Position Summary
Reporting to the Plant Manager, the Automation and Project Specialist participates in the planning, coordination, and execution of projects aimed at improving manufacturing processes, equipment, and plant infrastructure, while also overseeing the Maintenance Department. The position contributes to the implementation of new technologies, continuous process improvement, and the development of technical solutions that meet business needs, and ensures the plant's maintenance function supports reliable, safe, and efficient operations.
Key Responsibilities
Project & Process Improvement
- Plan, coordinate, and execute investment, improvement, and modernization projects for production equipment, including setup, and commissioning of automated lines, robotic cells, cobots, AGVs, and AMRs.
- Monitor all project phases from needs identification through commissioning, including action plans, timelines, costs, purchases, and deliveries.
- Collaborate with suppliers, contractors, and internal stakeholders; prepare technical specifications and requests for proposals, and evaluate proposed solutions.
- Participate in testing, startup, and validation of new equipment and installations, ensuring alignment with operational, quality, health and safety, and company standards.
- Analyze manufacturing processes and production indicators (yield, quality, waste, OEE) to identify and implement improvement opportunities.
- Support Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, and other continuous improvement initiatives.
Automation & Controls
- Implement IoT data collection methods (OPC UA, MQTT, PLC data logging) to capture and analyze real-time data from machine sensors, PLCs, and robotic controllers, applying PLC optimizations and scripting to track cycle times, monitor asset health, support predictive maintenance, and reduce downtime as automation scales.
- Provide technical support to production, maintenance, and quality teams, including diagnosing equipment or process issues, developing and updating work procedures, and supporting trials involving new products, materials, or equipment.
- Read electrical schematics, wire control panels, and diagnose servo drive and controller faults on robotic, AGV/AMR, and automated line equipment.
- Program and modify PLC logic (Allen-Bradley Studio 5000 or Siemens TIA Portal) to integrate robotic systems, AGVs/AMRs, and conveyors.
- Apply foundational Python or C++ scripting to interface with robotic systems, vision systems, and other automated equipment.
- Maintain, back up, and version-control PLC, HMI, and robot controller programs.
- Integrate PLCs, robotic controllers, AGVs/AMRs, and plant systems (MES/ERP) using APIs and industrial communication protocols (e.g., OPC UA, Ethernet/IP, Modbus, REST).
- Act as the technical bridge between electrical/electronics, software, and mechanical equipment to ensure automation systems are integrated end-to-end.
Compliance & Safety
- Ensure compliance with BRCGS, ISO, regulatory requirements, and customer audit expectations; promote a strong safety culture around high-temperature and high-pressure equipment.
- Respect occupational health and safety policies and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), report risks, promote cross-department collaboration, and demonstrate curiosity, diligence, and a learning-oriented mindset.
Maintenance Department Oversight
- Oversee and lead the Maintenance Department, including day-to-day supervision, scheduling, and performance management of maintenance staff.
- Develop and manage preventive and predictive maintenance programs to maximize equipment uptime and reliability.
- Prioritize and coordinate maintenance work orders, balancing planned maintenance with breakdown response and production schedules.
- Manage maintenance spare parts inventory, procurement, and vendor relationships to ensure critical parts availability.
- Track maintenance KPIs (downtime, MTTR, MTBF, PM compliance) and report on department performance and improvement plans.
- Mentor and develop maintenance technicians, ensuring skills and training keep pace with increasing automation and controls complexity.
- Ensure maintenance activities are performed safely and in compliance with occupational health and safety, GMP, and food safety requirements.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications – Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree or Diploma in Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics, or a related discipline.
- Two or more years of experience in a manufacturing environment, with a strong understanding of automated equipment, systems, and production processes.
- Prior experience supervising or leading a maintenance team or department is required.
- Demonstrated skill in project management, process optimization, and continuous improvement, with proficiency in ERP systems, production planning tools, and data analysis.
- Knowledge of plastic film extrusion or plastics processing, Lean Manufacturing principles, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and SQF program requirements is an asset.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with strong organizational skills, autonomy, and initiative.
- Demonstrated leadership, communication, coaching, and teamwork abilities, with a proven capacity to build positive working relationships across all levels of the organization.
- Strong safety mindset and dedication to maintaining a safe work environment through adherence to established health and safety standards and best practices.
- Hands-on experience interpreting electrical schematics, troubleshooting 24VDC/120VAC control loops, and configuring servo drives is an asset.
- Practical experience programming or troubleshooting Allen-Bradley (Logix) or Siemens PLCs is an asset.
- Basic scripting skills in Python or C++ for data handling, sensor communication, or hardware interaction is an asset.
- Knowledge of API integration and industrial communication protocols (OPC UA, Ethernet/IP, Modbus, REST) is an asset.
- Experience backing up, versioning, and restoring PLC and robot controller programs is an asset.
- Comfortable working across electrical, software, and mechanical disciplines as a cross-functional technical resource.
Work Location: In person
