Refrigeration Technician

Job Description

The Maintenance Technician's role is to accomplish the continuous effective freezing and frozen storage of food products and ingredient materials and cooling of the physical plant buildings through the effective and efficient operation, maintenance, and repair of all plant ammonia and nitrogen refrigeration systems and associated freezers, air conditioning, and chilled water systems. This position's scope will include operation of the various systems, preventive maintenance, and mechanical and electrical repair. Contribute to the profit and well-being of the Company by performing tasks in a safe, efficient, quality-conscious, and cost-conscious manner and by working in a cooperative manner with his/her supervisor and co-workers.

Using prior training and application of that training to specific Company equipment, maintains and repairs assigned machine systems. Performs specific preventive maintenance, operating ,mechanical and electrical repair, troubleshooting, and other tasks and techniques to keep equipment in operational condition to meet production and storage needs.

The work schedule is Friday to Sunday 6am to 6pm.

Key Accountabilities and Outcomes

• Keeping logs and other information on operating results and problems
• Analyzing information to determine preventive maintenance plan
• Troubleshooting problems to appropriate solution and physically repairing equipment
• Using common maintenance hand tools and specialty tools to repair and maintain equipment
• Inspecting equipment by sight and sound, and reading gauges and other measuring devices on a routine basis to assure optimum operating condition
• Reading equipment manuals, blueprints and other sources of information to build knowledge and assure appropriate operation and repair of equipment
• Ordering parts and supplies to maintain building equipment
• Maintaining all work areas in a clean manner in line with plant requirements of Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Applies all safe work practices and uses all personal safety equipment required in performing tasks to assure his/her own safety and that of co-workers; always works in a safe manner; performs tasks within guidelines of good maintenance techniques and applicable codes.
• Applies all GMP requirements, both personal hygiene and housekeeping, associated with these tasks. Keeps work area clean at all times, in line with plant procedures on housekeeping, waste water, and solids management.
• Applies all product safety and quality requirements associated with the process at assigned positions.
• Identifies problems associated with assigned systems on an on-going basis through collection of data, tracking downtime, and personal inspection and determines if solution is within his/her training and knowledge
• Develops and maintains a good working relationship with Team Coordinator and other managers, team members, and other co-workers. Resolves problems and conflicts in an acceptable manner that shows respect for the other person(s).
• Cooperates and shows commitment to team goals and efforts; attends team meetings and participates in them to the best of his/her ability.
• Follows plant rules and policies and Company code of ethics in performing job.
• Assists in orienting and/or training other team members on assigned tasks as requested.
• Uses electrical, pipe fitting, pneumatics, and hydraulics skills to assist or support other maintenance technicians as time allows or plant needs require.

Skills/Experience:

• Minimum 1 - 3 years "hands-on" experience maintaining an industrial ammonia refrigeration system, including vacuum systems, screw compressors, blast freezers, storage freezers ,condensers and chilled water cooling systems required; experience in maintaining nitrogen flash freezers and Reco and Frigoscandia brand freezers highly desired; electrical, pipe fitting, hydraulics, and pneumatics experience in the course of mechanical experience desired.
• Basic business requirements such as attendance, punctuality, good work habits, good personal hygiene; basic education in communication, reading, and arithmetic such as would be learned in high school; specific technical training in (1) the theory of ammonia refrigeration and nitrogen freezing systems and (2) the mechanical and electrical maintenance of industrial-sized refrigeration systems; microprocessors; 110, 120, 220, and 480 Volt 3-phase AC electricity; pipe cutting, threading, fitting; conduit installation; wiring; pneumatics; hydraulics.
• Thoroughly skilled in all aspects of the mechanical and electrical maintenance of industrial food freezing systems.