production operator

chemical operator

quality control lab technician

production scheduler

tier 1 agent

Huntsman Corp

What is the best part of working at the company?
At one time they were very dedicated to keeping dedicated employees.  As long as you worked hard and did the right thing you felt secure.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Upper management never listened to the people who were close to the source of the work being done.  They wanted to do things quickly, but never wanted to do things correctly or completely.  Every decision management made felt like a knee-jerk reaction to some sales pitch, full of empty promises from any company, vendor or MSP.  Nothing was given proper thought, or planning, nor were any tools purchased or implemented utilized fully, nor allowed to reach full potential.  There was an expectation that you should implement quickly, taking shortcuts and piecemealing and that everything would work fantastically and when it didn't it was the fault of the workers who dedicated days (if not weeks) of their free time to try to implement something successful under the constraints of the business.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Not good.  Management are bullies and handicap their workers but expect excellent results.  They are quick to throw anyone under them, under the bus.  The expectations were unrealistic, and the dedication and personal pride of the workers is the only reason their infrastructure didn't crash and burn.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Working 12 to 16 hours a day for years doing our very best to make sure things were as functional as possible.  Trying to suggest improvements only to either be shot down, or to have our ideas stolen and promoted by management as their own.  Which wouldn't have necessarily been bad, as it still would benefit the company, but because management did not understand anything technical, they often butchered the ideas which resulted in piecemealed solutions that did not work as it should and when blame came, the same people that stole the ideas were quick to let the blame roll downhill.

Learned HPLC, GC, FTIR, DSC, TGA, XMET, SFE, GPC, Mass Spec, method development, particle size by Horiba, and various physical test methods.

Gain experience supporting QC at the site and corporate wide, shipping small quantities of hazardous materials to other sites, OSHA regulations, ASTMs, writing test methods, trouble shooting instruments, supporting technical reps, understanding the effects various additives have on the physical properties of polymer to diagnose problems with their performance, and competitive analysis.

Most of my co-workers had been with the company going 20 years starting out in the QC Lab slowly working their way up to a position in R&D. They did not sharing their knowledge during my training for fear of their job security. Some were more difficult than others to work with.

The most difficult of the job was after I gained proficiency the majority of the tests and cover multiple areas simultaneously.
The most enjoyable parts of the job were the friends I made and the knowledge/experience I gained.

The Huntsman site was bought by Nova Chemicals who let the all 3 R&D lab employees go leaving me to do the bulk of routine testing. Also Nova Chemicals had there own R&D site in PA and were planning on closing my site's R&D program. I chose opportunity the change fields from polymers to pharmaceuticals.

I regret to say that my time at Huntsman has been marred by unfortunate encounters with a highly disrespectful supervisor. Throughout my tenure, I find it extremely challenging to work in an environment where basic courtesy and professionalism are lacking. The supervisor in question consistently displays a lack of empathy and consideration for our team members. Communication is often abrasive, condescending, and dismissive of our ideas and concerns. This not only hinders our productivity but also creates a toxic atmosphere that demotivates the entire team and leaves everyone feeling like their walking on eggshells. The supervisor's behavior seems to go unchecked, which sends a message that such conduct is acceptable within the company. This lack of intervention perpetuated a negative cycle that affected not only morale but also the overall work quality.  I hope that the company takes steps to address these concerns and fosters a healthier work environment for its employees in the future. It is essential for any organization to prioritize respectful communication and professional conduct to ensure the well-being and success of its workforce.

Worked most the day with supply chain, logistics, production specialists, purchaser's/buyers and sales management through email and phone.

My team would work production orders/changes/requests of any kind and make it happen. We would start the material production through SAP system application to ensure it was received from point A (our manufacturing plant) to point B(customer).

We had 4 different managers in 4 years. The first three were some of the best managers I've ever had, very qualified with more than enough experience. The most recent, was the worst manager I've ever had for many reasons. I was informed by senior managers and our department's vice president that didn't think my current manager was qualified. 

A majority of the co-workers were a huge reason for staying and they made the day more enjoyable(very friendly groups of people). 

The job itself became redundant after a year of working there. Very little is learned after the first year of working in this job and the company offered little to no room for advancement or meaningful project work to keep someone motivated.

In this position, I was responsible for production in three unit areas. Due to limited resources at the small plant, part of my responsibilities was  proper hazardous waste management in which I received extensive training and certifications. My other responsibilities included proper operator training, investigate and resolve supplier/customer quality issues, controllable fixed cost reduction, waste reduction, increase capacity, and safety leadership to enforce company core valves. 

It was a 50 mile commute to work, and I averaged 55 hours/wk at the plant (no Overtime Pay)

In 2012, the Advanced Materials division of the company faced severe financial challenges. The company hired a consulting firm named "Mckenzie" to address the  profitability issues. The executive decision was made to reduce the division's workforce by 20% to see improvements in EBITDA.  

This division of Huntsman has struggled to make a profit since Huntsmans acquisition. Huntsman acquired this business from Ciba-Giegy 10 years ago.

Typical day included problem solving for both local and field locations as it might relate to the HRPR system and its interface to the new Global HR system and the interfaces to the various benefits. Management relied on associates to uphold the company image and perform in a manner befitting the corporate culture. Hardest part of the job generally involves contractors who may need more explanation to understand the value of service to our own associates. Most enjoyable part of the job was providing the level of service to field associates and in particular to employees in outlying locations and to those retirees who may need assistance. I retired October 1, 2012 and have since found that the interaction of work is very much missed. My health is excellent and I have a strong desire to return to the work force.

While working at Huntsman it was a pleasure , I was able to work third shift for straight 5 years then rotating from first shift to third and vice versa was able to learn how to controlled an exothermic reaction batches, distillation batches but the most important was to belong a team of SAFETY to focus and prevent accident at all times with just changing all employees behaviors , mid set and cooperating as team work , also I was part of the continuous improving team, been , able to stablish a 5's methodology. I have a lot experience on SAP and inventory system I was in charge of conducting monthly cycle count on DEA controlled materials and aluminum powders, WIP areas. it was excitement obtaining a lot experience and they wiliness to support every one.

The culture at this particular site is dated. There still seems to be "The Good Old Boys Club" mentality.  The overall energy and moral is negative. There is a lack of respect between management and employees. The plant manager has a tendency to be condescending in staff meetings to the point employees refuse to speak up or give any feedback. Management is reactive and not proactive regarding safety. The training is so inadequate, unorganized and rushed. New employees are not well received by older employees. This site also lack diversity. There is also a racial undertone at this site that can't be missed.  It is your typical small town company, predominantly white males and almost  everyone is related, grew up together or knows each other relatives.

Good hard working employees ...
Horrible company to work for , low wages , corrupted management , high exposure to chemicals.
High expectations and poor life work balance .
You will get further in life selling ice cream on the street than working for this facility . Don't waste your time keep moving on.

They gave fake promises..but nothing worked as per they said. salary, appraisal, severance amount, closure procedure.Nothing was followed legally. complete cheating management. Esp the HR And production managers

Cons Nobody followed professional ethics.HR never turned up to office and thinks herself as the boss.literally harassment on employees.no respect. no values. a irresponsible leadership, who spent more money on travel than employee development, a big story teller and non-performer.

Huntsman is an energetic workplace with tons of challenges and personal customer interaction everyday.  In a typical day, I would work with 80+ accounts, making and receiving phone calls and making sure the customers needs were met.  Once a week we would meet as a team and talk about what our challenges, our successes, items that would help us do better and many other items.

I worked in an awesome team environment that harbored growth and job security.  The chances for growth were amazing and an 8 hour day would just fly by.  

If you did well during the previous month, making no mistakes, you even got to leave an hour early on Friday as an award.  It was an amazing job and I was sad to leave it to move to Wisconsin.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Production operator 5 salaries reported	$35.14 per hour
Chemical operator 5 salaries reported	$27.17 per hour
Quality control lab technician 2 salaries reported	$35.00 per hour
Production scheduler 1 salary reported	$86,600 per year
Tier 1 agent 3 salaries reported	$35.00 per hour

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