Job: Technical Resource Apprentice

Shift: Various

Location: Mars Petcare (Aurora, Nebraska)

The Technical Resource Apprentice’s role is to learn to provide the production floor leadership with Progressive Maintenance (PM) capability (breakdown elimination) and technical support for delivering the team’s operational targets, such as safety, quality, and efficiency results.  This role must proactively identify and action risks to safety, food safety, quality, and production losses. Technical Resources must also lead and coach root-cause problem-solving with the other technicians on their team, effectively communicate priorities, and escalate issues within their area and across shifts. 

Technical Resource Apprentices will be taught to understand thoroughly and master Manufacturing Reliability Fundamentals such as Integrated Work Systems (IWS) and the Factory Mars Operating System (FMOS/Daily Direction Setting DDS).  This role will support the development and execution of Clean, Inspect, Lubricate (CIL), Center Line (CL), and Defect Management for their assigned area.  The Technical Resource is responsible for maintaining standard running conditions of operating equipment in their area, plus the repair or replacement of failed components, the ability to troubleshoot unknown equipment issues, and recommend adjustments to center line operational output of equipment. 

Principal Accountabilities

• Lead and support the culture development of Mars, 5 Principles and Engagement
• Coach Mars safety standards, tools, and techniques
• Identify, evaluate, and eliminate safety risks using behavior-based safety programs and near-miss reporting.
• Perform mechanical and electrical preventative maintenance on various manufacturing equipment and electrical panels.
• Complete work orders as assigned and proactively look at work orders to complete as time permits.
• Document preventative maintenance and work orders using SAP Plant Maintenance
• Troubleshoot and repair routine electrical (such as motor starters, switches, and sensors using multi-meters and amp probes) and mechanical (hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical drive systems at the component level) problems on all plant equipment.
• Conduct equipment breakdown analysis
• Register parts and create/update PMs to improve the maintenance system.
• Participate and sometimes lead Focused Improvement Teams to eliminate losses within functional area  
• Develop/train technicians to grow functional/technical skills, learn troubleshooting and repair skills to operate equipment more efficiently, and understand Autonomous Maintenance activities.
• Perform technical tasks such as fabrication, welding, and machinist skills.
• Drive delivery at or above the target of the metrics:  TRS, production reliability, stop reduction, mean time between failure, defects found and fixed, and work order/PM completion rate.
• Support the spare storeroom process and suggest improvements on how to manage spare parts.
• Uses IWS tools to achieve zero losses, ensure follow-up to outages, and root cause identification.
• Provide technical support to eliminate line top losses and improve the team’s equipment ownership.
• 90% on the production floor working with Technicians to deliver results, assisting in equipment setup and changeover.
• Member of the Emergency Response Team (ERT)
• Flow to work as needed to meet the business need.
• Other job duties as assigned by site leadership.

Key Functional Skills & Knowledge

• Understand and adhere to LOTO, Confined Space, and all other plant safety/GMP requirements.
• Possess a fundamental understanding of electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical drawings/schematics.
• Basic mechanical skills, metalworking, plumbing, pneumatics, and steam fitting
• Basic electrical power and controls, understanding of PLCs.
• Conduct hot work permit work as necessary to include grinding and welding.
• Ability to problem solve in area of operation utilizing IWS tools (Unified Problem Solving)
• Possesses technical mastery, Advanced technical troubleshooting skills in functional area.
• Subject Matter Expert for Autonomous Maintenance Step 4 component
• Basic computer skills in AutoCAD, Proficy, Excel, Word, Outlook, LEDS, SAP, Red Prairie, and Nexus
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Self-development:  Demonstrated to learn & upgrade job related and leadership skills
• Ability to use part diagrams and lists to order parts.
• Ability to work with vendors and suppliers.

Minimum Qualifications

• Previous maintenance experience or technical education
• High school diploma or GED
• Ability to convey communications clearly and concisely.
• Able to deal with ambiguity effectively.
• Successful completion of a drug and background screen
• Ability to work rotating shifts under stressful conditions such as heat, cold, heights, and/or confined spaces.
• Have full mobility with the ability to climb ladders and stairs.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous maintenance/TR experience at the NEA factory
• Technical degree in industrial maintenance or related degree
• 3 to 5 years of experience in a TPM/technical manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated experience working in quality and safety.
• Functional knowledge and understanding of HACCP concepts.

About Mars, Incorporated 

Mars is a family-owned business with over 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 McLean, 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.