Printer Assistant

Printer Assistant
Location: Wigan, Lancashire, WN5 0LQ.
Salary £29,257
Contract: Full time, permanent.
Working hours: The site operates a 24/7 shift system spread over four-week pattern. A willingness to work a shift pattern covering days, nights and weekends is essential.
With a presence in 11 countries and over 10,000 employees, Saica Group manufacture sustainable recycled paper, corrugated cardboard and flexible packaging as well as providing solutions for waste management and the recovery of waste. Our Flex division produces a range of flexible plastic films, with our site in Wigan manufacturing products for major food retailers and suppliers.
We are currently looking for a Printer Assistant to join our team, to support the Lead Printer with the operation of flexographic print equipment. Reporting to the Process Manager, your key duties will include:
• Help set up and operate print machinery to optimmum levels in a safe working manner, ensuring that the machinery and surrounding area are maintained in line with required health, safety, environmental, hygiene and housekeeping standards. Ensure that all spills are logged and cleaned immediately. Operate in line with site health and safety, environmental and quality standards.
• Work in line with site standards for BRC, ISO & A2 environmental.
• Operate processes in line with lean manufacturing techniques including SMED and the 5S principles. When required, participate in continuous improvement initiatives within Production.
• Maintain press consumables to ensure a continuous supply including loading/offloading of master reels and loading/offloading of inks on the print press.
• Manage and operate the press in the absence of the Lead Printer, including rest breaks.
• Spot and report any non-conformities to the Lead Printer or Shift Manager and support resolution as required.
• Support the training of colleagues as and when required.
• When required, contribute to shift handovers to ensure a smooth transition and continuous production. As a matter of routine, ensure the press is in an appropriate operational condition and in the absence of the Lead Printer, make sure that the next shift has been briefed on where production is up to and any other relevant production issues.
• Assist with general cleaning and maintenance of print equipment.
• Work with colleagues in other areas e.g. Ink Technicians, Mounters etc. to maintain production standards.
• Display flexibility to support other areas of Production as and when required, including operating other machinery such as Conversion/Slitting machinery.
Skills, Qualifications & Attribute
• Part or fully trained Printer, preferably with flexographic experience
• Relevant Print NVQ Level 2 or 3 an advantage
• Good level of literacy and numeracy, preferably GCSE level in English and Maths
• Previous print experience, preferably flexographic with experience of solvent based inks
• Experience of Fischer Krecke 126S, 20SIX CS colour printers or BOBST printers an advantage
• Experience in Mounting would be an advantage
• Background in manufacturing, either label or packaging printing
• Exposure to Lean Six Sigma or other continuous improvement techniques an advantage
• Considerable exposure to quality, health, safety and environmental standards and practices within a production setting
What do we offer?
• Friendly atmosphere
• Progression
• Employee of the Month Award (monthly and annually)
• Holiday entitlement 21 days inclusive of Bank Holidays (increasing to 22 days after 2 years of continuous service)
• Company Sick Pay Scheme (available after 12 months of continuous service)
• Refer a Friend Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Eye test vouchers
• Free Tea/Coffee
Interested? If you have a can-do, will-do approach to join a hardworking, dynamic, passionate, manufacturing team, please send your CV today