Job Title: Bottling Line/Label Operator
Department: Production / Manufacturing
Reports To: Production Supervisor
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Location: Bakersfield
Position Summary
The Bottling Line/Label Operator is responsible for operating, monitoring, and maintaining automated bottling and labeling equipment to ensure safe, efficient, and continuous production of high-quality bottled beverages. This position plays a key role in maintaining production flow, performing equipment changeovers, and ensuring all products meet established company and regulatory standards.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Operates and monitors automatic bottling line and labeling machines to maintain consistent production flow.
- Ensures the labeler is operating efficiently and continuously throughout the shift.
- Monitors laser coding equipment to confirm that all bottles are properly coded, legible, and accurate per production specifications.
- Conducts routine quality checks to verify fill levels, packaging integrity, and labeling accuracy.
- Removes jams and clears obstructions when the machine shuts down due to malfunction or defective materials.
- Performs all required operator checks, including pre-start inspections, in-process monitoring, and end-of-shift reports.
- Performs product and bottle size changeovers efficiently, following all established procedures.
- Starts equipment and observes operation to detect any malfunctions, stopping equipment and notifying the supervisor of abnormalities.
- Makes minor mechanical or operational adjustments such as opening valves, setting guides, or clearing damaged containers.
- Inspects filled containers for quality assurance to ensure compliance with product and packaging specifications.
- Replenishes and stages packaging materials such as wrapping film, cartons, labels, adhesives, and ink supplies.
- Loads and mounts materials onto appropriate spindles, hoppers, or feeders as required by production needs.
- Completes all required production and quality documentation accurately and in a timely manner.
- Maintains a clean and organized work area, ensuring compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), sanitation standards, and safety procedures.
- Communicates effectively with maintenance, quality, and production team members to identify and resolve process issues
Qualifications and Requirements
- Education: High school diploma or GED required.
- Experience: Minimum of two years of experience in a manufacturing or bottling environment. One year of experience on labeling equipment required.
- Technical Skills:
- Ability to operate and troubleshoot automated machinery.
- Basic mechanical aptitude to perform equipment adjustments.
- Understanding of GMPs, food safety, and workplace safety standards.
Competencies
- Attention to Detail: Maintains accuracy in product inspection and documentation.
- Teamwork: Collaborates effectively with other operators, mechanics, and supervisors.
- Safety Awareness: Adheres strictly to all safety and lockout/tagout procedures.
- Problem Solving: Identifies and communicates equipment or process issues promptly.
- Reliability: Demonstrates consistent attendance, punctuality, and performance.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Work Environment: This position operates in a manufacturing environment with exposure to noise, moving machinery, wet floors, cleaning chemicals, and varying temperatures. Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) including hearing protection, gloves, and eye protection is required at all times. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts and fumes or airborne particles. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
This description reflects the type and level(s) of work performed. It is not intended to be all-inclusive or to portray the specific duties of any one incumbent. The management of Crystal Geyser Water Company may change this description at any time, according to business needs.
