Pad Printing Machine Operator

FLSA Status: Nonexempt

Alternate Job Titles: Pad Printing Technician, Pad Printing Production Operator

Pad Printing Machine Operators are responsible for production make-ready, operation, and troubleshooting of pad printing machinery and equipment. Prepares film/artwork and produces cliches. Sets up jobs and performs pre-production print check to ensure proper machine set-up, registration, ink viscosity, color, and print quality by performing the following duties personally or through assistant personnel.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for makeready, set-up, and operation or pad printing production equipment to ensure proper machine set-up, registration, ink viscosity, color, and print quality according to order specifications and company policies.
• Responsible for over-all machinery operation for optimum speed, registry, and print quality according to established standards.
• Recommends tooling and material handling changes to improve workflow or safety conditions.
• Must be able to run, adjust, and troubleshoot pad printing production equipment and machinery.
• Responsible for the repair, maintenance, and storage of pad printing production tooling and fixtures.
• Responsible for scheduling or performing preventive maintenance on pad printing production equipment.
• Blend and test inks and additives according to types of material being printed and work order specifications.
• Examine job orders to determine details such as quantities to be printed, production times, stock specifications, colors, and color sequences.
• Pour or spread ink, into pad printing machinery reservoirs, making measurements and adjustments to control color and viscosity.
• Push buttons, turn handles or move controls and levers to start and control printing machines.
• Set and adjust speed and operating parameters of equipment.
• Load, position, and adjust unprinted materials on holding fixtures, jigs, or in equipment loading and feeding mechanisms.
• Operate equipment at apropriate speed to ensure proper ink coverage, alignment, and registration.
• Monitor feeding, printing, and racking processes of presses in order to maintain specified operating levels and to detect malfunctions; make any necessary adjustments.
• Monitor stocks of materials such as paper, ink, and metal in order to maintain supplies during equipment operation.
• Remove printed materials from pad printing machinery, using and transport them to drying areas.
• Reposition cliches, and adjust machines to improve print quality, using machinery adjustments and tools.
• Clean and lubricate printing machinery and related components, using oil, solvents, brushes, rags, and other cleaning materials.
• Inspect and examine printed products for print clarity, color accuracy, conformance to specifications, and external defects.
• Maintain records of goods produced, supplies used, production costs, and machine maintenance and repair activities.
• Monitor and control operation of auxiliary equipment used to support pad printing production.
• Provide assistance in the design and layout of forms and materials to be printed.
• Requisition supplies, materials, and equipment, and receive stock when it arrives.
• Adjust printing inks, using specified modifiers and thinners.
• Maintains and provides production logs and reports as necessary.
• Assists in the design of new tooling or fixtures.
• May assist management in the training of production personnel.
• May be requested to help direct departmental work flow.
• Maintains cleanliness of work area and equipment.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities. Carries out conduct and leadership responsibilities in accordance with company policies, procedures, safety, and applicable laws.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three years related experience in a print production environment; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Must have good mechanical ability.

Language Skills

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and production schedules. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information to one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute production rate, scrap/yield ratio and percent, and to interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with production related situations and problems that may arise.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee must regularly lift/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or more 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes, toxic chemicals, and heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. Some independent travel may be required.