PROCESSING PLANT FACILITY DESIGN EXPERT FOR CENTRAL AMERICAN SMALL BUSINESS

Consult remotely or in person for a growing business in El Salvador 

This family-owned business started in 1989, making chili in their home for  convenience stores to add as a topping on hot dogs. Eventually, the client asked them to start making chips for nachos and as the stores grew, the volume of production grew to what it is today. Their production plant operates out of a family-owned facility in central San Salvador and services all of El Salvador. They have identified a need to expand their facilities and have allocated the corresponding resources to doing so. Nonetheless, they would benefit from an expert opinion advising them the adequate layout and distribution that maximizes the efficiency of the new facility. We are looking for expert volunteers who can provide engineering assistance to accompany the process and ensure a successful design of the new facility.

You will use your experience to:

• Collaborate with the leadership team to define facility design objectives that align with their scaling production goals, ensuring that infrastructure supports current and future demand.
• Conduct a thorough assessment of the existing facility layout and operations, providing actionable recommendations to optimize workflow, reduce bottlenecks, and maximize space efficiency.
• Share best practices in facility design for food manufacturing, with an emphasis on safety, sustainability, and compliance with industry standards, to position the business for continued growth.
• Provide guidance on upgrading equipment, implementing cost-effective automation, and optimizing production lines to improve productivity and minimize waste.
• Assist in developing a phased approach to facility updates, focusing on scalable improvements that align with their long-term objectives.

You are a perfect match for this volunteer activity if you have:

• Expertise in designing or optimizing food processing facilities, with a strong background in layout planning, workflow optimization, and space utilization.
• A proven ability to identify and address inefficiencies within food manufacturing environments, with a focus on sustainable, compliant, and cost-effective solutions.
• Experience in guiding facility upgrades that balance operational growth with quality and safety standards, especially within a small business context.
• Strong knowledge of process engineering, including experience with equipment upgrades, automation solutions, and workflow improvements for scaling production lines.
• Proficiency in conducting facility audits, assessing production flow, and recommending design adjustments that enhance productivity and safety across all operations.
• Experience consulting for small businesses, including the ability to identify core challenges, refine a scope of project, and lead discussions to progress along defined scope.
• Excellent communication skills to work collaboratively and provide clear and actionable recommendations.

When: Start immediately

Volunteer Commitment: Approximately 40 hours over 2-4 months

Please note that this is a volunteer opportunity.