5005 Automation Controls Technician 1 (Day Shift)

Work Schedule:  6:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Mon - Fri, alternate Saturday's (could be more frequent depending on business needs)

Summary

The Automation Technician will perform typical to advanced programming, troubleshooting, calibration and optimization on electrical, mechanical and pneumatic systems. The skill level for this position requires an individual to work independently on complicated equipment and systems with minimal instruction and direction.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Position reports to the Automation Engineering Manager with the opportunity to work closely with Engineers in the development and implementation of new systems and upgrades.
• Aide in improved troubleshooting and error response of plant equipment.
• Modify process systems to improve efficiency, alarming and traceability.
• Ability to specify, install, calibrate and troubleshoot the following: transmitters, sensors, meters, valves, process systems and new/adopted technology. 
• Provide electrical and instrumentation support to ensure safe and effective production. 
• Develops and generates proper documentation for all facets of work duties.
• Maintains appropriate computerized and paper files on pertinent information.
• Maintains areas of operation in a safe and sanitary manner. Determines that established safety rules, Company policy and good housekeeping are followed.

Other Duties

• This role may require additional duties and/or assignments as designated by management
• Occasionally drives own or company vehicle in performance of some job duties.
• Participates in training, employee meetings, committees, project teams, etc. as appropriate.
• Receives written and verbal instructions on the above job tasks and performs other duties as directed by Supervisor

 Supervisory Responsibilities

• None

Machines, Equipment, Tools Used

• Personal computer, standard office equipment, own or company vehicle.

Physical Demands

• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with the fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make find discriminations in sound.
• Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.
• The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures: transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication of parts at distances close to the eyes.

Work Environment

• Office, plant, and shop conditions as well as occasional but often lengthy exposure to outside conditions. Long work days and workweeks required. Access to certain confidential data.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Technical Associates Degree or 5+ years of experience troubleshooting HMI/PLC control systems and evaluating/modifying programming and devices
• Superior troubleshooting ability
• Allen Bradley, Logix 5000, Studio 5000
• Ignition software
• Automatic Control Systems
• Closed Loop Systems
• Controller Feedback and Configuration
• Loop Tuning Analysis 
• Digital Systems within process environments 
• Knowledge of continuity, current, voltage and resistance
• Proficiency in reading blueprints, electrical schematics and P&IDs
• Maintain instrument as-built documentation Basic Measurements
• Ability to work with minimal instruction

Progression Plan

Satisfactory demonstration of Knowledge and Theory, Installation and Specifying, Calibration and Troubleshooting of the following will place the technician in respected Progression Level. 

In the event new technology is adopted or level structure is modified, the technician will receive a 6 month notice of change(s) being implemented. The technician will receive a 12 month period to demonstrate the required skills of the modified level after the 6 month notice. If the technician is unable to demonstrate the required skills at the end of the 18 month period, the technician will be moved into the next lowest level which includes pay reduction. Once the required skills are satisfactorily demonstrated, the technician will advance to the next highest level and respected pay increase.

Level 1 Process Control Operations

• Basic Measurements
• Automatic Control Systems
• Closed Loop Systems
• Controller Feedback and Configuration
• Loop Tuning Analysis

Level 2 Instrumentation Calibration and Analytical Instrumentation

• Configure and Calibrate transmitters, controllers, valves, positioners, sensors, meters, etc.
• pH, Conductivity, Brix, etc. Measurements 

Level 3 Programmable Logic, Distributed Control and Digital Measurement

• Digital Systems within process environments
• Measurement of control instrumentation through serial and parallel transfers

Level 4 Fieldbus Process Control Systems

• SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) 
• Multi-Drop communication systems
• Facility Focused Process Control
• New/Adopted Technology