Process Engineer - Paper Machines

Smurfit Westrock

Hodge, LA

Estimated pay: Est. $17–$27/hr (market estimate, not employer-stated)

Shift: Full time

**The Opportunity:**

The Manufacturing Process Engineer, Paper Machines, supports the Paper Machines operations by safely improving processes and supporting the development, and implementation of new and/or existing projects. This role is a technical professional who safely analyzes, implements, and optimizes processes used to continuously improve production and process operations. The services include data collecting, data analysis, reporting, field trouble shooting, developing and modifying procedures, supporting operations management while demonstrating safety leadership and a quality mindset. This role is expected to safely lead continuous improvement projects, mill initiatives and other tasks needed to improve paper machine operations and reliability. This role reports directly to the Paper Machine Superintendent.

**Primary accountabilities:**

• **Process Design & Development:** Support and oversee Paper Machine projects and implementation while leading efforts in improving our existing Paper Machine processes to safely enhance productivity and efficiency within the organization.
• **Process Optimization:** Analyzing existing processes to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement with a focus on providing solutions, increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and improving product quality.
• **Troubleshooting:** Acting as the primary technical support for Paper Machine areas. Diagnosing and resolving problems, improving reliability in real-time. Analyze existing workflows and identify areas for improvement, recommending changes to minimize bottlenecks and streamline operations.
• **Continuous Improvement:** Identifying inefficiencies, bottlenecks using analytical data and problem-solving skills to develop and implement solutions that enhance process reliability. A proactive approach to monitoring process performance and leveraging data driven insight while optimizing operations for sustained organizational growth.
• **Documentation:** Creating, modifying, and maintaining critical process documentation, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Emergency Operating Procedures (EOP), and standard work instructions.
• **Compliance:** Working with safety, environmental and quality to ensure all processes meet company standards and government regulations.
• **Project Management:** Developing, leading, and improving new projects, process upgrades, new equipment installations and providing technical and training support for each project.
• **Daily Management System:** Monitor the performance of processes, using metrics and KPIs to assess their effectiveness and proactively manage continuous improvement daily. Collaborate with the Paper Machnines Assistant Superintendents and team members to ensure systems are aligned with process standards while optimizing process improvement initiatives.

**KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS REQUIRED**

**Technical**

• **Data Analysis:** Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret PPR process data while utilizing data analysis tools, e.g., Pi, Fishbone, 5 Whys, Six Sigma concepts and Excel, Word, PowerPoint for reporting.
• **Problem Solving:** Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to address safety and environmental compliance, improve quality, and innovate practical solutions to achieve production goals and reliability.

• **Project Management:** Strong project management skills for overseeing safety, environmental, quality and production initiatives.

• **Workflow Optimization:** Streamline the operations by identifying bottlenecks and providing support while implementing strategic solutions. Leveraging data-driven insights to improve safety, environmental and quality compliance while enhancing productivity and further reducing operational costs.
• **Cross-Functional Team Leadership:** Partner with teams from diverse departments and align project goals with organizational objectives. Communication and conflict resolution skills are essential to bridge gaps between varying functional perspectives, driving project success and operating efficiency.
• **Continuous Improvement:** Identifying inefficiencies and bottlenecks, process troubleshooting by use of analytical data and problem-solving skills to design and implement solutions that enhance process reliability. A proactive approach to monitoring process performance and leveraging data-driven insights ensures iterative refinement and optimization of operations for sustained organizational growth.
• **Process Mapping:** Creating detailed visual representations of workflows to identify PPR inefficiencies, bottlenecks and proactively facilitating operational process improvements.

**Interpersonal**

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• **Safety Mindset:** Demonstrates safety as a core value with an unwavering commitment to colleagues and his or her own personal safety.
• **High Energy & Driven:** Drives operational excellence by crafting seamless, efficient, and sustainable production systems demonstrating grit, persever