skillfactor-pipeline/skills/food-production-operator/references/tasks.md

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.