Extrusion Press Operator III

Overview

This position is responsible for coordinating the safe, efficient, and effective operation of the aluminum extrusion process, including extrusion, stretching, sawing to length, and aging. The role involves rotating through various press operations to ensure smooth production flow and consistent product quality. Additionally, the position requires performing Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) tasks and maintaining a clean, organized work environment. The role reports directly to the Extrusion Shift Team Leader for the assigned shift.

Responsibilities

1. Responsible for following all safety rules and reporting any safety violations to supervisor. When able correct the safety violation immediately.

2. Ensure extruded products coming off the press meet contractual customer requirements as stated on production order and profile drawing.

3. Proficient use of inspection tools, such as micrometers, callipers, gauges, squares and tape measures.

4. Understand and adhere to Aluminum Association Tolerances.

5. Understanding of the different alloys and temper designations, quenching, stretching and aging practices required to reach desired mechanical properties.

6. Clearly identify scrap and communicate quality problems immediately to Extrusion Supervisor and downstream operations.

7. Inspect all metal extruded for visual defects. Clearly mark any non-conforming or defective metal to alert appropriate personnel to remove and scrap.

8. Set-up quench to include water and / or blocking as required or instructed.

9. Coordinate and direct effective and efficient operation of press system through maximizing production up time and maximizing recovery through recommendations of optimum production parameters (recipes) to Extrusion Supervisor. Coordinate breaks / lunches with the team to optimize uptime.

10. Lead, rotate, assist as needed with other Profile Manufacturers between running press, finish saw and floating to maintain production, quality, or safety.

11. Safely move and load material and tooling as required for production.

12. Notify Extrusion Supervisor as quickly as possible of any problems affecting quality and productivity.

13. Ensure dies and tools are loaded in boxes to achieve proper heating and to avoid no hot tools.

14. Mark the end of orders, samples and splits with the proper coding

15. Mark front ends and samples as required.

16. Perform die changes and load dies into ovens proactively for order sequence.

17. Prepare the next order information and / or tooling prior to the current jobs end. Be ready to keep the press line running.

18. Safely troubleshoot equipment with the team leader, plant services and / or engineering.

19. Recommend to management any equipment, procedural, or process changes to improve safety, quality and productivity.

20. Meet with incoming and outgoing Profile Manufacturers at change of shifts, to communicate information required.

21. Ensure accurate production data recording – billets run (alloy, cast number, length, count), SPC checks, samples, good pieces racked, pieces scrapped and reasons why, is entered into Computer System.

22. Analyze prior day production performance compared to standard and make recommendations for improvements.

23. Report any downtime and communicate potential causes to team leader, plant services and / or engineering.

24. Perform daily TPM’s as assigned - such as dummy block rotation; fill up lubrication systems, checking pit levels, checking and replacing filters, checking probe function, conducting press alignment checks, etc.

25. Maintain a neat, clean and orderly extrusion press area. This includes but not limited to cleaning the extrusion press, press equipment, press operator station, floors, etc..

26. Notify Plant Services of any breakdowns or equipment problems affecting safety, quality, or productivity.

27. Assist Plant Services with repairs as needed.

28. Maintain 6S standards.

Qualifications

Education and / or Experience and Certifications and Licenses

High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to six months related experience and / or training in much operation; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Prior work experience in a manufacturing environment desirable. Experience in all aspects of the extrusion operation including press operation, stretcher, sawing, and oven tending.

Skills and Abilities

• Team player, good communicator and ability to work with other departments at all levels
• Capable of learning and applying extrusion processes
• Mechanical aptitude
• Foresight – ability to look ahead, plan the day to meet safety, quality, production rates and HT requirements
• Comfortable with computers including HMI / Machine controller’s data
• Works effectively with tools and equipment such as calipers, micrometers, pins, feeler gauges, squares, protractors, comparators and calculators.
• Strong organizational skills to maintain work processes, records and report documentation
• Ability to read and understand blueprints, drawings, route sheets and understand tolerance calculations.
• Forklift certified with the ability to learn and be certified on the Combi lift