Lab Associate Jobs in Morganton, NC (NOW HIRING)

Our purpose at Avient Corporation is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world.

Innovation goes far beyond materials science; it's powered by the passion, creativity, and diverse expertise of 9,000 professionals worldwide. Whether you're a finance wizard, a tech enthusiast, an operational powerhouse, an HR changemaker, or a trailblazer in materials development, you'll find your place at Avient.

Join our global team and help shape the future with sustainable solutions that transform possibilities into realities. Your unique perspective could be the key to our next breakthrough!

We believe that all of our global employees are leaders and that the six most important behaviors for driving our strategy and culture are the same no matter if an employee is a leader of self, a leader of others, or a leader of the business.

By playing to win, acting customer centric, driving innovation and profitable growth, collaborating seamlessly across Avient, and motivating and inspiring and developing others and yourself you will accelerate your ability to achieve Avient's strategic goals, to meet our customer needs, and to accomplish your career goals.

At Avient, we believe a wide variety of thoughts, ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world.  In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person's qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.

Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran's status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to complete an online application, please contact the Avient HR Team by emailing, ApplicationAccommodation@Avient.com.

Job Summary
    Sets up and starts all machines, checking all controls for adherence to procedures. 
    Complies with all safety policies and procedures.
    Demonstrates teamwork in all phases of operation.
    Troubleshoots equipment and processing issues. 
    Examines materials visually in order to ensure conformance to established standards. 
    Operates machinery according to operating procedures.
    May take samples of materials to lab for evaluations and instructions.
    Refers issues/problems to lead/supervisor for disposition.
    Performs all required machine cleaning
    Completes and maintains all required computer inputs. 
    Responsible for data integrity.
    Documents work completed as required including logs, data reports, procedures, etc.
    Participates in training, retraining and continual improvement processes and methods.
    Maintains departmental housekeeping standards.
    Supports the vision, mission and guiding principles of the company.
    Follows all rules, laws and procedures related to HS&E, ISO and other regulations.
    Other projects/duties as assigned or needed.
Department specific job duties:
FRP 
    Responsible for understanding and acknowledging work orders and customer specs
    Responsible for retrieving all needed materials
    Responsible for inspecting, prep, and loading/ unloading creel materials
    Responsible for doffing and helping other operators doff
    Responsible for splicing yarns
    Perform line set up and start up procedures 
    Responsible for shutting down lines and clean up
    Make adjustments to equipment settings according to spec for each job
    Monitor processes, documenting and making adjustments as necessary
    Understand our ERP system and use it efficiently 
    Unload finished materials and perform first line inspections and provide samples to QA
    Responsible for keeping area clean and clear of safety hazards

Extrusion
    Responsible for understanding and acknowledging work orders and customer specs
    Responsible for line set up including tool changes, and line adjustments
    Responsible for retrieving all needed materials
    Responsible for using proper PPE when working inside the Hot Zones
    Understand our ERP system and use it efficiently 
    Responsible for doffs and helping other operators doff
    Collect samples, record sample data and provide samples to QA
    Responsible for inspecting finished goods before pack out 
    Using a forklift to pack out finished goods for shipping
    Inspect, prep and load material on payoff/ take-up systems
    Make adjustments to equipment settings according to spec for each job
    Monitor processes, documenting and making adjustments as necessary
    Unload finished materials and perform first line inspections and provide samples to QA

Coating
    Responsible for understanding and acknowledging work orders and customer specs
    Responsible for mixing resin to be used on line
    Perform process line set up and start up procedures, and shut down procedures
    Responsible for doffs and helping other operators doff
    Responsible for splicing yarn 
    Using a forklift to retrieve materials needed
    Make adjustments to equipment settings according to spec for each job
    Monitor processes and making adjustments as necessary
    Unload finished materials and perform pack out process for shipment
    Responsible for providing samples to QA
    Responsible for using our ERP system to pack out and make labels
Winding
    Responsible for understanding and acknowledging work orders and customer specs
    Responsible for performing mechanical changes to winder gears
    Responsible for inspecting, prepping, and loading/ unloading materials 
    Monitor process and make adjustments accordingly
    Perform yarn splicing 
    Perform quality checks using a tensile tester
    Unload finished materials and perform quality inspection before packing out 
    Responsible for pack out process including using our ERP system, weighing finished goods, and preparing boxes for shipment
Respool
    Responsible for correcting non-conforming reels of FRP, including sanding trash or scraping off parts of the reel
    Responsible for loading/ unloading pay offs and take-ups
    Responsible for achieving a leveled traverse
    Using forklifts and pallet jacks to move materials
    Responsible for inspecting and weighing reels before use 
    Perform quality inspections and provide samples for QA 
    Responsible for reporting scrap
    Responsible for preparing reels for shipment

Required Skill:
    Must be able to read/comprehend written and oral instructions in English; read and comprehend safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals and product recipes/materials.
    Must have mathematical skill to add, subtract, multiply and divide and to apply these skills to weights, measures of volume and distance.
    Must effectively communicate in writing and verbally in English.
    Competency in computer and PC software including email, internet, and MS office.
    Must have manual dexterity for hand tools of various types.
    Must be able to drive fork lift.
    Must have problem solving skills and some mechanical aptitude.
Required Education & Experience:
    US High School diploma or GED equivalency or equivalent experience
    1-3 years of industrial/manufacturing experience (preferred extrusion experience)
Additional Qualifications
    Must have mathematical skill to add, subtract, multiply and divide and to apply these skills to weights, measures of volume and distance.
    Must effectively communicate in writing and verbally in English.
    Competency in computer and PC software including email, internet, and MS office.
    Must have manual dexterity for hand tools of various types.
    Must be able to drive fork lift.
    Must have problem solving skills and some mechanical aptitude.