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Manufacturing Production Technician

Plastipak · Champaign, IL · Full time

Posted Sep 25, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Which have you run: extrusion, injection molding or blow molding machines? Tell me about that work.

What they are checking: Whether their machine experience fits the processes in this plant.

What basic maintenance have you done on production machines?

What they are checking: Whether they can handle routine maintenance tasks without waiting for a technician.

Tell me about working in a high-volume production environment. How did you keep up?

What they are checking: Whether they are used to steady high-volume output, which the posting requires.

How will you handle 12-hour nights on the 3-2-2-3 schedule?

What they are checking: Whether they are prepared for the schedule, which affects attendance and safety.

Tell me about a time you solved a mechanical problem on your own.

What they are checking: Whether they have the problem-solving and troubleshooting skills the posting asks for.

What would you do

You made a setting change and now the machine is producing more defects. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can undo their change, record it, and get help instead of making more changes.

About the work

How do heat settings and cooling water temperature affect the quality of a plastic container?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how process settings change the product, which they will be adjusting.

You notice containers coming out with thin spots. What settings might you look at?

What they are checking: Whether they can connect a defect to possible causes instead of changing settings randomly.

How do you check product quality during a shift, and what do you do if something is out of spec?

What they are checking: Whether they do quality checks consistently and stop bad product from moving on.

How do you stay safe around hot plastic, hydraulics and moving parts?

What they are checking: Whether they respect the burn, pinch and pressure hazards that come with these machines.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Plastipak from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Plastipak.

Plastipak’s Champaign facility is safe, extremely clean & climate-controlled. And, we’re a strong company in a stable industry. We’re hiring to keep up with our growth & expansion in our Champaign location. Shift: Nights 6:45pm – 7:15 am • Standard rotating schedule of 3 days on, 2 days off, 2 days on, 3 days off • 2 long-weekends per month • Full time is 15 working days per month Pay: Earn $22 per hour • $21 per hour • + $1.00 more per hour for night shift We Offer • Consistent Schedules • Job Security • Clean & Climate-Controlled Facility • Career Growth You Will • Operate extrusion, injection or blow-molding machines & equipment. • Monitor & adjust machine settings (heat control, water cooling temperatures, hydraulic pressure). • Complete basic machine maintenance. • Check product quality. • Participate in training to learn new skills. You Have: • Ability to work a 12 hour shift on our 3-2-2-3 regular schedule cycle with every other weekend off. • Minimum of 1 year of work experience in a high-volume production environment. • Minimum of 1 year of experience operating manufacturing machines & equipment. • Basic hydraulics, pneumatics & electrical knowledge. • Strong problem-solving and mechanical troubleshooting skills. • Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. with or without a reasonable accommodation. As a Plastipak Associate, you receive a benefits package offering the following: • Wellness Programs • Health Insurance Coverage, including Medical, Dental & Vision • EAP, Employee Assistance Program • Life Insurance • Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance • Disability Insurance: Short-Term & Long-Term • Accidental Insurance • Critical Illness Insurance • Hospital Indemnity Insurance • 401(k) Plan, with Company Matching Contribution & Profit Sharing feature • Paid Time Off - 80 hours within 1st year & subsequent increases • Paid Company Holidays • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account • Caregiving via Care.com • Pet Insurance • Tuition Assistance Program • Sons and Daughters Scholarship Program • Travel Assistance • Employee Discount Programs *Some benefits are subject to eligibility requirements Plastipak is an Equal Opportunity Employer In order to process your job application, Plastipak collects and stores the personal information that you submit via this website. Please refer to Plastipak’s Privacy Policy to understand how Plastipak uses and protects the information that you provide.

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