Job Description

Inside Sales & Process Lab Assistant

Position Summary

The Inside Sales & Process Lab Assistant is an entry-level position designed to provide hands-on experience in both the commercial and technical aspects of the mass finishing industry. This position will support Regional Sales Managers with equipment quotations, project coordination, customer communication, and process development activities while gaining a strong working knowledge of mass finishing equipment, media, compounds, and finishing processes.

The ideal candidate will be organized, mechanically inclined, willing to learn, and comfortable working in both an office and hands-on process lab environment. This position provides an opportunity to learn the mass finishing business from the ground up and develop the technical and commercial knowledge necessary to support customers and sales projects effectively.

Key Responsibilities

Inside Sales & Project Support

• Support Regional Sales Managers with the preparation of equipment quotations, proposals, and related sales documentation.
• Assist with gathering the technical and commercial information required to prepare accurate equipment quotations.
• Help coordinate project-related communication between the responsible Regional Sales Manager, customer, and factory/company headquarters.
• Assist with project follow-up and help ensure that open technical, commercial, and scheduling items are communicated to the appropriate parties.
• Maintain organized project documentation and assist with tracking quotations and active sales projects.
• Communicate professionally with customers, Regional Sales Managers, internal departments, and company headquarters.
• Assist Regional Sales Managers with additional sales support activities as required.

Process Development Lab Support

• Learn the fundamentals of mass finishing processes, including deburring, edge radiusing, surface smoothing, cleaning, polishing, and other surface finishing applications.
• Assist with process development test trials for customer parts submitted for evaluation.
• Learn to select and utilize appropriate mass finishing equipment, media, compounds, and process parameters under the direction of experienced personnel.
• Load and unload process equipment with various ceramic and plastic media, compounds, customer parts, and other required process materials.
• Operate process development equipment following established procedures and appropriate safety practices.
• Monitor test trials and document relevant process information, including cycle times, equipment settings, media and compound selection, and resulting part condition.
• Clean equipment and maintain the process development lab in an organized, professional, and safe working condition.
• Assist with the general maintenance and upkeep of process development equipment and lab supplies.

Customer Part & Sample Management

• Receive and check in customer parts submitted for process development testing.
• Maintain an accurate database or tracking system documenting when customer parts are received, tested, completed, and shipped.
• Properly identify, organize, and store customer parts throughout the testing process to prevent loss, damage, or mixing between projects.
• Coordinate the packaging and shipment of completed customer samples and processed parts.
• Maintain appropriate records of incoming and outgoing customer parts and shipments.

Process Development Reports

• Prepare process development test reports summarizing the trials performed and results achieved.
• Document equipment used, media and compound selections, processing parameters, cycle times, and other relevant process information.
• Take and organize before-and-after photographs of customer parts when appropriate.
• Provide completed test reports and supporting information to the responsible Regional Sales Manager for review and customer follow-up.
• Help maintain an organized historical database of completed process development trials for future reference.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Technology, or a related field is a plus.
• Entry-level candidates are encouraged to apply; previous mass finishing experience is not required.
• Strong willingness to learn both the technical and commercial sides of an industrial manufacturing business.
• Mechanical aptitude and an interest in manufacturing equipment and processes.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Comfortable working independently as well as collaboratively with sales, customers, and technical personnel.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Ability and willingness to perform both office-based responsibilities and hands-on work in a process development lab.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work safely around industrial manufacturing and process development equipment.
• Ability to load and unload customer parts, media, compounds, and other process materials.
• Ability to lift and handle materials associated with process development testing, with appropriate lifting equipment or assistance used when required.
• Comfortable working in an environment that may involve water, process compounds, media, noise, and industrial equipment.
• Willingness to follow all established safety procedures and utilize required personal protective equipment.

Desired Characteristics

The successful candidate will be:

• Curious and eager to learn.
• Mechanically inclined and comfortable working with industrial equipment.
• Organized and detail-oriented.
• Dependable and able to follow projects through to completion.
• Comfortable communicating with customers and coworkers.
• Willing to ask questions and learn from experienced sales and technical personnel.
• Able to transition between hands-on lab work and office/project responsibilities throughout the workday.
• Interested in developing a long-term understanding of manufacturing processes, technical sales, and customer applications.

Position Development

This position is intended to provide broad exposure to the mass finishing industry and the company's equipment, consumables, processes, customers, and sales activities. Through hands-on process development work and direct support of Regional Sales Managers, the employee will develop an understanding of how customer applications progress from initial inquiry and process testing through equipment quotation, project coordination, and eventual implementation.

As experience and technical knowledge are gained, additional responsibilities may be assigned based on the employee's capabilities and the needs of the company.

Additional Duties

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed in this position. Responsibilities may evolve as the employee gains experience and may include other duties and projects as assigned.

Job Tags

Similar Jobs