedures.
• Troubleshoot machine malfunctions and coordinate with maintenance or other personnel to arrange repairs when necessary.
• Keep workstations, machines, and surrounding areas clean and orderly by maintaining a high level of housekeeping and 5S on assigned lines and designated areas.
• Obtain and verify that correct stock and materials are used at all times and are available at the machine as required.
• Communicate job status, production issues, and machine conditions clearly to the next shift Process Technicians, Leads, and Supervisors during shift changes.
• Collaborate with operators, supervisors, and leads across shifts to ensure smooth transitions and consistent production performance.

Essential Skills

• Experience operating thermoforming, injection molding, or plastics processing equipment in a production environment.
• Demonstrated ability to set up, operate, and troubleshoot thermoforming or similar plastic forming machinery.
• Hands-on experience with production line setup, including tooling changes, lineout, and process adjustments.
• Strong mechanical aptitude with the ability to recognize mechanical issues through visual and auditory inspection.
• Ability to perform routine preventive maintenance and minor repairs on production machinery.
• Proficiency in identifying product defects and making process or equipment adjustments to maintain quality.
• Ability to calculate and verify dimensions, sizes, shapes, and tolerances based on specifications.
• Skill in using visual inspection methods and dimensional measuring tools to monitor product quality.
• Ability to accurately complete and maintain logs, check sheets, inspection records, and work orders.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining visual standards of acceptance and…