National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011

A

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9461 - Process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products 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, beverage and associated products. They are employed in 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.

  • 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
    • 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
    • mixer operator, dry foods
    • pasteurizer operator - food and beverage processing
    • tobacco blender
    • winery-press operator

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Bakers (6332)
    • Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale (6331)
    • Fish and seafood plant workers (9463)
    • Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers (9462)
    • Labourers in fish and seafood processing (9618)
    • Labourers in food, beverage and associated products processing (9617)
    • Supervisors, food, beverage and associated products processing (9213)
    • Testers and graders, food, beverage and associated products processing (9465)
  • 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 processing and packaging machines preparatory to operation
    • Operate single-function machines to grind, extract, mix, blend, dry, freeze, cook or otherwise process food, beverage or associated products
    • Operate single-function machines to box, can or otherwise package food, beverage or associated 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 adjustements, 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, beverage or associated products processing is usually required for industrial process control operators.
    • Experience as a labourer in food, beverage or associated products 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, beverage and associated products processing.
    • Machine operators may progress to process control operation or supervisory positions in food, beverage and associated products processing with experience.
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