Profession food production operator

Food production operators supply and perform one or more tasks in different stages of the food production process. They perform manufacturing operations and processes to foods and beverages, perform packaging, operate machines manually or automatically, follow predetermined procedures, and take food safety regulations on board.

Would you like to know what kind of career and professions suit you best? Take our free Holland code career test and find out.

Personality Type

  • Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

  • Food safety principles

    Scientific background of food safety which includes preparation, handling, and storage of food to minimise the risk of foodborne illness and other health hazards.

Skills

  • Ensure sanitation

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

  • Follow production schedule

    Follow production schedule taking into account all requirements, times and needs. This schedule outlines what individual commodities must be produced in each time period and encapsulates various concerns like production, staffing, inventory, etc. It is usually linked to manufacturing where the plan indicates when and how much of each product will be demanded. Utilise all the information in the actual implementation of the plan.

  • Lift heavy weights

    Lift heavy weights and apply ergonomic lifting techniques to avoid damaging the body.

  • Ensure refrigeration of food in the supply chain

    Apply different procedures to maintain the chain of temperature of foodstuffs and products in each stage of the production and supply chain.

  • Disassemble equipment

    Disassembles equipment using hand tools in order to clean equipments and to perform regular operational maintenance.

  • 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 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Keep inventory of goods in production

    Keep inventory of goods whether they are goods in the front end (i.e. raw materials), intermediate, or back end (i.e. finished products). Count goods and store them for the following production and distribution activities.

  • Administer ingredients in food production

    Ngredients to be added and the required amounts according to the recipe and the way those ingredients are to be administered.

  • Monitor ingredient storage

    Monitor ingredient storage and expiry dates via weekly reporting leading to good stock rotation and reduction of waste.

  • Clean food and beverage machinery

    Clean machinery used for food or beverage production processes. Prepare the appropriate solutions for cleaning. Prepare all parts and assure that they are clean enough to avoid deviation or errors in the production process.

  • Monitor the production line

    Monitor the production line for problems such as pile-ups and jams.

  • Support management of raw materials

    Support management of raw materials and plants required by the department for production. Oversee the needs for material and notify when stock levels reach re-order levels.

Optional knowledge and skills

food storage tend bottle-washing machine handle kitchen equipment according to the requirements cleaning of reusable packaging check bottles for packaging perform carbonation processes dispose food waste adjust drying process to goods measure sugar refinement hydrogenation processes for edible oils monitor coating specifications follow hygienic procedures during food processing weigh materials fermentation processes of food check quality of products on the production line monitor milled food products operate forklift administer materials to tea bag machines ensure correct goods labelling work according to recipe mould chocolate apply preservation treatments set up equipment for food production monitor almond blanching process mitigate waste of resources rectify spirits label samples perform cleaning duties condiment manufacturing processes food canning production line health, safety and hygiene legislation milk production process monitor sugar uniformity conduct cleaning in place tend packaging machines follow evaluation procedures of materials at reception execute chilling processes to food products food homogenisation examine production samples check the quality of raw materials at reception modern brewing systems operate automated process control ensure compliance with environmental legislation in food production apply extruding techniques monitor oil blending process monitor filling machines dispose non-food waste within the food industry centrifugal force apply different dehydration processes of fruits and vegetables