National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.3
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.
92 - Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators
This major group comprises supervisors and central control operator occupations in processing, manufacturing and utilities which usually require completion of secondary school and several years of experience, and may require a college diploma, some postsecondary education, a licence or certification. This major group includes processing and manufacturing supervisors; assembly and fabrication supervisors; central control and process operators in processing and manufacturing; and utilities equipment operators and controllers.
923 - Central control and process operators in processing and manufacturing
This minor group includes central control and process operators in mineral and metal processing; petroleum, gas and chemical process operators; and pulping, papermaking and coating control operators. They are employed by mineral ore and metal processing plants; petroleum and natural gas processing, pipeline and petrochemical companies; industrial, agricultural and specialty chemical and pharmaceutical companies; and pulp and paper companies.
9231 - Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing
Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing, operate and monitor multi-function process control machinery and equipment to control the processing of mineral ores, metals or cement. They are employed in mineral ore and metal processing plants such as copper, lead and zinc refineries, uranium processing plants, steel mills, aluminum plants, precious metal refineries and cement processing plants.
Illustrative example(s)
- blast furnace operator
- central control caster
- central control room operator - primary metal processing
- chief flotation operator
- console operator - cement manufacturing
- pelletizing control operator
- roaster operator - primary metal processing
- rolling mill control operator
Exclusion(s)
- Foundry furnace operators and casters (See 9412 Foundry workers)
- Machine operators, mineral and metal processing (See 9411 Machine operators, mineral and metal processing)
- Supervisors, mineral and metal processing (See 9211 Supervisors, mineral and metal processing)
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Co-ordinate and monitor the operation of a particular aspect of mineral ore, metal and cement processing production through control panels, computer terminals or other control systems, usually from a central control room
- Operate multi-function central process control machinery to grind, separate, filter, melt, roast, treat, refine or otherwise process mineral ores
- Observe computer printouts, video monitors and gauges to verify specified processing conditions and to make necessary adjustments
- Co-ordinate and supervise production crew such as machine and process operators, tenders, assistants and helpers
- Start up and shut down the production system in cases of emergency or as required by schedule
- Provide or organize training for members of production crew
- Maintain shift log of production and other data and prepare production and other reports.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- A college diploma may be required for some positions in this group.
- On-the-job training is provided.
- Several years of experience as a machine or process operator, usually in the same company or production department, are required.
Additional information
- There is little mobility among the various types of central control and process operators within the mineral and metal processing industry.
- With experience, central control and process operators may progress to supervisory positions in mineral and metal processing.
9232 - Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing
Central control and process operators in petroleum, gas and chemical processing monitor and operate petroleum, petrochemical and chemical plants and monitor, adjust and maintain processing units and equipment in these plants. They are employed by petroleum and natural gas processing, pipeline and petrochemical companies and industrial, agricultural and specialty chemical and pharmaceutical companies.
Illustrative example(s)
- acid plant operator
- chemical process operator
- chemical processing chief technician
- chlor-alkali plant cell room operator
- gas field production operator
- gas plant operator
- gas recovery operator
- master operator - chemical processing
- oil refinery process operator
- panel operator - chemical processing
- petroleum process operator
- pharmaceutical processing operator
- pipeline compressor station operator
- process technician - chemical processing
- refinery process technician
Exclusion(s)
- Chemical plant machine operators (See 9421 Chemical plant machine operators)
- Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities (See 9212 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities)
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Operate electronic or computerized control panel from a central control room to monitor and optimize physical and chemical processes for several processing units
- Control process start-up, shut-down and troubleshooting
- Monitor outside process equipment
- Adjust equipment, valves, pumps and controls and process equipment
- Authorize or co-sign maintenance work orders
- Shut down, isolate and prepare process units or production equipment for maintenance
- Sample products, perform tests, record data, carry out statistical process control on process operations, and write production logs
- Develop operating procedures for normal operation, start-up or shut-down of unit
- Participate in safety audits and programs and provide emergency response when required
- Ensure adherence to safety and environmental regulations
- May rotate between different processing units during shift cycles
- May work in a team with shared supervisory responsibilities and participate in training other workers
- May be cross-trained in a skilled trade and work in the trade during shift cycles.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is required. Mathematics, chemistry and physics subjects are often specified.
- A college diploma in process operation, sciences or a related subject may be required for some positions.
- Petroleum and chemical process operators and process technicians require completion of several years of formal company training.
- Experience as a petroleum or chemical process operator in all the operating units controlled by the central control room is required for chief operators.
- Company certification as a petroleum process operator or technician may be required.
- A provincial power engineer licence, compressor operator or refrigeration certificate may be required when certain kinds of equipment are included in the process.
- Certification in the transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), first aid, firefighting, or workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) may be required.
Additional information
- There is considerable mobility among jobs within a company, often as part of a formal development or training program.
- Mobility to other petroleum or chemical processing plants is possible, but may be limited by the usual practice of training and promoting workers from within the establishment.
- Progression to supervisory or managerial positions is possible with experience.
- Personal protective equipment may be required for occupations in this unit group that may involve exposure to hazards of toxic, flammable or explosive chemicals.
9235 - Pulping, papermaking and coating control operators
Pulping, papermaking and coating control operators operate and monitor multi-function process control machinery and equipment to control the processing of wood, scrap pulp, recyclable paper, cellulose materials, paper pulp and paperboard. They are employed by pulp and paper companies.
Illustrative example(s)
- bleach plant operator - pulp and paper
- panelboard operator - pulp and paper
- paper machine control operator
- pulping control operator
- pulping group operator - pulp and paper
- pulping technician
Exclusion(s)
- Papermaking and finishing machine operators (See 9433 Papermaking and finishing machine operators)
- Pulp mill machine operators (See 9432 Pulp mill machine operators)
- Supervisors, forest products processing (See 9215 Supervisors, forest products processing)
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Operate, co-ordinate and monitor pulping, papermaking and papercoating process equipment from central control room or machine consoles and control panels in equipment cabins to control process operations and machinery in the production of pulp and paper
- Control the processing of wood, scrap pulp, recyclable paper, cellulose materials, pulp paper and paperboard and monitor the chemical and physical process operations using a distributed control system and process computers
- Observe panel indicators, gauges, video monitors and other instruments to detect equipment malfunctions and ensure pulping, papermaking and coating processes are operating according to process specifications
- Analyze instrument readings and production test samples and make adjustments or direct other pulp mill, papermaking and finishing machine operators to make adjustments to pulp production, papermaking and coating process and equipment as required
- Complete and maintain production reports.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- A college or other program in forest products processing or a related subject may be required for pulping control operators.
- Completion of several weeks of formal company training and several months of on-the-job training is required.
- Several years of experience as a pulp mill, papermaking or finishing machine operator within the same company is usually required.
- A certificate in industrial first aid may be required.
- A competency certificate in natural gas may be required.
Additional information
- There is limited mobility among jobs within this unit group.
- Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
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