Manufacturing Technician - 1st Shift Oven

Job Details

Level: Entry

Job Location:

Community Drive - Henderson, KY 42420

Position Type:
Full Time

Salary Range: $20.00 Hourly

Job Shift: Day

The Oven Process Technician is responsible for setting up, operating, and monitoring industrial ovens to bake or sinter polymer materials according to defined recipes and process controls. This role ensures consistent product quality, equipment uptime, and safety compliance, while supporting continuous improvement, 5S, and lean practices across the line.

• Prepare batches: verify material identity, lot numbers, and moisture/contamination status; stage trays, fixtures, and tooling per work instructions.
• Load, operate, and unload industrial ovens (batch or continuous) per recipes, setpoints.
• Confirm bake profiles with Ignition software before unloading for quality assurance.
• Monitor and document critical process parameters (temperature, dwell time, airflow, vacuum/pressure if applicable, part spacing, ambient humidity).
• Perform start up checks, warm up cycles, and changeovers; minimize scrap and achieve first pass yield targets.

• Follow SOPs, control plans, and visual standards; complete batch records, lot traceability, and real-time log sheets (digital or paper).
• Conduct in-process inspections (e.g., thickness/weight checks, color/appearance, hardness, density, moisture) and escal…
• Support root cause analysis (5 Whys, fishbone) and corrective actions; participate in capability studies and basic SPC as needed.

• Adhere to LOTO, hot-surface, confined-space (if applicable), and PPE requirements; handle solvents or release agents per SDS.
• Maintain safe loading practices to prevent thermal shock, tipping, overloading, or airflow blockage; verify interlocks, alarms, and over-temperature safeties.
• Report near-misses and hazards promptly; contribute to monthly safety audits and EHS initiatives.

• Perform operator-level PM: clean oven chambers, gaskets, and racks; check thermocouples, chart recorders/data loggers, and door seals; replace filters as directed.
• Request work orders and assist Maintenance with calibration, thermocouple mapping, and repairs.
• Sustain 5S (sort, set in order, shine, standardize, sustain); keep the area inspection-ready.

• Identify waste (defects, rework, waiting, motion, over-processing) and propose improvements to cycle time, energy use, and yield.
• Help update standardized work, visual aids, and training materials; cross-train across adjacent processes (mixing, grinding, screening, packaging).

• High school diploma or equivalent is required. Associate’s degree in manufacturing technology or related field is a plus.
• 1-3 years of manufacturing experience; thermal processing or polymer/chemical processing preferred.
• Experience with industrial ovens, kilns, or heat treat equipment (batch or conveyor).
• Exposure to SPC, control charts, and capability concepts; understanding of Lean, Kaizen, and 5S.
• Knowledge of polymer behavior during bake/sinter (e.g., curing, volatile off-gassing, thermal expansion) and common defects (blistering, discoloration, warpage).
• Forklift/pallet jack certification.

• Ability to read and follow SOPs, batch travelers, and basic schematics; comfortable with HMIs, data loggers, and MES/ERP terminals.
• Basic math and measurement skills; familiarity with thermocouples, temperature controllers, and calibration basics.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, recordkeeping accuracy, and consistent attendance.
• Ability to use hoists, hand tools, and torque devices safely.
• Understanding production documentation and data entry requirements.
• Strong…