Sr Packaging Engineer

Job Location: Memphis, TN

Job Location: Memphis, TN

Summary:

The Hershey Company Memphis plant is a Non-Union plant producing products such as Ice Breakers, Breath Savers, and Good & Plenty, in a high-speed complex environment.

The Packaging Engineer's primary responsibility is to ensure the functionality, reliability, and optimization of the plant's current and future packaging systems and equipment to meet safety, quality, and productivity requirements.

Packaging Systems Oversight

• Provide oversight for all aspects of the packaging systems for the Memphis Plant. Work with the Maintenance Department to ensure that the correct asset reliability plans are in place for the packaging equipment in the plant. In addition, work with the technical team to update vendor support contracts related to packaging systems to ensure asset reliability.

Packaging Systems Optimization

• Provide strong technical leadership and support to Plant Operational and Maintenance staff in troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and optimization of existing packaging systems including engaging with the materials suppliers and optimizing performance on the manufacturing lines.

Capital Project Management

• Manage capital projects up to $1,000,000 in value for packaging improvement efforts at the Memphis Plant. Responsible for developing manufacturing feasibility assessments, capital cost estimates, process system design, selecting equipment, preparing equipment and construction bid specifications, evaluating bids, overseeing installation and start-up of packaging equipment and systems, troubleshooting, and training of line supervisors, operators, and maintenance personnel.

R&D/Innovation/Continuous Improvement Trial Support

• Act as main point of contact for the Memphis plant regarding testing efforts for R&D, Innovation, and Continuous Improvement trials, whether led by corporate counterparts or driven by the Memphis team. Oversee review/approval of the Trial Protocols and die lines and drive engagement from Memphis team counterparts to review risks and contingency plans, schedule considerations, and impact on production lines/outputs.

Packaging Documentation

• Ensure that all packaging related documentation is accurate and up to date. Documentation is to include layout drawings, elevation drawings, equipment manuals, job safety analysis, and Step Up cards.

Packaging Materials Oversight

• Provide technical expertise to ensure that all new packaging materials introduced through the Accolade process are properly designed to operate on existing packaging equipment.

Responsibilities:

• Develops and executes strategies for packaging equipment optimization including waste reduction, change-over improvement, reliability, efficiency, etc.
• Ensures equipment design capabilities align with operational requirements (Lean, TPM)
• Coordinates and leads execution of packaging change requests through collaboration with Business Units; ensures functional capability of new packaging materials.
• Effectively collaborates with corporate packaging materials engineering.
• Supports the development of existing equipment autonomous maintenance activities (centerline, change-over).
• Provides technical leadership and support to Plant Operational and Maintenance staff in training, troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
• Develops and manages packaging and plant capital projects.
• Assists in development of the Plant's 5-year capital plan.
• Collaborates with Maintenance to ensure proper asset reliability plans in place.
• Develops and manages external supplier relationships.

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities:

• A combination of knowledge, experience, and proficiencies in packaging systems for the food or pharmaceutical industries applicable to Hershey packaging systems, construction practices, standards, and codes to support manufacturing and provide a competitive business advantage.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of Engineering fundamentals. Possesses a working understanding of Packaging Engineering required to design, operate, maintain, and troubleshoot packaging systems and their components (primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging). This includes GMP's, layout optimization, ergonomics, and equipment safety, and an understanding of common packaging materials used in the food packaging industry.
• Sound judgment providing technical analyses, developing alternatives/recommendations (cost estimates, feasibility, specifications, and interpretation of requirements), understanding and proficiency in the development of engineering solutions with the ability to effectively communicate and build consensus cross-functionally on increasingly complex and fast paced projects.
• Ability to communicate and develop relationships with OEM vendors, contractors, internal customers, and all levels of management within the Hershey Company
• Ability to participate in cross-functional Packaging troubleshooting assignments to diagnose root cause issues and provide options for resolution.
• Ability to coach and lead others to achieve results, following all safety, quality, and productivity policies and procedures.
• Provide the appropriate level of mentoring and training to team members as well as our manufacturing customer base.
• Ability and willingness to work in a team environment with limited supervision.
• Strong leadership/interpersonal skills demonstrated willingness to accept new / challenging assignments.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and strong PC skills.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Mechanical/Electrical/Mechatronics) or Engineering Technology and / or relative engineering experience within The Hershey Company
• A minimum of 4 years' relevant experience in a high-speed automated manufacturing environment