| Location | Spokane Valley, WA |
| Salary | $21–$38 Per Hour |
Set-Up Technician
Department: Mill Operations
Location:
Mercer Spokane
Published: Posted 3 hours ago Wage Scale: $21.00 - $38.00 USD
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Job description:
Who we are. At Mercer Mass Timber we are exceptional people making mass timber for a more sustainable world. We are North America's largest Mass Timber Manufacturer, with facilities in Penticton, British Columbia, Spokane Valley, WA, and Conway, Arkansas with a combined annual production capacity of over 255,000 cubic metres of mass timber. MMT is part of Mercer International, a leading forest products company who is one of the world's largest market pulp producers and operates the world's largest sawmill. Mercer has operations in Canada, Germany, and the United States. What we believe. We believe that a culture of diversity and inclusion is critical in making the best decisions for our people and achieving sustainable business success. Together, we encourage, support, and celebrate the diverse voices of our employees. We strive to provide an inclusive culture by fostering an environment of mutual respect, fairness, and by providing opportunities to contribute and grow. The Set Up Technician role serves as the work center owner and primary operator for our planing operations. This position is responsible for the safe and efficient setup of the finger joint machine and planers to ensure accurate and consistent finger joints for optimal lumber joining. The Set Up Technician is expected to personally operate, set up, troubleshoot, optimize, and maintain planing and sizing equipment while developing operating standards and training operators. The role continuously monitors planer quality and finger joints; making sure they are uniform, aligned, and secure. Additionally, the Set Up Technician owns equipment performance, dimensional quality, surface finish quality, tooling management, uptime, throughput, and continuous improvement within the work center. This is an on-site position at our Spokane facility. Responsibilities
Operate and maintain planers, sizing equipment, material handling systems, and associated production equipment. Inspect the machines for damage or wear and clean the machine and work area. Carefully mount the cutter heads onto the machine spindle, following OEM instructions. Perform planer knife changes, cutter head setup, and machine adjustments required to maintain product specifications. Inspect planer knives and tooling for wear, damage, and performance degradation. Perform planer knife grinding, sharpening, balancing, and maintenance activities in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and company standards. Manage knife inventory, replacement schedules, and tooling change records to ensure continuous production readiness. Establish and maintain tooling standards to optimize surface quality, dimensional consistency, equipment uptime, and production efficiency. Calibrate the glue ratio and document the calibration in the log book. Set the width on the assembly, side rolls, crowder, RF tunnels, and the flying saw. Use a profile gauge and measuring tools to verify the cutter head profile and finger joint dimensions. Make necessary adjustments to the cutter heads, fence, or feed system to achieve the desired profile and dimensions. Troubleshoot planer-related quality issues, including dimensional variation, surface finish defects, tear-out, adhesive bonding issues, and tooling performance concerns. Lead machine setup, startups, shutdowns, changeovers, and production troubleshooting activities. Coordinate with Production, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering teams to improve equipment performance and process reliability. Perform routine inspections, preventative maintenance activities, and equipment condition assessments. Maintain records of setup parameters, cutter head maintenance, machine malfunctions, downtime, quality, and finger joint measurements. Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, and waste reduction. Ensure compliance with all safety procedures, including LOTO, machine guarding, and PPE requirements. Incorporate the 6S methodology (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain, Safety) to enhance efficiency, safety, and workplace organization. Perform other duties as assigned. Ensure machinery is shut down at the end of each shift and cleaning is done, daily Following safety procedures, PPE requirements, and Lock Out Tag Out protocols Completing "Take 10" safety reviews before performing unfamiliar tasks Locating SDS information when working with chemicals Continuous communication with up- and down-stream operators Work cooperatively with management and co-workers to achieve all safety, quality, and production goals set for the work environment Disposing of waste and emptying garbage bins Cleaning machinery, floors, tools, carts, and common areas daily Other duties as assigned
Qualifications and Experience
Minimum 2 years of manufacturing, lumber, wood products, engineered wood products, or industrial production experience. Demonstrated experience operating, setting up, and troubleshooting industrial manufacturing equipment. Experience operating planers and sizing equipment, including planer setup, knife changes, tooling maintenance, and production troubleshooting. Experience performing planer knife grinding, sharpening, balancing, and cutter head maintenance. Demonstrated knowledge of Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures and the ability to clearly articulate safety protocols. Familiarity with lumber sizes, species, and grades. Strong mechanical aptitude and advanced problem-solving skills. Basic knowledge of computer and human-machine interface (HMI) operation. Ability to read and interpret technical documents, work instructions, and production specifications. Strong factory communication skills, specifically maintaining crucial communication between the FJ operator, CLT infeed operator, Press operator, Maintenance, and Quality Control. Ability to stand for long periods, climb stairs and ladders without assistance, and lift up to 50 lbs unassisted. Strong commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement. Ability to work flexible schedules, overtime, and shift work as required.
Benefits
The base hourly range for this position is $21 to $38 (USD) and will be commensurate with your education and experience. Our group benefits package includes extended health and dental benefits. 401(k) retirement savings plan
Application Process We look forward to receiving your resume with a cover letter by email to careers.mmt@mercerint.com. Please include your name and the job title you are applying for in the subject line. The competition will remain open until we find the right candidate to join our team. Please note that relocation assistance will not be available. We thank all applicants for considering a career with us, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. For more information, please visit our website: www.mercerint.com.
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