Profession cigar inspector

Cigar inspectors test, sort, sample and weigh cigars in order to find defects and deviations away from the product's specifications.

Personality Type

• Conventional / Realistic

Knowledge

• Manufacturing of by-products from tobacco

  The processes, materials, and techniques to manufacture by products using tobacco leaves as a base such as tobacco paste for the skin and insecticides.

• Manufacturing of smokeless tobacco products

  The processes, materials, and techniques to manufacture different types of smokeless tobacco products such as chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, tobacco gum and snus.

• Quality prototype of a tobacco leaf

  Characteristics and properties of a tobacco leaf to grade and consider it of high, medium, or low quality product taking into account colour variations, tears, tar spots, tight grain, and size of the leaf.

• Curing methods for tobacco leaves

  Processes which aim at eliminating the moisture of tobacco leaves and grant scent in order to prepare them for consumption.

• Manufacturing of smoked tobacco products

  The processes, materials, and techniques to manufacture different types of smoked tobacco products such as cigars, fine cut tobacco, pipe tobacco, and cigarettes.

• Variety of tobacco leaves

  Types of tobacco cultivars and varieties and their characteristics. Connection of attributes with cigar or cigarettes product requirements.

• History of tobacco

  The different stages and developments of tobacco cultivation, cultural particularities and trading through time.

Skills

• Apply GMP

  Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

• Assess the colour curing of tobacco leaves

  Assess colour curing of tobacco leaves to determine the stage of curing and aging of the leaf.

• Mark differences in colours

  Identify differences between colours, such as shades of colour.

• Grade tobacco leaves

  Grade tobacco leaves to reflect their quality and suitability for different tobacco products.

• Maintain updated professional knowledge

  Regularly attend educational workshops, read professional publications, actively participate in professional societies.

• Smoke cigars

  Technique to smoke a cigar in order to test suitability in all aspects. This consists of: grabbing the cigar, lightening it, moisturising its end before lighting it up and labeling it.

• Weigh leaf quantity per cigar

  Weigh and determine the quantity of leaves to be rolled in cigars according to specifications.

• Apply HACCP

  Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).

• Assure quality of tobacco leaves

  Assure quality of tobacco leaves by examining leaves for colour variations, tears, tar spots, tight grain, and size under specifications. Place leaves not suitable for wrapper in separate pile. Fold wrapper leaves into bundles for stripping.

• Manage delivery of raw materials

  Manage reception of raw materials. Receive raw materials from the suppliers. Check for quality and accuracy and move into the warehouse. Make sure that raw materials are adequately stored until they are required by the production department.

• Control levels of nicotine per cigar

  Control the levels of nicotine present in the leaves of tobacco to maintain required levels of nicotine in each cigar and comply with relevant regulations, if any.

• Check quality of products on the production line

  Check products for quality on the production line and remove defective items before and after packaging.

• Apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beverages

  Apply and follow national, international, and internal requirements quoted in standards, regulations and other specifications related with manufacturing of food and beverages.

• Perform sensory evaluation

  Evaluate the quality of a given type of food or beverage based on its appearance, smell, taste, aroma, and others. Suggest possible improvements and comparisons with other products.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB