Profession cigarette making machine operator

Cigarette making machine operators tend cigarette-making machines to encase tobacco in continuous paper rolls followed by cutting cigarettes from roll. They place roll of cigarette paper on spindles and set monogram-printing devices to print brand name on cigarette paper at specified position.

Personality Type

• Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

• Variety of tobacco leaves

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

• 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.

• Fermentation process of tobacco leaves

  Process by which ammonia is released from the leaf. It can be done by raising the temperature and humidity, by heaping the tobacco into large piles or by using of a kiln. Under the raised temperature and humidity, enzymes in the leaf cause fermentation.

• 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.

• Tobacco manufacturing regulations

  Laws, regulations and administrative provisions concerning the manufacture and presentation of tobacco and related products.

• 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.

Skills

• Perform air-cured methods for tobacco

  Perform air-cured tobacco by hanging the tobacco in a well-ventilated barn and allow it to dry over a period of four to eight weeks. Air-cured tobacco is generally low in sugar content, which gives the tobacco smoke a smooth, semi-sweet flavour. Air-cured tobacco leaves usually have a high nicotine content.

• Dry tobacco leaves

  Dry tobacco leaves to a precisely defined level of moisture according to product specifications.

• Perform stacking fermentation of tobacco leaves

  Wrap large stacks of tobacco in burlap and allow them to "sweat". The internal temperature is closely monitored. When it reaches 60 degrees Celsius, the stack is broken down to release tar, ammonia, and nicotine. Repeat the process until the stack no longer reaches 45 degrees Celsius. Strip the stems and stack them in a cooler place to age.

• Flavour tobacco leaves

  Flavour tobacco leaves to set off the taste of tobacco and to maintain the quality of the product.

• Carry out checks of production plant equipment

  Carry out checks of the machinery and equipment used in the production plant. Ensure that the machinery is working properly, set machines before usage, and assure continuous operability of the equipment.

• Cure tobacco leaves

  Remove the moisture out of the tobacco leaves directly after harvesting them through various processes such as air curing, flue curing or sun curing.

• Perform different tobacco leaves curing methods

  Perform different tobacco leaves curing methods such as air-curing tobacco, fire-cured tobacco, flue-cured tobacco, and sun-cured tobacco.

• 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 flue-cured methods for tobacco

  String tobacco leaves into tobacco sticks, and hang them from tier-poles in curing barn's "kilns". Slowly raise the temperature over the course of the curing process. The procedure will generally take about a week. Flue-cured tobacco generally produces with a high content of sugar and medium to high levels of nicotine.

• Mark differences in colours

  Identify differences between colours, such as shades of colour.

• Stock tobacco products machines with materials

  Stock machine with materials for production of tobacco products. Take care to provide adequate quantities of paper, filters, glue, and other materials to achieve the daily production plan.

• Follow hygienic procedures during food processing

  Ensure a clean working space according to hygienic standards in the food processing industry.

• Regulate flow of shredded tobacco

  Regulate flow of tobacco to make sure that each cigarette contains the specified amount of shredded tobacco.

• Perform kiln fermentation of tobacco leaves

  Place tobacco leaves in the kiln with the lid shut. Control heat and humidity. Kiln fermenting lasts about 4 to 6 weeks.

• Check quality of products on the production line

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

• Operate tobacco drying technology

  Operate tobacco drying technology that dries the tobacco at higher temperatures and therefore more quickly than conventional dryers. Shorter drying times reduce tobacco degradation and energy consumption.

• Clean waste materials from machines

  Clean waste materials from machine using the adequate equipment or appliances as to ensure smooth operations, avoid accidents, and maintain clean working place.

• Perform cleaning duties

  Perform cleaning duties such as waste removal, vacuuming, emptying bins, and general cleaning of the working area. Cleaning activities should follow health and safety regulations if required.

• Apply HACCP

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

• Apply tobacco manufacturing requirements

  Apply all laws, regulations and administrative provisions concerning the manufacture and presentation of tobacco and related products. Understand the regulation referring to manufacturing of tobacco.

• Tend cigarette making machine

  Tend cigarette making machine assuring fluent operations and sufficient equipment of materials in the machine such as leaves, filters, and glue. Put the cut and conditioned tobacco, known as cut filler, in the machine to have it wrapped in cigarette paper and produce a 'continuous cigarette'. Cut cigarettes to the appropriate length and attach a filter to the cigarette rod with tipping paper.

• Adhere to organisational guidelines

  Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.

• Operate monogram-printing device

  Set up and operate monogram-printing device to print brand on cigarette paper at specified position.

• Blend tobacco leaves

  Blend tobacco leaves by cutting, conditioning, and blending the leaves of tobacco before these are being wrapped in a cigar or cut for cigarettes.

• Perform pre-blending of tobacco leaves

  Pre-blend tobacco leaves to ensure a balanced mix of different types of tobacco in one hand.

• Assess fermentation levels of tobacco leaves

  Assess fermentation stage of tobacco leaves. Use thermometers, humidifiers, water, and your sense to test the level of fermentation.

• Assess the colour curing of tobacco leaves

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

• Administer additives to tobacco

  Administer additives to tobacco, including flavouring. Use adequate quantities and equipment for these procedures, and take into account regulations for additives and other products in the tobacco.

• Ensure sanitation

  Keep workspaces and equipment free from dirt, infection, and disease by removing waste, trash and providing for appropriate cleaning.

• Monitor machine operations

  Observe machine operations and evaluate product quality thereby ensuring conformity to standards.

• Perform sun-cured methods for tobacco

  Place tobacco in the sun uncovered to let it dry out naturally. Generally, oriental tobacco is low in sugar and nicotine and is very popular for cigarettes.

• Separate tobacco shreds by size

  Weigh tobacco for a specified number of cigarettes. Place it in an agitator equipped with a series of screens to sort shreds based on size.

• Assess moisture levels in tobacco leaves

  Test tobacco leaves with an electric moisture meter to obtain moisture content.

• Use wrenches

  Use spanners to adjust machinery and equipment.

• Exert quality control to processing food

  Ensure the quality of all factors involved in a food production process.

• Sort tobacco leaves

  Sort tobacco leaves according to colour and condition. Select the leaves with the best specifications for rolling cigars and for quality assurance. Sort tobacco leaves for manufacturing of different products such as pipe tobacco and chewing tobacco.

• Cut tobacco leaves

  Cut leaves into fine strands using the adequate equipment before drying. Ensure that cutting sizes are according to requirements.

• Apply GMP

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

• Be at ease in unsafe environments

  Be at ease in unsafe environments like being exposed to dust, rotating equipment, hot surfaces, sub-freezing and cold storage areas, noise, wet floors and moving lift equipment.

• Perform detailed tobacco manufacturing operations

  Perform precise tobacco manufacturing operations with great attention and detail to all steps in the creation of a qualitative product.

• Perform tobacco leaves conditioning

  Process tobacco to ensure that it retains elasticity by passing it through a controlled environment at the right temperature and humidity levels.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB