Injection Mold Technician/operator

**Injection Mold Technician/Operator**

Your responsibilities usually involve working in a manufacturing setting and preparing your machine for each production run.

This position also requires at least 50% of the time to be spent as an integral part of the R&D team for testing, evaluation and research and development of new products and materials and 50% in product manufacturing support.

**Responsibilities and Duties**

**Key Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Operate machines & related accessories (Start-up and Shutdown as required).
- Set up processing parameters of injection molding machines.
- Quality Control: Maintain Equipment and inventory. Troubleshoot & Perform repairs on robotic systems or components.
- Record and report to management any downtime, scrap, manpower issues, and equipment failures.
- Work with the mold master, manufacturing manager and engineering department to reduce quality-related concerns/issues.
- Perform machine and tooling preventative maintenance and complete daily logs during each shift.
- Ensure cycle time, weight, and mold change requirements are followed.
- Respond to effectively to resolving quality concerns, processing, and set-up issues.

**Main Tasks & Responsibilities**
- Read and interpret blueprints, engineering drawings, and other specifications to determine mold setup requirements
- Installs mold on machine, according to work order specifications, using clamps, bolts, and handtools.
- Sets up and operates injection-molding machines to mold products from thermoplastic material
- Load premixed plastic powders or pellets into hopper, and starts machine.
- Weigh out specified amounts of raw materials and load them into hoppers
- Sets machine controls, regulating molding temperature, volume of plastic, molding pressure and time, according to knowledge of plastics and molding procedures.
- Pulls lever to close dies and inject plastic into mold to cast part.
- Removes finished product from mold.
- Trims excess material from part, using knife or other tool.
- Mix thermoplastic materials and coloring pigments in mixing machine, according to formula.
- May grind scrap plastic into powder for reuse.
- Monitor machine operation to detect problems such as clogged nozzles or faulty heating elements
- Adjust machine controls when necessary to compensate for changes in temperature and material viscosity
- Record production data, such as volume produced, scraped product, and time required for each molding cycle
- Inspect finished products for defects and measure products with rulers or calipers to ensure adherence to specifications
- Performs typical injection molding machine operation.
- Performs visual inspection of molded components.
- Completes required production reports that includes cycle times, number of scrap and down time.
- Detects and reports defective materials or questionable conditions to the department supervisor.
- Follows written documentation/procedures for specific jobs.
- Prepares packaging for following operator.
- Complete tasks as directed by production schedules with minimum supervision.
- Clean molds and machines, using solvents and brushes, and lubricate machines, using oils and greases
- Remove and clean screws between material or colour changes
- Perform routine maintenance on injection-molding machines
- Maintains the work area and equipment in a clean orderly condition and follows prescribed safety regulations.
- Must be familiar with the basic machine function in order to perform the tasks stated above. Additional Responsibilities:

- When requested, may work on special projects and various related assignments.
- May be required to work in various areas of production.
- Performs other related duties and assignments as required

**Product R&D Responsibilities**
- Research technical, commercial, military, and industrial specifications.
- Help design new products, and overcome technical hurtles to bring new innovations to market;
- Research and test new materials to meet product objectives;
- Help assemble prototype models to verify the criteria and objectives;
- Debug and test prototypes to evaluate the concepts and its procedures;
- Design and implement test procedures to meet objectives;
- Assembly of new prototypes issued by engineering and effectively introduce new products to the production floor;
- Suggest and implement corrective actions to resolve problems incurred;
- Work closely with the design engineers to improve product reliability and production process;
- Maintain required documentation to the development of the products.

**Qualifications: (experience needed and education)**
- Minimum 2 years of related experience
- A high school diploma or equivalent is required; post-secondary education or a technical degree is an asset.
- Technical Course certification experience with hand tools or welding is an asset.
- Vocational training or certification in injection molding or a related field
- Knowledge and experience working with ERP/MRP sys