Production Engineer

Are you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious?

Are you always solving?

Then we’d like to meet you and bet you’d like to meet us.

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for a Production Engineer to join our Specialty ingredients G.P., business at our Hopewell, VA location. This is a very visible, significant role within the Company, and the Plant Engineering and Operations functions. This position will report to the Natrosol (HEC) Operations Manager.

The Production Engineer will support the Natrosol manufacturing process to achieve targets in safety, production, compliance and quality. Maintain a presence in the operating area and with operators to resolve daily issues and drive continuous improvement.

• Identify, develop, and drive or assist in the implementation of continuous improvement solutions using lean manufacturing techniques/tools for the entire HEC unit value stream with focus on First Pass Quality (FPQ), optimized operability, increased throughput, elimination of bottlenecks and single point failures.
• Analyze, develop, and implement systems and processes to drive daily optimized quality and stable operating conditions of the HEC unit.
• Provide technical expertise and knowledge base transfer to HEC unit Supervisor/Operation Manager and operators.
• Create production schedules and Finished Product Blend sheets for the HEC Unit.
• Collaborate to expand and support the implementation of Ashland Production System throughout HEC department.
• Develop and standardize metrics for the continuous improvement of the HEC unit.
• Provide technical expertise in the review and improvement of the HEC unit procedures, WI, forms, and all other documents.
• Work with Process Engineers to determine root cause of chronic operating problems
• Support the improvement of the current training system for HEC operators.
• Provide technical support for capital projects in HEC unit.
• Participate and provide technical expertise in HEC unit PHAs and CDAs.
• Provide Management of Change (MOC) support for the HEC unit.
• Provide effective technical support during HEC planned shutdowns and restarts.
• Responsible for technical support in the day-to-day troubleshooting of HEC unit issues.
• Be a positive contributor to the safety and environmental programs of the Hopewell plant.
• Maintain environmental compliance while continually pursuing waste minimization
• Analyzes production and quality data to determine optimum operating conditions

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering, Pulp & Paper, Mechanical, or equivalent.
• 5-10 years’ chemical plant manufacturing experience
• Must be able to handle multiple projects concurrently and work in a team environment.
• Delta-V and SAP experience

• Previous experience in Production Operations
• Previous Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) batch manufacturing experience
• Previous experience working within a union environment
• Hazard Analysis - HAZOP, PHA, ISO Systems
• Experience in or knowledge of using Lean Six Sigma processes
• Excellent written and oral communications
• Proven data analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Proven planning and organization skills.
• Proven self-starter with urgency for delivering results.

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland LLC. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable…