Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTI) is a leading, technology-driven specialty minerals company that develops, produces, and markets a broad range of mineral and mineral-based products, related systems and services. MTI serves a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including household and personal care, paper, foundry, steel, construction and environmental solutions around the world. The company reported global sales of $2.1 billion in 2024. 

MTI focuses on two major segments – Consumer & Specialties and Engineered Solutions. 

Our Consumer & Specialties segment includes our Household & Personal Care and Specialty Additives product lines.

Our Engineered Solutions segment includes our High-Temperature Technologies and Environmental & Infrastructure product lines. 

MTI is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work environment for all employees. In our offices around the world, our differences are respected and valued as essential to MTI’s continued growth and innovation. Our goal is to ensure that all employees at MTI experience our workplace as a welcoming and respectful environment where they can achieve their full potential.

What We Offer:

• Competitive pay, commensurate with experience
• Health/Dental/Vision plans
• 401k company match
• Life Insurance
• Short Term Disability & Long-Term Disability
• Educational Assistance
• Employee Assistance Plan

Position: Production Technician 

Location: Lucerne Valley, CA

Compensation: $23.21 - $25.45 per hour

Summary:

The basic purpose of this position is to produce product for customers, load trucks to transport material to customers, and check specifications to ensure quality product.    The Production Tech position is a continuum beginning at Production Tech 1 and progressing through Production Tech 4 as skills are gained.  Level is determined through the use of training checklists and the accumulation of points as skills are gained.  Employees may be assigned to perform any task for which they have been qualified.  Employees may also be assigned to positions for which they are working to become qualified as a portion of the training process.  The duties for all grandfathered mill production positions also fall within the scope of this job description. 

Note: Management reserves the right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Major Duties & Responsibilities (Refer to Skill Certification list for details of required duties at each Tech level.)

Workstation Requirements

• Follows established procedures for set-up, start-up and shut down of all equipment.
• Performs visual inspection and completes pre-shift safety inspections as required by MSHA.
• Completes MSHA required paperwork as it applies to each piece of equipment.

Quality Assurance

• Enters quality data into company established computer systems.
• Processes Certificates of Analysis from company established computer systems.
• Performs sampling and collection on products according to established standard operating procedures.
• Uses a variety of laboratory equipment to perform physical tests on finished products according to customer specifications.
• Collects and analyzes data statistically.

Mill Feed Circuits

• Produces pebble mill feed and Raymond mill feed according to established standard operating procedures, adjusting as necessary to meet customer specifications.

Bulk Truck Loading

• Loads bulk trucks with product incorporating knowledge of appropriate loadout locations, spouts, scales, etc. and following established standard work specifications and customer shipping requirements.
• Uses company established computer systems to appropriately load bulk products into bulk trucks and railcars.
• Communicates effectively with truck drivers regarding loading procedures, including truck placement, axle requirements, etc.

Production

• Monitors various production circuits and equipment to produce a variety of finished products meeting customer specifications.
• Performs product changeovers as required.
• Locates appropriate product tanks and products and samples materials.
• Troubleshoots and performs maintenance on equipment as required.

Packaging

• Operates a variety of Packers, adjusting as necessary to maintain proper bag weights.
• Packages, labels, stretch wraps, and shrinkwraps products using a variety of equipment and computer systems to meet customer specifications.
• Follows established packaging procedures to verify packaging scales once per shift.
• Follows established procedures for sampling products per quality standard.

Shipping

• Uses company established computer systems to ship product and process shipping paperwork (short bills, long forms, bills of lading, etc.)
• Loads packaged products onto trucks using specific loading configuration patterns and customer requirements.
• Loads products into railcars according to established standard work procedures and customer requirements.
• Ships material according to customer specifications, ensuring all required shipping paperwork is completed accurately.
• Unloads and stores packaging materials according to established safety and standard work specifications.

Trackmobile

• Operates track mobile according to established standard work specifications to move railcars as required, incorporating knowledge of plant traffic flow, speed, inspection, loading, sealing, movement, weight, shutdown, parking, and breakdown requirements.
• Communicates with and acts as spotter for rail movement using established communication systems.

Vacuum Truck                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

• Understands vacuuming locations and requirements for connecting hoses and engaging controls in a variety of areas.
• Performs vacuuming operation of equipment following established standard work specifications.
• Dumps material in designated areas and according to established standard work specifications.
• Schedules servicing, performs minor repairs, and maintains cleanliness of equipment.
• Understands and uses plant communication systems as required.
• Completes daily logbook entries.
• Refuels equipment and returns equipment to designated parking area.

Skid Steer

• Operates skid steer according to established standard work specifications incorporating knowledge of operating capacities and limits (weight, clearance height), plant traffic flow, speed, dumping procedures, shutdown, parking, and breakdown requirements.

Oracle Order Management Shipping

• Enters shipment data in company established computer systems, incorporating knowledge of shipping order information and special instructions to accurately perform data entry.

OE/Lean

• Actively participates in the implementation of sustainable improvement processes, such as 5S, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Daily Management Control, Standard Work and Problem Solving.

Miscellaneous

• Records pertinent labor and/or production information from work shift.
• Completes safety inspection sheets for work areas.
• Completes work requests and production data in company established computer systems.
• Communicates issues/status with next shift.
• Takes and records fuel usage as required.
• Assists maintenance staff with repairs of equipment as needed.
• Trains other employees as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Position Demands

The requirements listed in the sections that follow are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required to perform the duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions (primary duties) of the job.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: Knowledge of basic math and the English language are required.  Prior knowledge of mechanical/electrical applications, clerical procedures, manufacturing/production processes, shipping/receiving, computers, commercial motor vehicles, and hazardous materials is preferred.

While performing the duties of this job, an employee is typically required to have the ability to exert physical strength continuously throughout the work shift, coordinate movements, use repetitive motions, lift materials weighing up to and including 50 pounds, sit, stand, walk, bend, squat, reach, twist, lift, climb, push and pull throughout a work shift, have the ability to operate mobile equipment, select and use appropriate equipment/tools to accomplish job duties, read, write, listen, speak and understand English, follow all instructions and other oral/written information, visually inspect equipment/work area/product, complete paperwork/labeling and other documentation accurately, use judgment to identify, analyze, troubleshoot, and solve equipment/work area/product issues, communicate effectively with others, record labor distribution and/or production information from the work shift in writing and on a personal computer, perform basic mathematical calculations, be aware of oneself in relation to surrounding equipment, work independently and as a team with others, use, monitor and adjust equipment and related processes, keep pace with equipment/machinery, and react quickly to equipment/product issues.  The ability to effectively instruct/transfer job information/knowledge to others as needed is preferred.

Being under general supervision, the employee is expected to be self-directed and take initiative when appropriate to accomplish necessary duties and keep busy without prompting from the supervisor or coordinator.  Additionally, the employee is expected to be adaptable/flexible to changing work assignments, perform multiple tasks at once, have a high level of integrity, dependability and self control to maintain composure, learn and memorize procedures, prioritize work and be persistent as needed, manage time effectively and efficiently, meet established deadlines, display a cooperative attitude, read, understand and follow all company, job specific and safety policies/procedures, and attend/use all required training.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent required.

Experience: Prior experience is not required.  However, it is preferred.

Work Hours: Must have ability to work the shift/number of hours in which duties need to be accomplished, including overtime, holidays and weekends, as necessary.

Working Conditions: While performing the duties of this job, an employee is typically exposed to very hot or cool temperatures, outside weather conditions, dust, loud noise, very low and/or bright light and hazardous materials.  Works alone and as part of a team working in close proximity to others, and works in close proximity with equipment. At times, employee may be exposed to high places.

Safety Equipment: Safety equipment typically required while performing the duties of this job includes a personal lockout/tagout lock, ANSI approved hardhat and safety glasses with sideshields, safety shoes/boots with steel toe protection, high visibility clothing or vest.  Additional safety equipment required includes hearing protection while performing duties.  Additional safety equipment is available for use if a situation arises where it becomes required or if it is simply desired by the employee.

Safety Training: A new employee hired to perform the duties of this position is to be provided New Employee Training by a qualified individual, which consists of classroom and on the job training.  It will include, but is not limited to, the following: forklift/mobile equipment operation and certification/licensing, hazard communication, hearing conservation, respiratory protection, electrical safety, lock out/tag out, personal protective equipment, bloodborne pathogens, fire fighting/extinguishers, machine safety, confined spaces, reporting of hazardous conditions, accidents, injuries, near-miss and property damage incidents, evacuation/emergency procedures, first aid, back injury prevention, and job/work area procedures. 

Upon transferring to perform the duties of this position for the first time an employee is to be provided New Task Training by a qualified individual until the employee adequately understands the contents of the training, which include job/work area procedures and related topics.  Additionally, an employee must be provided further training if a job duty/task has changes that will affect the health and safety aspects of that employee’s position.

Additional refresher safety training will be required as management deems appropriate or as dictated by MSHA/OSHA regulations.