Manufacturing and Process Optimization - ON-1152

Genre de projet: Innovation
Discipline(s) souhaitée(s): Génie - chimique / biologique, Génie, Génie - mécanique, Génie - autre
Entreprise: Mamas Life Products
Durée du projet: 4 à 6 mois
Date souhaitée de début: Dès que possible
Langue exigée: Anglais
Emplacement(s): Toronto, ON, Canada
Nombre de postes: 1
Niveau de scolarité désiré: CollègeÉtudes de premier cycle/baccalauréatMaîtriseDoctoratNouvelle diplômée/nouveau diplômé
Ouvert aux candidatures de personnes inscrites à un établissement à l’extérieur du Canada: No

Au sujet de l’entreprise: 

Mama’s Life Products (MLP) is a manufacturing company specializing in the development and distribution of personal care products made with wholesome, naturally sourced ingredients. Our commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible stewardship guides every aspect of our business.
We ethically source the majority of our raw materials directly from women-led cooperatives and suppliers. By working closely with women in cooperatives, processing facilities, we ensure the highest quality ingredients while supporting economic empowerment and community growth.
MLP’s social enterprise model is founded on sustainable and fair-trade principles. We actively invest in the development of the regions where our raw materials originate, helping strengthen local economies and improve livelihoods.
Through strategic partnerships with leading Canadian retailers such as Shoppers Drug Mart, Winners, and Healthy Planet, MLP has grown into a trusted brand within the national health and beauty industry.
What began as a seed planted by our elders, nurtured by our parents, and carried forward by their children has blossomed into over 13 years of expertise in crafting natural, alternative skincare solutions. We are proud to honour that legacy as we continue to serve our communities and customers with integrity and care.

Veuillez décrire le projet.: 

This Mitacs project aims to fully integrate and optimize Mama’s Life Products’ existing natural-product production line, specifically the mixing tank, pump, filling machine, conveyor capping and labeling equipment into a coordinated, semi-automated system. The company currently experiences operational challenges caused by inconsistent PLC logic, sensor and relay faults, and irregular control of the heating elements. These issues impact batch uniformity, heating stability, pump transfer efficiency, filling accuracy, and overall throughput.
The project will introduce an incremental innovation by redesigning the automation architecture that governs heating, mixing, transferring, filling, capping nd labeling. Core work may include troubleshooting and modernizing PLC programs to ensure reliable communication with sensors, relays, pumps, and heating modules. Correcting timing sequences, interlocks, and command mapping will eliminate inconsistent machine behavior and restore stable, synchronized operations.
A central objective is upgrading and integrating the heating, mixing, filling, capping labeling equipment into a semi-automated production line. The intern may evaluate and redesign how the tank (heating cycles, agitator control, temperature feedback) interacts with the diaphragm pump, filler, capping and labeling unit to reduce idle time, streamline product flow, and significantly increase throughput. The project may also deploy enhanced HMI/SCADA visualizations to provide real-time temperature, flow, and cycle data for improved operator decision-making.
Quality assurance frameworks aligned with HACCP, GMP, and ISO standards will be embedded directly into automated routines to ensure product integrity and compliance.

Expertise ou compétences exigées: 

The ideal candidate should have strong expertise in industrial automation, PLC programming, and process control systems, with practical experience in small- to mid-scale manufacturing environments. Proficiency in PLC programming languages (such as Ladder Logic, Function Block, or Structured Text) is essential for troubleshooting and optimizing control sequences across heating, mixing, pumping, filling, and capping equipment.
Hands-on experience with SCADA systems and HMI dashboard design is required to enable real-time monitoring, centralized control, and performance data collection. Knowledge of sensor integration, relay logic, motor and heater control modules, and interlocks is necessary to diagnose inconsistencies and improve process reliability.
The candidate should have process optimization skills, including throughput analysis, bottleneck identification, and workflow mapping, with the ability to implement solutions that enhance operational efficiency. Familiarity with quality assurance frameworks such as HACCP, GMP, and ISO standards is a strong asset, particularly for natural and organic product manufacturing environments.
Additional skills include problem-solving, systems integration, electrical troubleshooting, and a basic understanding of mixing, heating, and filling equipment mechanics. Experience in semi-automated production line design, industrial instrumentation, and data-driven process improvement will be highly advantageous.