Palletizer Operator Trainee

Title: Palletizer Operator Trainee

Location: Boardman, OR

Job Requisition ID: Req-260151

Time Type: Full time

About Lamb Weston

You’ve probably enjoyed our fries without even knowing it! As a leading manufacturer in our industry, and public Fortune 500 company, we inspire and bring people together with foods they love and trust. Our customer base includes international food service providers, restaurants, and households in over 100 countries around the world.

A highly innovative global corporation with a start-up mindset, we empower every individual to make a genuine difference. You’ll gain access to hands-on training to fuel your growth and success, explore opportunities for new solutions, and you’ll join a winning team of 10,000+ people all dedicated to raising the bar – together.

If you have a strong drive for results, a desire to help us bring the world together through our fries, and are ready for a fresh challenge, we want to hear from you.

Job Description Summary

Under the direction of the team leader, the palletizer operator is responsible to operate, monitor and adjust the palletizing equipment in a manner consistent with production needs and quality standards.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following, (other duties may be assigned): 
Maintains safe work practices at all times and participates in safety programs. 
Monitors line-flow rates: 
a. Regular checks for proper feed of cases through palletizers for maximum efficiency. 
b. Regular checks for proper feed of pallets through wrapper and manifest. 
Orders material (stretch wrap film) from storage as needed. 

Monitors palletizer:

a. Checks cases for Q.A. standards. 
b. Adjusts palletizer for different stack patterns. 
c. Supplies with slip sheets. 
d. Supplies stretch-wrap with film. 
e. Insure proper force to load for optimum stretch wrap performance. 
f. Maintains supply of pallets. (Must be able to operate hyster.) 
g. Reworks bad cases sent to the hand palletizing station. 

Monitors line sanitation: 
a. Keeps floors clean of debris. 
b. Insures all of packaging is clean and food safe. 

Ensures proper container sizing. 

Records packaging machinery efficiencies, downtime and fills out reports accurately and correctly.

Responsible for insuring complete package quality of product taking regular checks of seals, codes etc..

Troubleshoots equipment operation: 
a. Able to identify mechanical and electrical equipment problems and take action by 
notifying proper personnel. 
b. Operates equipment with minimum waste.

Reworks product in an expeditious manner reusing fiber when appropriate.

Gives other employees breaks as directed by the supervisor.

Instructs packaging laborers, general laborers and temporary employees where and how to work to insure efficient operation of the palletizing area as directed by the supervisor. 

Must be able to count and identify product and coordinate ticketing accurately.

Operates terminal keyboard for tickets printed: 
a) inbound/outbound bulk 
b) inbound dry storage materials 
c) waste product 
Prepares and monitors paperwork for the following: 
a) bay transfers 
b) rework 
c) blending 
d) waste reports 
e) bulk reports 
f) end of shift reports 
g) drivers' logs

Coordinates with lab personnel for proper dispositioning of held product. 

Frequently communicates with supervisors, leads, driver, tote room attendants, etc. 

Follow detailed instructions. 

Collects all necessary paperwork at end of shift and submits to warehouse for filing. 

Learn or have knowledge of lot #'s, catalog #'s, cut style, blending requirements and impacts. 

Ensures proper ticketing and coding of all product. 

Must be able to set priorities with minimal supervision. 

Gives breaks to fellow workers as directed by the supervisor. 

Will assist as needed in normal packaging duties such as rework and cleanup. 

May be required to work in cold temperatures for short periods of time. 

Capable of meeting functions of package laborer. 

Trains other potential palletizers.

Basic & Preferred Qualifications

Understands and can demonstrate approved procedures for: 

Manifesting 

• Demonstrate how to print out a rework report 
• Demonstrate how to look up a bulk code 
• Describe what each number on a case code represents 
• At what time do we separate one day from the next 
• Process of restricting product 
• Demonstrate how to void tickets 
• Demonstrate how to blend tickets 
• Demonstrate how to do a bay transfer 
• Inbound/Outbound manifesting of Product 
• Inbound/Outbound manifesting of dry supplies 
• Demonstrate how to print out a tote/pallet ticket 
• What should be observed when inspecting a pallet of cased product 
• How many cases are on each layer of a pallet on most products 

Understands and can demonstrate approved procedures for: 

• What are the parts of the Palletizer 
• What can cause a pallet jam 
• How do you clear out the palletizer 
• How do you correct the case counts 
• After clearing out a jam at the row pusher, what needs checked before starting up the palletizer 
• How do you manually operate the different functions of the palletizer 
• How do you clear out a pallet jam in the pallet dispenser 
• What do you look for when inspecting pallets for use 
• Demonstrate how to change programs on the Palletizer 
• Demonstrate how to manually operate the apron, hoist, and pushers 
• Locate the different photo eye on the palletizer and describe their function 
• After pushing a defective case to hand palletizing what should you do 
• A no line or case code selected error means what 
• Before unplugging the pallet discharge area what two things need to be locked out 
• Does the palletizers single line program enable a case count 

Wrapper: 

• What are the parts of the wrapper 
• How do you change a roll of shrink wrap 
• How do you star up the wrapper 
• How do you manually operate the rollers of the wrapper 

Auto manifest printer: 

• How do you start up the auto manifestor printer 
• Demonstrate how to thread the auto manifest printer 
• Demonstrate how to clean the print head and rollers 
• What do you do if the pallet does not move and the tamp did not apply the ticket 
• What do you do if the printer has a malfunction and is about to shut down the palletizer 
• What is the OPTO 22 
• What does it mean if the red beacon light on top of the OPTO 22 illuminates 

Auto manifest program:

• How do you start up the auto manifest program 
• How do you do a bay transfer 
• The auto manifest icons tell you what 
• Are there some icons which indicate you will need to restart the OPTO 22 
• Demonstrate how to set up the lines 
• Demonstrate how to restrict pallets 
• Demonstrate how to edit tickets 
• Demonstrate how to set the production time offset 
• Demonstrate how to switch from repack to lineflow 
• Demonstrate how to edit freezer bays in the auto manifest program 

General:

• Demonstrates ability to perform daily and/or weekend clean up procedures 
• Understands and demonstrates ability to work with chemicals 
• Completes checks and fills out required forms accurately 
• Maintains require job activity frequencies 
• Demonstrates ability to perform job functions independently and with minimal supervision  
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate with Team Leaders, Leads, Mechanics and other processing and packaging personnel 
• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: 

Previous experience isn’t required, but it would be helpful to be knowledgeable of the following: recordkeeping, computer usage, experience in the lab to fully understand quality, and proper and improper blending impacts.  

LANGUAGE SKILLS: 

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos in English.  Ability to write accurate information on simple forms in English.  Ability to effectively communicate information to co-workers and supervisors.  

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 percentage. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

The office location is in part of cold storage and the palletizing area. The working conditions may include, but not be limited to, extreme cold, dust, constant vibrating noise from the freezer, working in confined areas, and exposure to fumes from certain hysters.  

QUALIFICATION PERIOD: 

Not to exceed 35 shifts worked

Industry-Competitive Benefits

Coupled with our compensation and bonus incentive programs, our benefits deliver rewards that are market competitive.  Some of the most attractive elements of our benefit programs include:

• Health Insurance Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision

• Flexible Spending Accounts for Health and Dependent Care, and Health Reimbursement Accounts

• Well-being programs including companywide events and a wellness incentive program

• Paid Time Off

• Financial Wellness – Industry leading 401(k) plan with generous company contributions, Financial Planning Services, Employee Stock purchase program, and Health Savings Accounts, Life and Accident insurance

• Family-Friendly Employee events

• Employee Assistance Program services – mental health and other concierge type services

Benefits may vary based on location, job role/level, job status, and/or the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Anticipated Close Date

The anticipated close date is a good faith estimate for when this job will be closed. Some jobs may be unposted or filled earlier or later than the Anticipated Close Date depending on interview processes and business needs.

Anticipated Close Date: 03/28/2026

Pay Transparency

In compliance with applicable state and local laws, Lamb Weston has opted to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. This compensation is specific to this position and takes into account a number of variables. Actual compensation may be higher or lower in the range based on various factors, including, but not limited to a candidate's work location, job duties, experience and expertise. A reasonable hourly estimate for this role is listed below.

Pay Rate or Range: $25.91

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lamb Weston is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law