Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machines setters, operators, and tenders set up, operate, or tend continuous flow or vat-type equipment; filter presses; shaker screens; centrifuges; condenser tubes; precipitating, fermenting, or evaporating tanks; scrubbing towers; or batch stills. These machines extract, sort, or separate liquids, gases, or solids from other materials to recover a refined product. Includes dairy processing equipment operators.

  • Dump, pour, or load specified amounts of refined or unrefined materials into equipment or containers for further processing or storage.
  • Operate machines to process materials in compliance with applicable safety, energy, or environmental regulations.
  • Monitor material flow or instruments, such as temperature or pressure gauges, indicators, or meters, to ensure optimal processing conditions.
  • Turn valves or move controls to admit, drain, separate, filter, clarify, mix, or transfer materials.
  • Set up or adjust machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure.
  • Examine samples to verify qualities such as clarity, cleanliness, consistency, dryness, or texture.
  • Start agitators, shakers, conveyors, pumps, or centrifuge machines.
  • Inspect machines or equipment for hazards, operating efficiency, malfunctions, wear, or leaks.
  • Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.
  • Communicate processing instructions to other workers.
  • Turn valves to pump sterilizing solutions or rinse water through pipes or equipment or to spray vats with atomizers.
  • Maintain logs of instrument readings, test results, or shift production for entry in computer databases.
  • Remove clogs, defects, or impurities from machines, tanks, conveyors, screens, or other processing equipment.
  • Clean or sterilize tanks, screens, inflow pipes, production areas, or equipment, using hoses, brushes, scrapers, or chemical solutions.
  • Measure or weigh materials to be refined, mixed, transferred, stored, or otherwise processed.
  • Test samples to determine viscosity, acidity, specific gravity, or degree of concentration, using test equipment such as viscometers, pH meters, or hydrometers.
  • Install, maintain, or repair hoses, pumps, filters, or screens to maintain processing equipment, using hand tools.
  • Connect pipes between vats and processing equipment.
  • Assemble fittings, valves, bowls, plates, disks, impeller shafts, or other parts to prepare equipment for operation.
  • Remove full containers from discharge outlets and replace them with empty containers.
  • Pack bottles into cartons or crates, using machines.
Work Context

Work Context information for this career will be available soon.

Work Activities
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products.
  • Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
  • Monitor instruments to ensure proper production conditions.
  • Collect samples of materials or products for testing.
  • Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products.
  • Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes.
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Knowledge

Production and Processing
  • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mechanical
  • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Skills

Operation Monitoring
  • Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring
  • Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control
  • Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
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Abilities

Near Vision
  • The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Perceptual Speed
  • The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Information Ordering
  • The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Data base user interface and query software
  • Data entry software Hot Technology
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • SAP Hot Technology
Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
  • Word processing software
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