Before each shift, our production supervisor schedules five different operators - one filler operator, three machine operators, and a relief operator - to work together on a beverage line. There are five different lines that weave through our plant, and we're trained on each.
Depending on the flavor we're running, it's my job to load the machines with the right containers and the appropriate lids or caps. Once the line is up and running, my focus shifts to more of an auditing role.
Long story short, I'm the person who makes sure no defects or problems pop up while the bottles and cans are being filled.
You could say I'm the eyes and ears of the beverage line.
Our day begins by checking the schedule to see what types of products we'll be running during our shift. If we're starting with 12-pack cans, for example, I'll load the line with cans and lids while our filler operator checks to make sure the right syrup line is attached to the filler.
There are several 5,000-gallon tanks in the syrup room with pipes leading to all the fillers. We use a touch-pad computer screen to select the syrup we need for a run and draw it into the filler.
If we're handling bottles, a forklift driver will actually carry the empty bottles over on a pallet and place them on the line. When I turn on the machine, the bottles are depalletized and carried on a conveyor to the filler.
After the line is up and running, we track the bottles and cans along the belt to make sure they aren't tipping over or falling off the line. That's the easy part.
Mechanical issues are another matter.
If one of the operators on my line spots a quality issue, we call our supervisor and notify him that there's a problem. If it's a machine breakdown or a problem with the conveyors, I will call in a mechanic. He's usually there within a minute or so.
After we've completed a run, there is a flavor changeover. So all the machine operators clear the line of the containers we were running and put the new cans or bottles on. We also have to replace the lids or caps.
It's a pretty fast-paced environment.
Everything around you seems to be in constant motion. But all that movement does seem to make the day go by faster. It's also nice to have someone around to back you up in case something slips by.
