Material Technologist

JOB PURPOSE:
Working closely with production, sales, marketing and quality teams you will be responsible in providing technical support to all production and departmental activities. Ensuring materials & blends are those designed to manufacture consistently in a 'continuous process' environment, and compliant to agreed specification(s).
A key stakeholder in developing new blends for NPD and EPD projects, inclusive of continuous improvement projects and product routing demands from within the wider Group, i.e. site transfers. Responsible for the effective and efficient running of the Re-granulation process, equipment and team.
PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Advise on the potential materials and blend recipes in order to develop innovative new products (NPD), and / or to improve the performance and specification of existing products (EPD), inclusive of new material and product introduction. Applying working knowledge of manufacturing capabilities and material technology to ensure processing control. Involved in assessing the feasibility necessary for CapEx / OpEx projects.
• Liaises closely with Sales (including the Customer so as to fully understand product function and performance), Design team, Manufacturing, Engineering and Quality to ensure each parties expectations are realistic and achievable within quality needs.
• Establishing both the processing of materials, the manufacturing process capabilities and routing are approved and meet customer specifications, so as to best achieve material utilisation and the desired material result from the conversion process.
• Provides leadership and direction for the Re-granulation process, equipment and team.
• Involved in the manufacturing process, equipment and technology for selection with regard to both NPD and EPD projects where applicable e.g. both New and In-Plant qualification of new products and processes, ensuring manufacturing process capability.
• Quality assurance, continuous improvement, and the development and maintenance of technical documentation, including recipe and trial databases.
• Continuous Improvement in the form of process safety, enhancement, troubleshooting, improvement, defect reduction, cost reduction, and trials.
• Involved in technical specification and formulation working closely with Plant Management in support of projects for development and commercialization of new products as well as insuring the viability and profitability of commercialized specifications and film structures.
• Initiates equipment, procedure and raw materials modifications to increase machine productivity and reduce waste.
• May train machine operators on new formulations, equipment modifications and new operating procedures to insure standard operating conditions for consistent manufacturing / processing conditions.
• Investigates causes of on-going process, quality, production efficiency and high waste problems. Then develops solutions using problem solving techniques.
• Secures and maintains knowledge of current industry best practices that may apply to equipment and procedures used to produce and convert Film Tech products.
• Facilitates/communicates status of above mentioned projects/duties to associated depts.
• Writes/schedules/supports project trials to manufacture new products and in the creation of new and updating SOP's.