Automation Technician - 3rd Shift

Tell me about the automated equipment you've run or kept running in past jobs.

What they are checking: Whether they have real manufacturing experience with automated machines, which the role requires.

This is 3rd shift, Sunday to Thursday overnight. What experience do you have with overnight work and how do you stay alert?

What they are checking: Whether they can reliably work the overnight schedule this job needs.

How do you pass along what happened on your shift to the next shift?

What they are checking: Whether they record useful information for shift handoff, which the posting asks for.

Tell me about a time you suggested a change that cut scrap or made a job easier.

What they are checking: Whether they look for improvements, which the posting says this role should show effort toward.

The same machine keeps jamming every hour. What would you look at to find out why?

What they are checking: Whether they think about root causes and process improvements instead of just clearing the same jam.

You notice parts coming off the line that look slightly off, but the machine isn't throwing any faults. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they own quality and stop to check instead of trusting the machine.

There's no engineer on 3rd shift and a machine has a problem you can't fix. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they know when to escalate and how to keep production and safety in balance on their own.

A machine on the line jams. Walk me through how you clear it and get it running again safely.

What they are checking: Whether they follow safe steps, including lockout when needed, before reaching into a machine.

What does lockout/tagout mean to you, and when would you use it versus just hitting the stop button?

What they are checking: Whether they understand LOTO well enough to stay safe, since the posting requires knowledge of it.

How comfortable are you with math like reading measurements, tolerances and simple calculations on the job?

What they are checking: Whether they have the math and mechanical skills the posting lists as requirements.

What would you check during a routine inspection or Total Productive Maintenance round on a machine?

What they are checking: Whether they understand basic preventive checks like wear, leaks, loose parts and cleanliness.