Profession production potter
Production potters process and form clay, by hand or by using the wheel, into end-products pottery, stoneware products, earthenware products and porcelain. They introduce the already shaped clay into kilns, heating them at a high temperature in order to remove all the water from the clay.
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Personality Type
Knowledge
- Ceramics glazes
The characteristics, compounds and application of different glaze type such as raw or frit glazes.
- 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.
- Quality standards
The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
- 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.
- Types of pottery material
Types of clays and mud and their appearance, properties, reaction to fire, etc.
Skills
- Manage different ceramic firing techniques
Manage different ceramic firing or baking techniques according to selected clay, the expect strength of the object, and enamel colours.
- 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.
- Shape clay
Shape clay by pressing thumbs into the center of revolving clay while revolving wheels in order to obtain as end-products ware such as vases and pitchers.
- Manage different pottery materials
Manage different recipes of clay and mud according to the genre (such as china) or the expected strength, look, colour, tradition or innovation in the creative process.
- Ensure equipment availability
Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
- Apply glaze coating
Dip the products into a specific glaze coating that will make them waterproof and fix the decorative patterns and colours after the firing process.
- Polish clay products
Use abrasives to smoothen the surface of clay products such as sculptures, dolls and models working with sanding papers, manual or power tools.
- Operate a ceramics kiln
Manage the temperature of a kiln to achieve the expected results according to the type of clay such as biscuit stoneware or porcelain. Manage sintering and enamels colours.
- Paint decorative designs
Apply designs in paint, using paint sprayers, paintbrushes or spray cans.
- Use abrasive wheel
Use the specific abrasive wheel or the step in the finishing process according to the type of stone or workpiece.
- Prepare balls of clay
Prepare the balls of clay so that they are according to specifications of each end-product and position the balls in the center of the wheel.
Optional knowledge and skills
alumina ceramic work ergonomically consult technical resources keep records of work progress form moulding mixture maintain equipment manage delivery of raw materials study craft trends use personal protection equipment design objects to be crafted report defective manufacturing materials assess conservation needs monitor stock level pack fragile items for transportation prepare production prototypes record production data for quality controlSource: Sisyphus ODB