# Tasks & work activities — food production operator

Source: O*NET 30.3, occupation 51-3093.00 (Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders).

## Task statements

- **[Core]** Record production and test data, such as processing steps, temperature and steam readings, cooking time, batches processed, and test results.
- **[Core]** Listen for malfunction alarms, and shut down equipment and notify supervisors when necessary.
- **[Core]** Collect and examine product samples during production to test them for quality, color, content, consistency, viscosity, acidity, or specific gravity.
- **[Core]** Observe gauges, dials, and product characteristics, and adjust controls to maintain appropriate temperature, pressure, and flow of ingredients.
- **[Core]** Read work orders, recipes, or formulas to determine cooking times and temperatures, and ingredient specifications.
- **[Core]** Clean, wash, and sterilize equipment and cooking area, using water hoses, cleaning or sterilizing solutions, or rinses.
- **[Core]** Set temperature, pressure, and time controls, and start conveyers, machines, or pumps.
- **[Core]** Tend or operate and control equipment, such as kettles, cookers, vats and tanks, and boilers, to cook ingredients or prepare products for further processing.
- **[Core]** Measure or weigh ingredients, using scales or measuring containers.
- **[Core]** Admit required amounts of water, steam, cooking oils, or compressed air into equipment, such as by opening water valves to cool mixtures to the desired consistency.
- **[Core]** Remove cooked material or products from equipment.
- **[Core]** Notify or signal other workers to operate equipment or when processing is complete.
- **[Core]** Turn valves or start pumps to add ingredients or drain products from equipment and to transfer products for storage, cooling, or further processing.
- **[Core]** Pour, dump, or load prescribed quantities of ingredients or products into cooking equipment, manually or using a hoist.
- **[Supplemental]** Place products on conveyors or carts, and monitor product flow.
- **[Supplemental]** Activate agitators and paddles to mix or stir ingredients, stopping machines when ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
- **[Supplemental]** Operate auxiliary machines and equipment, such as grinders, canners, and molding presses, to prepare or further process products.

## Detailed work activities

- Adjust equipment controls to regulate coolant flow.
- Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products.
- Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
- Clean work areas.
- Collect samples of materials or products for testing.
- Inspect food products.
- Lift materials or workpieces using cranes or other lifting equipment.
- Load materials into production equipment.
- Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes.
- Monitor instruments to ensure proper production conditions.
- Move products, materials, or equipment between work areas.
- Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs.
- Operate cooking, baking, or other food preparation equipment.
- Operate grinding equipment.
- Operate mixing equipment.
- Operate pumping systems or equipment.
- Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
- Record operational or production data.
- Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
- Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
- Signal others to coordinate work activities.
- Sterilize food cooking or processing equipment.
- Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.