Senior Plastics R&D Lab Supervisor & Technician

JOSE ANDRADE

Laboratory Supervisor R&D Technician Plastics & Rubber Manufacturing Color Matching Physical Testing Central Falls, RI 02863 401-***-**** **********@*****.*** PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Hands-on plastics, rubber, vinyl, and polymer laboratory professional with 35+ years of experience across manufacturing operations, pilot plant R&D, physical testing, color matching, customer support, shipping/receiving, and laboratory supervision. Background includes Banbury compounding, two-roll mill operation, single-screw and twin-screw extrusion, blender operation, multi-ton molding presses, raw material handling, formulation support, color development, customer complaint investigation, production troubleshooting, and cross- functional work with chemists, sales, procurement, regulatory, suppliers, and customers. Known for practical problem solving, accuracy, equipment knowledge, employee training, and supporting new product development from lab trials through production. CORE SKILLS & SEARCH KEYWORDS

Plastics & Polymer R&D Vinyl / PVC Plastics Rubber Compounding Pilot Plant Operations Banbury Mixer Two-Roll Mill Single-Screw Extrusion Twin-Screw Extrusion Blender Operator Color Matching Color Lab Supervision Formulation Support Physical Testing Quality Control Testing Customer Complaint Resolution Production Troubleshooting Raw Materials Receiving Forklift Operation Shipping & Receiving Inventory / PO Verification Lab Safety Team Training Payroll Employee Development

Procurement Support Regulatory Support

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Teknor Apex Company Pawtucket, RI 1992 - 2026

Color Lab Supervisor / Research Technician / R&D Technician / Pilot Plant Technician / Manufacturing Operator

• Advanced through multiple technical, manufacturing, laboratory, and supervisory roles during 34 years with Teknor Apex, building broad practical knowledge of plastics, vinyl, rubber, compounding, extrusion, physical testing, color matching, and customer-driven product development.

• Supervised day-to-day Color Lab operations, including incoming color match work, prioritization of projects, employee training, payroll support, and development of lab personnel.

• Worked directly with chemists on research and development of new products, including formulation support, lab trials, pilot plant work, physical testing, color development, and troubleshooting.

• Partnered with sales, procurement, regulatory, chemists, production teams, and customers to resolve customer complaints, production issues, supplier issues, and technical product concerns.

• Supported production trials and customer-related technical work at other facilities when needed, helping evaluate process issues and confirm product performance.

• Performed color matching and color formulation work for customer-driven plastic product development; served as a color matcher for approximately one year before advancing into broader lab and supervisory responsibilities.

• Operated and supported Corporate Pilot Plant equipment and R&D processing, including Banbury compounding, twin-screw extrusion, single-screw extrusion, and related lab-scale production operations.

• Performed physical and mechanical testing such as Shore hardness, melt index, dart impact, Izod impact, flexural modulus, oven aging, specific gravity, Instron testing, and other laboratory evaluations.

• Worked in the Vinyl Plastics Division as an FCM blender operator, supporting accurate blending of raw materials for vinyl/plastic production.

• Worked in rubber manufacturing and compounding, including Banbury operation, two-roll mill operation, sheeting, single-screw extrusion, gauge operation, raw material compounding, and backup lead/supervisor responsibilities.

• Operated multi-ton molding presses for products including kitchen chopping blocks, shoe soling, and kitchen mats.

• Worked in garden hose manufacturing, including extrusion support, fittings, assembly, packaging, inventory, and shipment preparation.

• Supported shipping and receiving operations, including unloading trucks with forklift, checking purchase orders, receiving raw materials, and verifying incoming materials.

• Provided customer service support for approximately six months while recovering from shoulder surgery, gaining direct experience with customer communication and issue resolution.

• Assisted with the design and build-out of a laboratory, supporting the setup of practical lab workflow and operations. Earlier Experience

• Hasbro Toy Company Toy Assembly Technician 1991 - 1992

• Almacs Grocery Store Produce Assistant Supervisor 1990 - 1991

• Chuck Wagon Catering In-House Worker, Washer, Prep, Order Picking, and Cook 1988 - 1989 TESTING, EQUIPMENT & TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE

• Processing / Manufacturing Equipment: Banbury mixer, two-roll mill, single-screw extruder, twin-screw extruder, blender systems, multi-ton presses, molding equipment, pilot plant equipment, forklift.

• Laboratory Testing: Shore hardness, melt index / melt flow, dart impact, Izod impact, flexural modulus, oven aging, specific gravity, Instron tensile testing, and additional physical testing methods.

• Materials / Industries: Vinyl plastics, PVC, rubber compounds, hose manufacturing, molded goods, shoe soling, kitchen mats, color concentrates, polymer compounds, raw materials, and customer-specific plastic products. EDUCATION, TRAINING & CERTIFICATIONS

Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Warwick, RI 2011 - 2015

• Chemical Technology Program

• Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

• Training/certifications: Time Management; Problem Solving & Effective Decision Making; Learning to Lead the Way; Behavior-Based Interviewing; DiSC Assessment.

• DiSC C Style: analytical, precise, accuracy-focused, stable, and effective at challenging assumptions. References Available Upon Request

Contact this candidate