Join our team! As a Set-up Technician at our Whitewater, Wisconsin facility, you’ll play a key role in supporting efficient, high-quality production in a clean, climate-controlled environment. Reporting to the Maintenance Supervisor, you will lead and perform mold setups, changeovers, and start-ups on injection molding machines. This position works closely with cross-functional teams, supports technician training, and helps drive best practices for safe, efficient mold changeovers.

At Lavelle Industries, we’re not just making parts; we’re building careers, and your expertise plays a vital role in our continued success. Proudly known as the “Toilet Geniuses,” Lavelle Industries is a leading innovator in plastic and rubber components for the plumbing industry, best known for our Korky® brand products that improve millions of bathrooms every day.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and perform mold changeovers to support production schedules and minimize downtime. 
• Set up and start production equipment following mold changes, including verifying process settings, materials, and machine parameters. 
• Purge machines, apply mold release when required, and run test cycles to ensure readiness for production. 
• Conduct quality inspections and verify part quality, proper ejection, and process stability before releasing equipment to production. 
• Troubleshoot molding, setup, and process issues; identify root causes and implement corrective actions. 
• Ensure molds, machines, and auxiliary equipment meet quality, safety, and production standards. 
• Train and support technicians on mold changeover procedures, equipment operation, safety requirements, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). 
• Maintain accurate documentation of setup parameters, machine adjustments, quality checks, and changeover activities. 
• Monitor and report on changeover efficiency, machine utilization, process performance, and production challenges. 
• Partner with maintenance to ensure molds and equipment are production-ready and support preventive and predictive maintenance activities. 
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing downtime, waste, and defects while improving productivity and quality. 
• Utilize the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to track work orders, maintenance activities, equipment history, and related documentation.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in mold changing, machine setup, injection molding, or a related manufacturing environment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude with experience using hand and power tools.
• Knowledge of injection molding machines, molds, auxiliary equipment, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to troubleshoot equipment, process, and quality issues and implement effective solutions.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to read and interpret work instructions, setup documentation, and technical specifications.
• Proficiency with Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), such as MaintainX, for tracking work orders and maintenance activities.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to lift, move, and position molds, tooling, and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and climb for extended periods throughout the shift.
• Comfortable working in a manufacturing environment, including confined spaces, elevated work areas, and varying temperatures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical certification in maintenance, mechanics, industrial technology, or a related field.
• Experience with mold heaters, temperature controllers, and temperature-related troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Die) methodologies.
• Experience improving changeover efficiency, reducing downtime, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience utilizing CMMS software to support maintenance planning and equipment reliability initiatives.

Shift Information:

• 2nd shift: 1 PM - 9 PM