Production Technician - Back End

Brief Description

Production Technician – Back End Area (Waco, TX)

Our facility uses state‑of‑the‑art can‑making technology to manufacture aluminum beverage cans for a variety of beverages. The Production Technician is a multi‑skilled role responsible for operating, quality control, and minor maintenance of the high‑speed machinery used in the final critical steps of the aluminum can manufacturing process, ensuring safety, quality, and packaging standards for final distribution.

• Setup, adjust, and operate multiple high‑speed Inside Spray Machines (ISMs) and related oven controls.
• Monitor and maintain the circulation, delivery, viscosity, temperature, and supply levels of interior coating material (lacquer).
• Select, install, and adjust spray nozzles, spray guns, and fluid handling components to achieve specified coverage and coating weight.
• Diagnose and rectify operational issues such as spray gun malfunctions, clogs, poor atomization, and conveyor/mandrel timing issues.
• Perform frequent, precise checks of the cured interior lacquer coating weight using specialized laboratory equipment.
• Execute film integrity tests (e.g., bubble tester) to ensure complete, pinhole‑free coverage.
• Conduct continuous visual inspection of cans post‑spray and post‑oven to identify defects such as skips, thin spray, runs, sags, or poor curing.
• Record all quality check data, process adjustments, coating material usage, and downtime events accurately into the plant's QMS.
• Perform routine cleaning and basic preventative maintenance on spray guns, spindles, manifolds, and conveyors.
• Handle, transfer, and dispose of coating materials and solvents safely according to SOPs and safety protocols.

• Set up, operate, and monitor the Necker and Flanger machines to form the dome and narrow the can opening.
• Operate and monitor electronic Light Testers to detect microscopic pinholes, cracks, or structural defects.
• Manage the continuous flow of cans through the Back End equipment, preventing jams, spills, and damage.
• Diagnose and resolve operational issues, equipment jams, and mechanical or pneumatic failures.
• Perform frequent dimensional checks on finished cans using precision instruments (e.g., micrometers, calipers).
• Identify and document common Back End defects such as bad flanges, neck cracks, dome splits, or distorted profiles.
• Record production rates, dimensional measurements, and inspection results on shift logs and the computerized QMS.
• Execute routine minor tooling and equipment adjustments on the Necker/Flanger machines.
• Perform scheduled cleaning, lubrication, and basic PM tasks on all Back End machinery.
• Collaborate with Maintenance Technicians during major machine rebuilds, tooling changes, and complex troubleshooting.

• Set up, load materials, and operate the Palletizer Machine to stack, sheet, and stabilize finished cans.
• Verify pallet stability, accurate can count, correct labeling, and secure staging.
• Manage the flow of finished cans into the Palletizer, clearing jams and addressing minor mechanical issues.
• Inspect finished pallets for stack stability, tier sheet application, top frame positioning, and stretching.
• Monitor can counter systems to ensure accurate pallet counts.
• Generate, apply, and verify all pallet labels, ensuring correct lot numbers, customer codes, and quantities.
• Respond to issues that could compromise pallet load integrity (e.g., loose wrapping, shifted layers).
• Diagnose and clear machine jams and perform minor mechanical and pneumatic adjustments.
• Perform routine PM on the palletizer (clean sensors, inspect drive chains, lubricate moving parts, replace wear parts).
• Collaborate with Maintenance Technicians on complex repairs and major system overhauls.

• Strictly adhere to all plant safety rules and procedures, particularly regarding conveyors, moving machinery, and lift equipment.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and debris‑free area around the palletizer and finished goods staging zones.

• Adhere to all safety protocols, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), machine…