Process Technician

Overview

Central Plastics & Manufacturing is a leading U.S.

-based provider of custom plastics injection molding solutions, operating from a state-of-the-art facility in Northern California. The company is ISO 13485:2016, AS 9100 Rev D, and ISO 9001:2016 certified, showcasing its commitment to superior quality standards. With advanced capabilities such as clean room molding, in-house tooling, assembly operations, and parts decorating services, Central Plastics serves diverse industries, including healthcare, aerospace, automotive, food packaging, and more.

As a certified small business and minority-owned company, Central Plastics prioritizes excellence in innovation, customer service, and ethical business practices.

The Process Technician is responsible for setting up, optimizing, monitoring, and troubleshooting injection molding processes in a fast-paced custom manufacturing environment. This role ensures parts are produced safely, efficiently, and consistently to meet quality, delivery, and cost targets. The technician works closely with Production, Quality, Tooling, and Engineering teams to support short runs, frequent changeovers, and demanding customer requirements.

Process Setup & Optimization

• Set up and start injection molding machines, molds, auxiliary equipment, and robots.
• Establish and optimize molding parameters including temperatures, pressures, speeds, cooling times, and clamp force.
• Perform mold changes efficiently to minimize downtime.
• Develop, document, and maintain robust process settings and setup sheets.

Troubleshooting & Continuous Improvement

• Diagnose and correct molding defects such as short shots, flash, splay, warp, burn marks, sinks, and cosmetic issues.
• Troubleshoot material, tooling, machine, and process-related issues.
• Support process improvements to reduce scrap, cycle time, and downtime.
• Assist with new tool and new product launches, validations, and process transfers.

Quality & Documentation

• Ensure processes comply with quality standards, customer specifications, and internal procedures.
• Support first article inspections, process capability studies, and SPC monitoring.
• Accurately document process changes, corrective actions, and setup data.
• Work closely with Quality during nonconformances, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.

Production Support

• Monitor production runs to ensure consistent output and quality.
• Train and support machine operators on process expectations and part quality requirements.
• Respond quickly to production issues to maintain schedule adherence.
• Maintain safe, clean, and organized work areas in accordance with 5S and safety standards.

Safety & Compliance

• Follow all safety procedures, lockout/tagout requirements, and company policies.
• Ensure proper handling of resins, colorants, and additives.
• Support compliance with ISO, FDA, or customer-specific requirements as applicable.

• 3–5+ years of hands-on injection molding process experience (custom molding preferred).
• Strong understanding of injection molding fundamentals, materials, and tooling.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot complex molding issues independently.
• Experience with hydraulic and/or electric molding machines.
• Ability to read and interpret part drawings, specifications, and process documentation.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with frequent changeovers.

• RJG, Scientific Molding, or equivalent process training.
• Experience with medical, aerospace, or tight-tolerance molded components.
• Familiarity with robots, hot runners, and auxiliary equipment.
• Knowledge of SPC, DOE, and continuous improvement tools.
• Forklift and crane operation experience (or willingness to obtain certification).