Automation Controls Specialist

Foremost Farms USA is a world-class supplier of cheese, dairy products and ingredients to national and international markets. We offer innovative solutions, technical services and customized products, ingredients and packaging for our foodservice, food processing, distributor and pharmaceutical customers.

This position is responsible for plant floor controls programming, data collection and integration of plant floor equipment with components of manufacturing execution and enterprise resource planning systems at assigned locations, in accordance with company policies and procedures.

* Supporting controls projects, improving equipment uptime and training maintenance PLC technicians. * Assisting plant maintenance PLC techs in troubleshooting controls projects, programming standardization and change control. * Process improvements and outside integrator oversight at assigned plants. * Reviewing existing and future PLC, HMI and SCADA programming code for adherence to approved standards and assisting continued improvements of controls standard. * Assisting engineering and plant personnel in scope of work definition, equipment specification, quote development and integration management for all controls related projects at assigned plants. * Analyzing and developing control enhancement opportunities that create verifiable process/packaging improvements (ROI). * Standardizing solutions across plants. * Writing and maintaining functional and technical specifications, scope of work, controls project budgets, and training material as required. * Maintaining plant electrical schematics, I/O drawings, network and cabinet layouts. * Developing and maintaining control narratives as required. * Providing fact-based analysis/recommendations. * Providing coaching and training to key plant personnel (operators) on running control systems as developed. * Providing field commissioning and ongoing support and assistance for controls applications. * Providing technical assistance by responding to inquiries regarding errors, problems or questions with program. * Writing and maintaining documentation to describe installation and operating procedures * Working with contracted integrators in developing applications or installing new plant hardware/software solutions while monitoring compliance with standards. * Regular and punctual attendance and physical presence in the workplace. * Timely and accurate completion of duties. * Frequent travel for work, up to 66% of the time.

**Required Competencies:** * **Computer Skills:** Ability to operate all information technology related business systems, programs and applications in a manner that achieves efficiency, accuracy, and relevancy of information processing and reporting as it applies to this position. * **Language Skills:** Ability to read and interpret documents such as dictated letters or memoranda, invoices, company policies and various documentation, paying particular attention to grammar. Ability to process routine reports and correspondences. Ability to build effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders and communicate effectively with employees, vendors and others. * **Mathematical Skills:** Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, area and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra. Ability to understand and apply basic applications of physics as relates to industrial dairy processing applications * **Reasoning Ability:** Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. **Other Skills & Abilities:** * Requires the ability to operate a variety of standard business machines. * Must have the ability to drive a motor vehicle, and maintaining a valid driver's license. * Must be able to understand plant process/packaging controls and how this technology supports the operational and business needs. * Must have a sound working knowledge of Allen Bradley PLCs and PanelViews and related networks (Ethernet, Remote I/O, DeviceNet, ControlNet, DH+, etc.). Must have a sound working knowledge of GE Proficy iFix and Historian software. * Must have a sound working knowledge of instrumentation and related electrical components including calibration of instruments. AutoCad knowledge is preferred. * Must be able to stay abreast of Foremost-specific manufacturing initiatives/techniques/direction and controls technologies and architectures. * Must have the ability to read, analyze, and interpret electrical and hydraulic schematics, piping and instruments diagrams (P&ID) and building blueprints. * Must have a good understanding of a dairy process manufacturing environment is essential to this position. * Requires knowledge of plant floor data collection concepts and tools. * Requires knowledge of relational database technology. * Must be able to independently manage projects and carry them through to completion. **Physical Demands/Work Environment:** * **Physical Demands -** Employee is continuously (more than 67 to 100%% of time) required to: use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls, sit; to verbally communicate; and to hear. The employee is occasionally (up to 33% of the time) required to walk and stand. The employee must occasionally (up to 33% of the time) lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. * **Work Environment -** The employee is frequently exposed to risk of electrical shock, moving mechanical parts, wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles. The noise level is usually moderate. * **Protective Equipment -** This position may need personal protective equipment that is appropriate for the job being performed, such as hearing protection, food safety clothing and other. **Education & Experience:** * This position requires a Bachelor Degree in electrical engineering or related field of study, knowledge of equivalent electrical education and controls integration experience in RSLogix 5, RSLogix 500, ContolLogix 5000,RSNetworx, Panel View and GE Proficy iFix design, programming, setup and field commissioning knowledge and two to four years of control integration experience.