Plant Engineer

When Alfred Fain founded a small Rhode Island tire store in 1924, at the time no one could have predicted how Teknor Apex would become an international custom compo under sought out by companies around the world. After a nearly hundred-year journey that’s carried us through acquisitions and expansion, we now have nine U.S. locations, as well as operations in Belgium, Singapore, Germany, and China.

Throughout this global expansion Teknor has remained a privately held company, and today Fain’s grandson sits at the helm, maintaining the family’s tradition of fostering deep employee and customer relationships. These relationships are what allow us—together—to deliver customized compound solutions and help our customer’s create better products.

“Manufacturing is a team sport and we work together to achieve our goals.” ~Jon Fain

The Plant Engineer is responsible for developing and implementing production processing methods and controls to meet quality standards in the most cost-efficient manner. The Plant Engineer will be responsible for investigating and resolving work-in-process problems along with making recommendations and implementing improvements and modifications related to sequence of operations, equipment utilization, and related matters. The role also monitors assigned operations to ensure compliance with approved methods and quality standards.

• Monitors the existing production process; particular attention is placed on products with a history of problems.
• Supports 24x5 production by troubleshooting processing issues, sometimes outside of normal business hours
• Develops new production process methods based on their application and formulation of production.
• Works to reduce process variation using Six Sigma Methods like DMAIC or DMADV.
• Works on projects to improve rates and set up standard formats for different processes.
• Assist in establishing specific work goals and performance standards to reduce reject rate and minimize downtime.
• Answers customer complaints and implements corrective action when necessary to resolve issues.
• Lead and attend key production trials
• Troubleshoot and maintain PLCs
• Write and verify coding for new functions on PLCs
• Designs new equipment installations and modifications to existing equipment
• Maintains equipment and systems to ensure compliance with safety and environmental standards
• Troubleshoots when equipment is not performing to specifications
• Manages the operation and maintenance of plant utilities
• Establishes specifications for contract work and oversees implementation
• Monitor and establish preventative maintenance tasks and scheduling
• Review and approve purchase requisitions
• Report on status of engineering projects and maintenance status monthly
• Coach and drive 6S principles and improvements across the plant
• Project management – designs and drafts elements relating to projects for implementation
• Facilitate process automation
• Performs additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.
• This description is a summary of principal responsibilities and is not intended to include all duties that may be assigned.

• Good understanding of the formulation, material science and equipment involved.
• Must be able to work in a team environment.
• Ability to work in and support an ISO 9000 environment.
• Knowledge in thermoplastics, polymer blends, and polymer compounding preferred
• PLC programming and troubleshooting

• 3-5 years of relevant experience required.
• 3-5 years controls experience
• Lean manufacturing implementation (value stream mapping, SMED, 6S, visual factory, PDCA, CI, etc.)

• BS or MS in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Industrial Engineering…