National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.1

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9 - Occupations in manufacturing and utilities

This category contains supervisory, production and labouring occupations in manufacturing, processing and utilities.

Occupations in this category are characterized by either technical training or internal progression, and on-the-job training. Process control occupations in this category are increasingly technical and post-secondary training is usually required. For many occupations in this category, workers typically start out as labourers and progress to machine operation occupations through experience. Progression to supervisory positions requires experience in the occupations supervised. Mobility in some of these occupations may be limited by seniority provisions of collective agreements, or may require additional training.

94 - Processing and manufacturing machine operators and related production workers

This major group comprises occupations in processing and manufacturing machine operation and related production work which usually require completion of secondary school and experience or on-the-job training. It includes machine operators and related workers in mineral and metal products processing and manufacturing; chemical, plastic and rubber processing; pulp and paper production and wood processing and manufacturing; textile, fabric, fur and leather products processing and manufacturing; food, beverage and associated products processing; and printing equipment operators and related occupations.

946 - Machine operators and related workers in food, beverage and associated products processing

This minor group includes process control and machine operators in food, beverage and associated products processing; industrial butchers and meat cutters, poulty preparers and related workers; fish and seafood plant workers; and testers and graders in food, beverage and associated products processing. They are employed by fruit and vegetable processing plants, dairies, flour mills, bakeries, sugar refineries, meat plants, breweries, leaf tobacco products plants and other food, beverage and associated products processing establishments; meat and poultry slaughtering, processing and packing establishments; and fish and seafood processing plants.

9461 - Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing

Process control and machine operators in this unit group operate multi-function process control machinery and single-function machines to process and package food and beverage products. They are employed in fruit and vegetable processing plants, dairies, flour mills, bakeries, sugar refineries, meat plants, breweries, and other food and beverage processing establishments.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • bakery machine operator - food and beverage processing
    • brewhouse operator
    • canning machine operator
    • chocolate refiner
    • cigarette machine tender
    • citrus juice extractor
    • control room operator - food and beverage processing
    • corn sugar refinery operator
    • dry foods mixer operator
    • dryer tender - tobacco processing
    • fermenter operator
    • fruit preserver - food and beverage processing
    • fryer operator - food and beverage processing
    • grain-processing machine operator
    • meat grinder - food and beverage processing
    • pasteurizer operator - food and beverage processing
    • tobacco blender
    • winery-press operator

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Bakers (See 6332 Bakers)
    • Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale (See 6331 Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale)
    • Fish and seafood plant workers (See 9463 Fish and seafood plant workers)
    • Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers (See 9462 Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers)
    • Labourers in fish and seafood processing (See 9618 Labourers in fish and seafood processing)
    • Supervisors, food and beverage processing (See 9213 Supervisors, food and beverage processing)
    • Testers and graders, food and beverage processing (See 9465 Testers and graders, food and beverage processing)
  • Main duties

    Process control operators in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Operate multi-function process control machinery through control panels, computer terminals or other control systems to grind, extract, mix, blend, cook or otherwise process food products and to bag, box or otherwise package food products
    • Operate multi-function process control machinery to grind, extract, mix, blend, distill, ferment or otherwise process alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages and to bottle, can or otherwise package beverages
    • Observe gauges, computer printouts and video monitors to verify specified processing conditions and make adjustments to process variables such as cooking times, ingredient inputs, flow rates and temperature settings
    • Maintain shift log of production and other data.

    Machine operators in this group perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Set up and adjust food or beverage processing and packaging machines
    • Operate single-function machines to grind, extract, mix, blend, dry, freeze, cook or otherwise process food or beverage products
    • Operate single-function machines to box, can or otherwise package food or beverage products
    • Check products to ensure conformance to company standards and clear machine blockages as required
    • Record production information such as quantity, weight, size, date and type of products packaged
    • Perform corrective machine adjustments, clean machines and immediate work areas.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school may be required.
    • On-the-job training is provided.
    • Experience as a machine operator in food or beverage processing is usually required for industrial process control operators.
    • Experience as a labourer in food or beverage processing may be required for machine operators.
  • Additional information

    • There is little mobility among the various types of process control operators within the food and beverage processing industry.
    • Process control operators may progress to supervisory positions in food and beverage processing with experience.
    • There is mobility among machine operators within the food and beverage processing industry.
    • Machine operators may progress to process control operation or supervisory positions in food and beverage processing with experience.
9462 - Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers

Workers in this unit group prepare meat and poultry for further processing or for packaging for wholesale distribution. They are employed in meat and poultry slaughtering, processing and packing establishments.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • beef boner
    • ham cutter
    • industrial butcher
    • industrial meat cutter
    • meat trimmer
    • poultry preparer
    • slaughterer

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale (See 6331 Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale)
    • Labourers in food and beverage processing (See 9617 Labourers in food and beverage processing)
    • Meat graders (See 9465 Testers and graders, food and beverage processing)
    • Meat inspectors (See 2222 Agricultural and fish products inspectors)
    • Supervisors, meat packing (See 9213 Supervisors, food and beverage processing)
  • Main duties

    Workers in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:

    Industrial butchers

    Slaughter livestock using stunning devices and knives

    • Skin, clean and trim carcasses
    • Remove viscera and other inedible parts from carcasses
    • Split carcasses into smaller portions to facilitate handling
    • May slaughter cattle, calves and sheep as prescribed by religious laws.

    Industrial meat cutters

    • Cut beef, lamb, pork or veal carcasses or sides or quarters of carcasses into primal cuts for further cutting, processing or packaging
    • Remove bones from meat
    • Cut meat and poultry into specific cuts for institutional, commercial or other wholesale use
    • Remove skin, excess fat, bruises or other blemishes from carcasses or meat portions.

    Poultry preparers

    • Slaughter poultry and remove inedible parts
    • Remove feathers and singe and wash poultry to prepare for further processing or packaging.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school may be required.
    • For industrial meat cutters, completion of a program in industrial meat cutting
      or
      Experience as an industrial butcher is required.
    • On-the-job training is provided for industrial butchers, meat cutters and poultry preparers.
  • Additional information

    • Industrial meat cutters may progress to inspecting, testing and grading jobs.
    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
9463 - Fish and seafood plant workers

This unit group includes fish and seafood plant machine operators who set up and operate machinery to process and package fish and seafood products, and fish and seafood plant cutters and cleaners who cut, trim and clean fish or seafood by hand. Fish and seafood plant workers are employed in fish and seafood processing plants.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • fish cake maker
    • fish canning machine operator
    • fish cleaner and cutter
    • fish cutting machine operator - fish processing
    • fish plant worker
    • seafood preparer - fish and seafood processing
    • shellfish processor
    • shellfish shucker
    • trimmer - fish processing

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Labourers in fish and seafood processing (See 9618 Labourers in fish and seafood processing)
    • Supervisors, food and beverage processing (See 9213 Supervisors, food and beverage processing)
  • Main duties

    Fish and seafood plant machine operators perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Set up and operate machines to clean, cut, cook, smoke, brine, dehydrate or otherwise process fish or seafood products
    • Set up and operate machines to can, bag, box or otherwise package fish and seafood products
    • Check products and packaging for defects and to ensure conformance to company standards and perform corrective machine adjustments as required
    • Record production information such as quantity, weight, date and type of products packaged.

    Fish and seafood plant cutters and cleaners perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Cut, clean and trim fish or seafood prior to marketing or further processing
    • Scrape away scales, cut fish, separate fillets and remove scrap parts using knife
    • Check fish fillets to determine optimal number and size of fillet sections, cut sections according to specifications and place in container for weighing
    • Disjoint and remove meat from lobsters or other crustaceans preparatory to canning or further processing.
  • Employment requirements

    • Some secondary school education may be required.
    • On-the-job training is required.
  • Additional information

    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
9465 - Testers and graders, food and beverage processing

Testers and graders in this unit group test or grade ingredients and finished food or beverage products to ensure conformance to company standards. They are employed in fruit and vegetable processing plants, dairies, flour mills, bakeries, sugar refineries, fish plants, meat plants, breweries and other food and beverage processing plants.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • beef grader
    • beer tester
    • cheese grader
    • fish grader
    • milk grader
    • poultry grader
    • product tester - food and beverage processing
    • tobacco grader

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Agricultural and fish products inspectors (See 2222 Agricultural and fish products inspectors)
    • Quality control technologists and technicians in food processing (See 2211 Chemical technologists and technicians)
    • Supervisors, food and beverage processing (See 9213 Supervisors, food and beverage processing)
  • Main duties

    Testers and graders in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Take samples of products at various stages of processing
    • Examine ingredients or finished products by sight, touch, taste and smell or weigh materials to ensure conformance to company standards
    • Conduct routine tests for product specifications such as colour, alcohol content, carbonation, moisture content, temperature, fat content and packaging
    • Grade or sort raw materials or finished products
    • Ensure hygiene and sanitation practices conform to policies and regulations
    • Advise supervisors of ingredient or product deficiencies.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    • Experience as a machine operator or labourer in the food or beverage processing industry may be required.
    • On-the-job training is usually provided.
  • Additional information

    • There is little mobility among the various types of testers and graders in this unit group.
    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
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