Continuous Improvement Technician (Bettinger) at Mars

Job Description: Job Title: Continuous Improvement Technician Shift: Days Location: Topeka, Kansas

Mars is looking to hire a Continuous Improvement Technician for our state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Topeka, Kansas! Being a Mars Associate is all about opportunity. The opportunity to do challenging, exciting work that shapes the world’s best-loved brands. To work with real purpose, supported by talented, friendly people from different backgrounds. Access the tools, training, and experience you need to positively impact our business, the planet, and, most importantly, your career. Being a Mars associate is more than a job. It’s the opportunity to start your day tomorrow.

As part of our overall total compensation package, Mars offers a competitive benefits package to all associates: Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance, Short- & Long-Term Disability, and 401k match. Associates are also immediately eligible (based on hire date) for up to three weeks of vacation, 12 Paid Holidays per year, Sick Pay, Maternity & Parental Leave, and annual bonus earning potential, plus many other ancillary benefits not listed here.

The purpose of the Continuous Improvement Technician is to be an expert in the maintenance technician space, assisting with Technical Training development, deep dive BDAs, troubleshooting unknown issues with equipment and resolving issues from a long term perspective. A CI Technician will assist with PM Optimization, ensuring that the right PM is done at the right time on the right equipment.

The CI Technician will participate in the MSE team, be a lead/co-lead on at least one DMS (currently PdM) and drive execution of Reliability concepts.

Responsibilities

• Delivers 3 Continuous Improvement Projects quarterly (minimum 12 per year). Continuous Improvement projects will be determined from the Value Stream Top Loss data, PM Pillar priorities, Repeat BDAs and Safety Initiatives. Initiatives should tie to VLiC or site Critical Business Need (CBN)
• Collaborates with site Continuous Improvement Specialists to deliver CI Projects in area of responsibility
• Owns Predictive Maintenance DMS and delivers the 90 Day and 1 Year Plan
• As the site Technical Expert, discusses, coaches, and trains other technicians and operators on site equipment
• Partner with Line Maintenance to troubleshoot and repair electrical and mechanical problems on assigned equipment, conduct preventative maintenance, and support Operations in equipment setup and changeover.
• Participate on MSE teams, train operators in AM activities, and conduct Breakdown Analysis.
• Breakdown reduction activities
• Technical expert of related equipment and discuss, coach, and train technicians and operators on this equipment.
• Active Participation and support of the Breakdown Analysis Process
• Drive implementation activities from the PM Optimization and Asset Blitz
• Makes business decisions based on quantitative and qualitative data analysis
• Participates in the development and owns portions of the Line's 90-Day loss-elimination plans.
• Represent Reliability team in the daily FMOS meetings. Provides performance data for selected machines and communicates action plans and completed work effectively.

Education & Professional Qualification Minimum:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.

Preferred:

• Associate degree in technical discipline, preferably in Industrial Maintenance/Technology.

Knowledge/Experience

• Technical degree/trade certification or 5 years or equivalent manufacturing technician experience required.

Minimum:

• Possess a fundamental understanding of electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic schematics and mechanical drawings in order to solve problems in a timely manner.
• Ability to troubleshoot ac/dc electrical components including motor starters, switches and sensors found on all assigned equipment using basic test equipment such as multi-meters and amp probes.
• Ability to troubleshoot basic pneumatic and mechanical drive systems at the component level on all assigned equipment, i.e. sorting systems and palletizing robots.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule as needed to support production needs and to conduct multi-task work in a very fast paced work environment
• Willingness to develop required technical skills in welding, basic machinist and fabrication/layout skill sets.

Preferred:

• Possess an advanced understanding of ac/dc electrical (up to 480-volt 3 phase), hydraulic and pneumatic schematics and mechanical drawings in order to solve problems in a timely manner.
• Possess PLC/ Instrumentation troubleshooting skills.

Physical Requirements:

• Frequent lifting/carrying (10-50 lbs.).
• Frequent pushing/pulling (50-200 lbs.).
• Frequent handling/gripping/bending/stooping.
• Ability to work at elevated heights off a ladder or platform, climb stairs, leaning over equipment.
• Ability to stand and / or work on feet for extended periods (minimum eight hours in one shift).

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With almost $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN’S®, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD® Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in Mc Lean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.