Injection Molding Process Technician

Day-in-the-life

When your shift begins, you’ll walk the floor, check machine centers, and read the latest handoff notes. You’ll bring lines up smoothly, verify that every press is running to spec, and jump in fast if alarms, quality alerts, or material issues pop up. Throughout the day, you’ll swap out molds with precision, fine-tune processes for stability, and keep documentation clean and current—always with a target of zero defects.

• Driving uptime and overall equipment effectiveness by monitoring processes, minimizing unplanned downtime, and dialing in efficiencies across all machine centers.
• Setting up, starting, stopping, and troubleshooting injection molding presses along with auxiliary systems.
• Executing mold changes end-to-end: install and align tooling, hook up utilities, and confirm mold protection and safety settings are correct.
• Capturing, controlling, and maintaining process parameters per Master Setup Sheets and approved specifications.
• Loading, confirming, and adjusting key variables—temperatures, pressures, transfer positions, cycle times, and material drying conditions.
• Watching production in real time and making adjustments to sustain quality and keep machines running at peak performance.
• Responding quickly to quality concerns, operator questions, machine alarms, and other process disruptions.
• Diagnosing defects such as short shots, flash, burns, splay, and warpage; identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
• Cutting scrap and nonconforming output through process improvements, corrective actions, and coordination of mold maintenance.
• Performing first-piece and in-process checks with calipers, gauges, and other metrology tools.
• Contributing to quality targets, including reductions in both external and internal PPM.
• Verifying all safety features—interlocks, switches, drop bars, guarding—are functional before and during production.
• Following safety practices without compromise: PPE, OSHA, LOTO, hazardous materials handling, and safe lifting.
• Safely operating forklifts, pallet jacks, overhead cranes, and related material handling equipment when certified and authorized.
• Escalating equipment issues and partnering with maintenance to resolve them promptly.
• Confirming material identity, lot traceability, drying specs, and correct handling of virgin and regrind.
• Keeping documentation accurate and timely: setup sheets, process logs, downtime notes, scrap records, and ERP transactions.
• Participating in mold change and setup reduction activities to lift throughput, uptime, and OEE.
• Maintaining 5S standards and a clean, organized work area.
• Communicating process changes, quality notes, and shift updates to supervisors and the next crew.
• Coaching Process Technicians, Operators, and peers on standards, quality expectations, and safe work practices.
• Supporting continuous improvement across safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.
• Pitching in on other related tasks as assigned.

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Proven track record working effectively, efficiently, and safely in a high-volume manufacturing setting.
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment and follow written work instructions.
• Must pass written and performance testing for hi-lo (forklift) operation.
• Forklift experience and strict adherence to all forklift safety rules.
• Minimum 2–3 years of hands-on plastic injection molding experience, including mold changeovers.
• Solid understanding of thermoplastics, mold setup, tooling safety, and processing.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, setup sheets, and technical documents.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
• Willing to work overtime as needed and flexible shifts, including nights and weekends.

• 5+ years in plastics manufacturing performing similar responsibilities.
• Knowledge of IATF-aligned production and quality control practices.
• Experience training others.
• History of contributing to safety and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Familiarity with scientific molding methods (e.g., RJG, Decoupled Molding).

• Lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 lbs.
• Stand, stoop, twist,…