Profession pottery and porcelain caster
Pottery and porcelain casters fill moulds with clay to cast pottery and porcelain wares. They pour excess slip out of the mould when needed, drain moulds, remove the cast from the mould, smooth the casting surfaces to remove marks and place the castings on boards to dry.
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Personality Type
- Realistic / Conventional
Knowledge
- Materials in porcelain manufacturing
Characteristics and properties of the different raw materials such as china clay, ball clay, alumina, flint and feldspar used for the production of household ware and decorative items.
- Types of pottery material
Types of clays and mud and their appearance, properties, reaction to fire, etc.
- Materials used in stoneware manufacturing
Characteristics and properties of the different materials used in the production of the vitreous ceramic made of stoneware clay, or in some cases of non-refractory fire-clay.
Skills
- Tend pug mills
Tend the pug mill by adjusting the controls in order to mix, extrude or deposit the clay charges according to specifications.
- Monitor automated machines
Continuously check up on the automated machine's set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in order to identify abnormalities.
- Conform with clay thickness
Conform with the specified clay thickness by pouring the excess slip from moulds while watching the clay level through the mould opening.
- Troubleshoot
Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
- Extract products from moulds
Remove finished products from moulds and examine them in detail for anomalies.
- Set up the controller of a machine
Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.
- Tend jigger machines
Tend the jigger machine in order to obtain the specified ceramic endproducts such as bowls, plates or cups.
- Conform to health and safety regulations
Carry out all work in accordance with relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements and company policies. Take the necessary health and safety precautions during work including posture the body well, safely operate tools and machinery, and wear the right clothes and protection for the climate.
- Inspect quality of products
Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
- Use personal protection equipment
Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
- Follow quality standards
Apply a set of measures and standards concerning the quality of processes or products, ensuring that quality is maintained and improved during work activities.