What are the responsibilities and job description for the Extruder Operator position at Senneca Holdings?
Introduction
At Senneca, we embrace the entrepreneurial spirit of the innovators that created our brands from traffic doors, to cold storage doors to fiberglass doors and beyond. We are committed to exceeding our customers’ expectations and to provide doors that offer safety and protection to our customers’ most important assets…people, products, capital investments and processes.
Overview
Senneca Holdings is a diversified specialty door manufacturer with six major production facilities throughout the United States. At Senneca, we embrace the entrepreneurial spirit of the innovators that created our brands from traffic doors, to cold storage doors to hollow metal frame doors and beyond. We are committed to exceeding our customers’ expectations and to provide doors that offer safety and protection to our customers’ most important assets… people, products, capital investments and processes. Our vision is to be a worldwide specialty door leader that differentiates itself by being a single point of contact for all customer door needs. Our production facility in Redmond, Oregon rotationally molds and assembles double acting traffic doors and extrudes flexible PVC roll goods and assembles PVC strip curtains.
Position Overview
The Extruder Operator is responsible for safely producing high-quality flexible PVC extrusions in a fast-paced, team-based manufacturing environment. This role is part of a three-person extrusion team operating across three 8-hour shifts in a 24/5 (Monday-Friday) operation. The successful candidate will be mechanically inclined, machine savvy, and motivated to learn extrusion operations through a hands-on training process.
This position offers a strong development path, with an expected training period of approximately 6 months to 1 year to become a fully trained operator. As skills/level of competence grows, so does the wage. Training will be provided by experienced operators with 20 years in extrusion.
Responsibilities
Machine Operation & Production
Physical Requirements
Required:
At Senneca, we embrace the entrepreneurial spirit of the innovators that created our brands from traffic doors, to cold storage doors to fiberglass doors and beyond. We are committed to exceeding our customers’ expectations and to provide doors that offer safety and protection to our customers’ most important assets…people, products, capital investments and processes.
Overview
Senneca Holdings is a diversified specialty door manufacturer with six major production facilities throughout the United States. At Senneca, we embrace the entrepreneurial spirit of the innovators that created our brands from traffic doors, to cold storage doors to hollow metal frame doors and beyond. We are committed to exceeding our customers’ expectations and to provide doors that offer safety and protection to our customers’ most important assets… people, products, capital investments and processes. Our vision is to be a worldwide specialty door leader that differentiates itself by being a single point of contact for all customer door needs. Our production facility in Redmond, Oregon rotationally molds and assembles double acting traffic doors and extrudes flexible PVC roll goods and assembles PVC strip curtains.
Position Overview
The Extruder Operator is responsible for safely producing high-quality flexible PVC extrusions in a fast-paced, team-based manufacturing environment. This role is part of a three-person extrusion team operating across three 8-hour shifts in a 24/5 (Monday-Friday) operation. The successful candidate will be mechanically inclined, machine savvy, and motivated to learn extrusion operations through a hands-on training process.
This position offers a strong development path, with an expected training period of approximately 6 months to 1 year to become a fully trained operator. As skills/level of competence grows, so does the wage. Training will be provided by experienced operators with 20 years in extrusion.
Responsibilities
Machine Operation & Production
- Operate Extruder as part of a team.
- Perform start‑ups, shut‑downs, and all required changeovers based on production needs.
- Validate and adjust machine settings to ensure correct, accurate, and consistent operation.
- Monitor extrusion process continuously to ensure safe, stable, and efficient operation.
- Perform raw material checks prior to and during production.
- Conduct in‑line quality inspections to ensure product meets specifications.
- Identify defects or process issues and take appropriate corrective actions.
- Ensure only good product is produced and packaged.
- Track operational performance metrics to ensure productivity and equipment efficiency.
- Accurately document machine settings, checks, and shift performance.
- Communicate clearly during shift hand‑offs, including machine status, quality concerns, and production priorities.
- Continuous Improvement & SMED (Single‑Minute Exchange of Die).
- Actively participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, and equipment efficiency.
- Support and apply SMED (Single‑Minute Exchange of Die) principles to reduce changeover and setup time on extrusion equipment.
- Follow standardized work instructions for changeovers, start‑ups, and shut‑downs to improve repeatability and consistency.
- Identify opportunities to improve setup efficiency, material handling, tooling readiness, and line changeover processes.
- Collaborate with teammates and experienced operators to refine best practices and implement process improvements.
- Provide input and feedback on what works well and where improvements can be made, especially related to reducing downtime and waste.
- Maintain a mindset of continuous learning, problem‑solving, and operational excellence.
- Perform routine operator‑level maintenance on extrusion equipment.
- Identify mechanical issues and escalate concerns as needed.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area.
- Work effectively as part of a three‑person extrusion team.
- Communicate clearly and respectfully with teammates within the shift and across shifts.
- Be open to feedback, coaching, and continuous improvement.
- Learn from experienced operators and apply constructive feedback.
- Participate in an on‑the‑job training program led by highly experienced extrusion operators.
- Demonstrate a willingness to learn, grow, and develop technical skills.
- Take ownership of learning equipment operation, troubleshooting, and best practices.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand and walk continuously throughout the shift.
- Ability to move up and down the extrusion line to monitor operations.
- Ability to perform all job duties safely while wearing required PPE.
- Follow all safety procedures, including PPE requirements, machine operating rules, and safe lifting techniques.
- Maintain a clean, organized workstation aligned with 5S principles.
- Identify and report safety hazards, equipment issues, or process risks promptly.
- Handle materials, tools, and machines with care to prevent injuries or product damage.
Required:
- Mechanical aptitude and comfort working with industrial equipment.
- Ability to work in a manufacturing environment for extended periods.
- Strong work ethic, reliability, and attention to detail.
- Ability to work well in a team environment.
- Willingness to learn and accept constructive feedback.
- Prior extrusion or plastics manufacturing experience.
- Experience with flexible PVC or similar materials.