Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.
Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you'll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.
We are seeking a Packaging Engineer for our First Quality facility located in Macon, GA.
This position is responsible for directing, developing, testing and evaluation of new and existing primary, secondary, pallet load and tertiary packaging systems to ensure compatibility of design, machinability, and shipping distribution. Collaborates with Marketing, Quality Assurance, Product Development, and Manufacturing to implement appropriate procedures for qualifying new package designs, incorporating product compatibility, functionality, performance, and low-cost easy manufacturing suitability, with emphasis on cost savings, quality, and marketability.
Primary responsibilities include:
- Solicits and applies feedback from internal and external customers; focused to respond promptly to customer needs and understand current and future expectations. Interacts with marketing, manufacturing, product development, equipment engineering, graphics, and shipping/transportation personnel to optimize package design, equipment requirements and development efforts.
- Support packaging automation equipment set-up, troubleshooting, good run settings and training. Experience with stacker/bagger, case packer, palletizer programming is a plus.
- Prototypes packaging and models using appropriate materials: flexible, corrugated, and folding carton manufacturing, plastic film and pressure sensitive labels, and other materials as appropriate.
- Develops and maintains documentation and communications for specifications database that supports package component specifications, pallet configurations, packaging procedures, and interdepartmental packaging processes to facilitate management of change for Package Development activities. Identifies materials of construction for primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging components and point of purchase displays. Assists in development of Bills of Materials, and cost analysis.
- Initiates cost reduction projects and cost avoidance opportunities that include packaging redesign initiatives, package component consolidation, and production line efficiencies.
- Accompanies sales and marketing personnel to meet with distributor management personnel concerning packaging or damage problems.
- Interviews suppliers of packaging materials and, in consort with purchasing manager, selects most appropriate materials for use.
- Attends professional activities and events to acquire and expand expertise to keep current and advise on emerging trends in packaging technologies, and environmental/ regulatory requirements.
- Consults with company's product liability counsel to determine any product liability impact of new designs.
- Prepare developmental prototypes and mock-ups for market presentation utilizing prototyping equipment.
- Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering or equivalent required.
- Three to five years' experience in consumer product packaging development and design required.
- Standard knowledge of CAD, Package design software like ArtiosCAD, MS Office, Excel, Access, Project, and ERP System (Data Works).
- Previous experience supporting high speed manufacturing packaging automation equipment: training troubleshooting and set-up reduction.
- Proficiency required in all areas of Packaging Engineering. Includes knowledge of flexible, corrugated, and folding carton manufacturing, plastics thermoforming, plastic film and laminations, pre-formed bags, pressure sensitive labels, printing techniques and processes, and artwork/graphics development interface. Trained in the use of measuring devices and techniques to analyze materials, components, shipping / test simulations. Able to apply, analyze and improve control processes.
- Ability to conduct initiatives that include packaging line trials, shipping/distribution testing, and ISTA/ASTM testing for new and existing products. Schedule, support and perform experimental trials and tests as required and document procedures and results.
- Ability to work in a cross-functionally team with procurement, technology, supply chain, product stewardship and other disciplines, as needed, to specify and qualify new package types to ensure successful New Product development launches.
- Provide technical support to maintenance and production operations by participating in troubleshooting and structured problem-solving events to reduce equipment downtime and continuous improvement projects.
- Conduct value analysis activities to identify and implement packaging material and structural changes to improve production and labor efficiencies.
- Work with Manufacturing Operations Personnel and Process Engineers to implement standard methods for work instructions, return to service protocols and equipment risk profiles.
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal. Communicates clearly and accurately with diverse groups within the company (Marketing, Graphics, QA, Product Development, Manufacturing, and Shipping/Distribution) and with external customers and suppliers.
- Excellent problem solving and analytical abilities. Ability to think on the fly and proactively apply and validate new learning's and adapts innovative techniques and breakthrough ideas.
We believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive:
- Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities
- Paid time off (three-week minimum)
- Medical, dental and vision starting day one
- 401(k) with employer match
- Paid parental leave
- Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)
- Bundle of joy benefit (year's worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)
- Tuition assistance
- Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums.
And more..........
First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data.
First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.
First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data.
First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.