Maintenance

Position Overview

The Dairy Industrial Maintenance Mechanic is responsible for repairing and maintaining mechanical, electrical, air, and hydraulic systems on processing, filling, blow-molding, and material handling equipment. This includes troubleshooting malfunctions, replacing defective parts, performing adjustments, welding repairs, and ensuring proper operation of plant systems such as boilers, refrigeration, and hydraulics while completing required documentation.

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Key Responsibilities

•    Repairs and maintains mechanical, air, electrical and hydraulic components of various equipment such as processing, blow-molding, filling, and material handling equipment, following blueprints, wiring diagrams and specifications, and using hand tools, power tools, welders, and precision measuring instruments.

•    Visually inspects and listens to machines and equipment to locate causes of malfunctions. 

•    Dismantle machines and equipment to gain access to problem area, using hand tools and power tools. Inspects and measures parts to detect wear, misalignment, or other problems. 

•    Removes and replaces worn or defective parts of drive mechanism or hydraulic system, using hand tools and power tools, and following blueprints, diagram, and service manuals. 

•    Re-aligns and adjusts components, such as spindles and clutches, using hand tools and following diagrams.  

•    Locates damaged air and hydraulic pipes on machine, and measures, cuts, threads, and installs new pipe. 

•    Starts machines and equipment to test operation following repair. 

•    Repairs broken parts, using brazing, soldering, and welding equipment and hand tools. 

•    May modify computer-controlled functions on various equipment. 

•    Will be required to work with and understand boilers, refrigeration, hydraulic, air, electrical, and other systems in the plant. 

•    Will be filling out written reports.

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Required Qualifications 

•    High school diploma, or equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications 

•    Experience in Heli-Arc welding.

•    Experience in Programmable Logic Control.

•    Familiarity with ammonia systems used for refrigeration, boilers, and air compressors.

•    Food production maintenance. 

Required Skills/Abilities: 

•    Mechanical: must be able to troubleshoot and repair mechanical equipment used for production.

•    Welding: must be able to perform welding repairs on production equipment as needed.

•    Electrical: Must be able to troubleshoot electrical systems and controls for single and three phase services.

•    Basic math knowledge.

•    Must be able to use a measuring tape.

•    Basic knowledge of hand tools.

•    Must be able to follow blueprint, wiring diagrams, and service manuals.

Required Soft Skills:

•    Must be able to follow both verbal and written instructions.

•    Coachable and willing to learn.

•    Strong verbal and written communication skills.

•    Ability to work without direct supervision.

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Competency

•    Analytical skills for data interpretation.

•    Strategic thinking to develop reports. 

•    Strong communication skills for collaborating with various personnel. 

________________________________________Working Conditions

•    Must be able to work in both very hot (more than 100 degrees) and very cold (20 degrees below zero) and in a very wet and humid environment for extended periods of time. 

•    Must be able to bend, crawl, climb, squat, and work at times both above the head and at ground level during repair and maintenance operations. Must keep work area safe and clean and work in a safe and efficient manner.

•    May require overtime hours. 

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About Prairie Farms – “Farmer Owned. Locally Produced. Since 1938.”

We are a farmer-owned cooperative. This means we are owned and operated by over 800+ farm families who are critical members of society. They have selflessly taken on the tremendous task of producing nutritious, high-quality milk for a growing population, which requires being on the job 24/7, 365 days a year.

We have represented American agriculture since our founding in 1938. Many of our dairy farms a