Warehouse Technician

Want to make something truly special? Join Ardent Mills, the premier flour-milling and ingredients company. With us, you can make products that exceed customer expectations. Make communities healthier and more prosperous. Make the innovative breakthroughs that shape our industry. Make the food that nourishes people throughout North America.

The supply assurance of a coast-to-coast network of more than 35 community mills, mixing facilities and a bakery, located throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. We have deep roots in our communities, employing more than 100 certified millers, supporting thousands of local jobs and contributing billions of dollars to local economies.

Your Role

This position’s primary focus is implementation of policy and procedures established for the warehouse.   Key areas of responsibilities are; working with the warehouse supervisor in achieving the pack schedule timeline, maximizing pack rates, minimize downtime, product in specification, shipping correct products, complete documentation, and work as a team with other warehouse employees. This position is the first step in learning to operate all the packing equipment independently.  This position is also key in promoting safety, quality, efficiency, customer satisfaction and helping achieve the company’s budgeted goals and objectives.

Position Qualifications

• Minimum High School Diploma or GED
• Experience in shipping, receiving, packaging, transportation and warehousing
• Two + years’ experience in manufacturing operations environment
• Forklift experience preferred or ability to be PIT Certified
• Working knowledge in computers, problem solving, people skills, communication skills
• Dependable, Honest, Trainable and Motivated
• Good writing skills, works well under pressure and deadlines
• Willing to work 1st, 2nd, 3rd shift, overtime, and weekends. Must be flexible
• Recognizes Good Manufacturing Practices and follows company policy
• Team player, self-starter, motivator, goal oriented, strategic thinker
• Safety oriented
• Willingness to grow with the company
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.

Work Hours:

Twelve hour Night Shift: 8pm – 8am.  These hours are subject to change depending on plant needs.  Overtime is sometimes required during the week, on weekends and on holidays.

Warehouse

• Achieve established Packing Capacities and Improve upon packing rate efficiencies
• Minimize packing downtime and changeovers
• Learn the complete operation of the pack lines.  Weight calibration and programming of pack heads
• Complete operation of the sonic sealers, inkjet printers, labeler, palletizer programming, and check weigher
• Work and communicate with other warehouse employees. Switch off every other day
• Implement and attain daily Packing Schedule provided by scheduler
• Responsible for On-Time Pack and Delivery to Customers
• Assure proper loading and sealing of delivery vehicles
• Recognize and Implement proper GMPs
• Increase knowledge of the all equipment to eventually be able to run the line without help
• Maintain and enforce food safety standards with drivers, customers, and visitors
• Assure Product Quality and Service (Zero Defects Objective)
• Operate in a safe and efficient manner at all times
• Assure proper code dates, labeling, correct packaging, documentation, etc.
• Provide relief for Warehouse Team Lead in instances of absence for vacation, sick days, or personal holidays

Major activity areas of the position

• Make sure flour is packed in the correct bags, correct weights, correct code dates, and on schedule
• Advise supervisors of all equipment problems or changes immediately upon notice of change
• Learn to Minimize change over downtime by pre-staging bags, notifying asst millers of next flour needed in the pack bins, and making necessary changes on printer
• Recommend, implement and communicate effect of all changes adopted to help impact location profitability and efficiency with the packing system
• Work as a high performance cross-functional team with other warehouse and mill location employees
• Daily feed-in of overweight, under-weight, or broken bags to maintain a zero feed-in inventory
• Communicate employee self-development objectives to immediate supervisor
• Minimize customer complaints and problem shipments due to service or flour quality during the loading and packing process. Goal is zero customer complaints
• Implement established employee safety policies, procedures and programs.  Participate in Toolbox meetings, Monthly Safety Training and Audits
• Complete daily loading and OEE reports and logs immediately when done
• Verify all shipments by referencing the register, customer order number. Getting driver and customer signatures on Van Trailer Inspection Forms & Seal Report
• Perform truck inspection report, forklift inspection report
• Perform product and bag inventory as requested.  Report any bag inventory issues
• Implement Sanitation Policy and Procedures for the warehouse area.  All employees are required to keep the warehouse in a clean and sanitary condition
• Monitor bag weight throughout the production run and document.  Make adjustments as necessary to maintain bag weight tolerance and rejections
• Communicate and  Provide Requested Information and issues to Supervisor, Maintenance, Scheduling and Transportation in a timely manner

Critical Success Factors

• Cost Management
• Minimize damaged product
• Minimize overtime
• Salvage all damaged or rejected product by feeding back into the mill
• Eliminate spills
• Facilitate faster, smoother change-overs
• Salvage all bags possible
• Productivity and Efficiency
• Maximize Packing Efficiencies
• Minimize Unscheduled Downtime and repairs
• Complete OEE reports accurately
• Assure Proper printing & sealing of bags
• Anticipate changeovers

Quality

• Maintain product Quality and Consistency
• Minimize Problem Shipments. Goal is zero
• Communicate all Quality Concerns Daily with Supervisor
• Eliminating flour quality problems during flour changes and crew changes
• Implementation of Food Safety Procedure

Safety

• Continual Employee Education and Awareness
• Participate in Toolbox Meetings, Employee Safety Meetings, Safety Trainings, Auditing and JSA reversions

EEO Commitment:

At Ardent Mills, everyone matters and everyone has a voice.  We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and team members and the decisions will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs.  We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, aboriginality, ancestry, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, age, political affiliation, or any other non-merit characteristic protected by law or not.  Together, celebrating our differences, we make Ardent Mills.

The preceding position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this position.  It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees in this position. The description, duties, functions, and responsibilities are subject to change at the discretion of Ardent Mills.