What You'll Do

  • Observe, feel, taste, or otherwise examine products during and after processing to ensure conformance to standards.
  • Observe temperature, humidity, pressure gauges, and product samples and adjust controls, such as thermostats and valves, to maintain prescribed operating conditions for specific stages.
  • Operate or tend equipment that roasts, bakes, dries, or cures food items such as cocoa and coffee beans, grains, nuts, and bakery products.
  • Set temperature and time controls, light ovens, burners, driers, or roasters, and start equipment, such as conveyors, cylinders, blowers, driers, or pumps.
  • Observe flow of materials and listen for machine malfunctions, such as jamming or spillage, and notify supervisors if corrective actions fail.
  • Record production data, such as weight and amount of product processed, type of product, and time and temperature of processing.
  • Weigh or measure products, using scale hoppers or scale conveyors.
  • Read work orders to determine quantities and types of products to be baked, dried, or roasted.
  • Take product samples during or after processing for laboratory analyses.
  • Fill or remove product from trays, carts, hoppers, or equipment, using scoops, peels, or shovels, or by hand.

Essential Skills

Operations Monitoring 3.62/5
Monitoring 3.5/5
Reading Comprehension 3.12/5
Active Listening 3.12/5
Critical Thinking 3.12/5
Operation and Control 3.12/5
Quality Control Analysis 3.12/5
Speaking 3.0/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.0/5
Coordination 3.0/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.0/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.0/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.

Common styles

Dependability, Independence, Attention to Detail, Cooperation, Self-Control

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Near Vision 3.75/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.25/5
Oral Comprehension 3.12/5
Information Ordering 3.12/5
Category Flexibility 3.12/5
Perceptual Speed 3.12/5
Selective Attention 3.12/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.12/5

Technologies & Tools

Email software Microsoft Excel

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.22/5)
  • Independence (High importance: 4.05/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.02/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 3.89/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 3.74/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Automatic Oven Operator Bakery Production Associate Bakery Production Worker Bakery Worker Baking Assistant Bean Roaster Belt Conveyor Drier Bone Char Kiln Operator Bun Panner Buttermilk Drier Operator Chocolate Temperer Cocoa Bean Roaster Cocoa Roaster Coffee Roaster Continuous Process Coffee Roaster Corn Popper Curing Bin Operator Curing Room Worker Dehydrator Operator Dehydrator Tender Drier Drier Attendant Drier Operator Drier Tender Drum Drier Drum Drier Operator Dryer Operator Drying Machine Operator Enrober Enrober Operator Fish Salter Fish Smoker Flaker Operator Food Dehydrator Operator Food Production Worker Fruit Dryer Furnace Operator Grain Drier Grain Drier Operator Grain Roaster Grain Wafer Machine Operator Granulator Operator Gunner Ham Curer Ham Smoker Icing Machine Operator Instantizer Operator Kiln Firer Line Operator Linter Drier Operator Long Goods Drier Machine Operator Machine Pie Maker Malt House Kiln Operator Malt Roaster Manufacturing Operator Meat Curer Meat Smoker Meringuer Milk Drier Milk Drying Machine Operator Nut Roaster Oven Operator Oven Technician Oven Tender Oven Worker Peanut Roaster Peelman Pizza Cook Pizza Maker Plant Utility Person Popcorn Popper Pretzel Cooker Processing Operator Production Roaster Pulp Drier Firer Reclaim Operator Redrying Machine Operator Rice Drier Rice Drier Operator Roast Master Roaster Roaster Operator Roasterman Roastmaster Sausage Smoker Smokehouse Operator Smokehouse Worker Smoker Smoker Operator Steam Oven Operator Sugar Drier Tobacco Curer Tobacco Drier Operator Vacuum Drier Operator Wafer Machine Operator Wine Pasteurizer