Cigarette making machine operator

Cigarette making machine operators in Cuba

Description

Cigarette making machine operators tend cigarette-making machines to encase tobacco in continuous paper rolls followed by cutting cigarettes from roll. They place roll of cigarette paper on spindles and set monogram-printing devices to print brand name on cigarette paper at specified position.

Working conditions

The strict regulations for sanitation, good ventilation, and lighting provide pleasant working conditions in tobacco factories. The presence of tobacco dust may cause physical discomfort for some workers. Much of the work, such as that done by machine operators and others, may be monotonous. Also, workers paid by the number of pieces they produce may be under some pressure to work quickly.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to cigarette making machine operator:

machine operator tobacco processing
filter cigarette-making machine operator
cigarette machine tender
filter cigarette making machine operator
cigarette machine maker attendant
machine operative (tobacco processing)
cigarette making machine operative
cigarette manufacturing worker
tobacco processing machine tender
cigarette machine minder
attendant in cigarette manufacturing
cigarette maker
cigarette machine operator
cigarette production worker
tobacco processing machine minder
cigarette making machine assistant
high-speed machine operator (tobacco products)
manufacture of cigarette operative
cigarette production operative
cigarette manufacturing attendant
cigarette machine driver
cigarette- making machine operator
cigarette maker operator
tobacco processing machine operators
cigarette manufacturing machinist
cigarette machine operative
cigarette manufacturing operative
cigarette rolling machine operator

Minimum qualifications

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a cigarette making machine operator. However, some employers prefer to hire high school graduates. Interested candidates need physical strength to work with machines and good eyesight to inspect products.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Cigarette making machine operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

Cigarette making machine operator career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to cigarette making machine operator.

curing room worker
leaf sorter
leaf tier
cigar brander
cocoa mill operator

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of cigarette making machine operator. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of cigarette making machine operator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

green coffee coordinator
animal feed supervisor
dairy processing technician
green coffee buyer
water treatment systems operator

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of cigarette making machine operator.

  • Quality prototype of a tobacco leaf: Characteristics and properties of a tobacco leaf to grade and consider it of high, medium, or low quality product taking into account colour variations, tears, tar spots, tight grain, and size of the leaf.
  • Curing methods for tobacco leaves: Processes which aim at eliminating the moisture of tobacco leaves and grant scent in order to prepare them for consumption.
  • Tobacco manufacturing regulations: Laws, regulations and administrative provisions concerning the manufacture and presentation of tobacco and related products.
  • Fermentation process of tobacco leaves: Process by which ammonia is released from the leaf. It can be done by raising the temperature and humidity, by heaping the tobacco into large piles or by using of a kiln. Under the raised temperature and humidity, enzymes in the leaf cause fermentation.
  • Manufacturing of smoked tobacco products: The processes, materials, and techniques to manufacture different types of smoked tobacco products such as cigars, fine cut tobacco, pipe tobacco, and cigarettes.
  • Variety of tobacco leaves: Types of tobacco cultivars and varieties and their characteristics. Connection of attributes with cigar or cigarettes product requirements.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of cigarette making machine operator.

  • Cure tobacco leaves: Remove the moisture out of the tobacco leaves directly after harvesting them through various processes such as air curing, flue curing or sun curing.
  • Cut tobacco leaves: Cut leaves into fine strands using the adequate equipment before drying. Ensure that cutting sizes are according to requirements.
  • Stock tobacco products machines with materials: Stock machine with materials for production of tobacco products. Take care to provide adequate quantities of paper, filters, glue, and other materials to achieve the daily production plan.
  • Perform stacking fermentation of tobacco leaves: Wrap large stacks of tobacco in burlap and allow them to “sweat”. The internal temperature is closely monitored. When it reaches 60 degrees Celsius, the stack is broken down to release tar, ammonia, and nicotine. Repeat the process until the stack no longer reaches 45 degrees Celsius. Strip the stems and stack them in a cooler place to age.
  • Ensure sanitation: Keep workspaces and equipment free from dirt, infection, and disease by removing waste, trash and providing for appropriate cleaning.
  • Operate monogram-printing device: Set up and operate monogram-printing device to print brand on cigarette paper at specified position.
  • Perform different tobacco leaves curing methods: Perform different tobacco leaves curing methods such as air-curing tobacco, fire-cured tobacco, flue-cured tobacco, and sun-cured tobacco.
  • Monitor machine operations: Observe machine operations and evaluate product quality thereby ensuring conformity to standards.
  • Mark differences in colours: Identify differences between colours, such as shades of colour.
  • Apply tobacco manufacturing requirements: Apply all laws, regulations and administrative provisions concerning the manufacture and presentation of tobacco and related products. Understand the regulation referring to manufacturing of tobacco.
  • Dry tobacco leaves: Dry tobacco leaves to a precisely defined level of moisture according to product specifications.
  • Perform tobacco leaves conditioning: Process tobacco to ensure that it retains elasticity by passing it through a controlled environment at the right temperature and humidity levels.
  • Perform cleaning duties: Perform cleaning duties such as waste removal, vacuuming, emptying bins, and general cleaning of the working area. Cleaning activities should follow health and safety regulations if required.
  • Assess the colour curing of tobacco leaves: Assess colour curing of tobacco leaves to determine the stage of curing and aging of the leaf.
  • Clean waste materials from machines: Clean waste materials from machine using the adequate equipment or appliances as to ensure smooth operations, avoid accidents, and maintain clean working place.
  • Apply haccp: Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).
  • Check quality of products on the production line: Check products for quality on the production line and remove defective items before and after packaging.
  • Use wrenches: Use spanners to adjust machinery and equipment.
  • Regulate flow of shredded tobacco: Regulate flow of tobacco to make sure that each cigarette contains the specified amount of shredded tobacco.
  • Be at ease in unsafe environments: Be at ease in unsafe environments like being exposed to dust, rotating equipment, hot surfaces, sub-freezing and cold storage areas, noise, wet floors and moving lift equipment.
  • Flavour tobacco leaves: Flavour tobacco leaves to set off the taste of tobacco and to maintain the quality of the product.
  • Perform pre-blending of tobacco leaves: Pre-blend tobacco leaves to ensure a balanced mix of different types of tobacco in one hand.
  • Assess moisture levels in tobacco leaves: Test tobacco leaves with an electric moisture meter to obtain moisture content.
  • Follow hygienic procedures during food processing: Ensure a clean working space according to hygienic standards in the food processing industry.
  • Separate tobacco shreds by size: Weigh tobacco for a specified number of cigarettes. Place it in an agitator equipped with a series of screens to sort shreds based on size.
  • Adhere to organisational guidelines: Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.
  • Perform detailed tobacco manufacturing operations: Perform precise tobacco manufacturing operations with great attention and detail to all steps in the creation of a qualitative product.
  • Administer additives to tobacco: Administer additives to tobacco, including flavouring. Use adequate quantities and equipment for these procedures, and take into account regulations for additives and other products in the tobacco.
  • Operate tobacco drying technology: Operate tobacco drying technology that dries the tobacco at higher temperatures and therefore more quickly than conventional dryers. Shorter drying times reduce tobacco degradation and energy consumption.
  • Apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beverages: Apply and follow national, international, and internal requirements quoted in standards, regulations and other specifications related with manufacturing of food and beverages.
  • Perform kiln fermentation of tobacco leaves: Place tobacco leaves in the kiln with the lid shut. Control heat and humidity. Kiln fermenting lasts about 4 to 6 weeks.
  • Apply gmp: Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
  • Tend cigarette making machine: Tend cigarette making machine assuring fluent operations and sufficient equipment of materials in the machine such as leaves, filters, and glue. Put the cut and conditioned tobacco, known as cut filler, in the machine to have it wrapped in cigarette paper and produce a ‘continuous cigarette’. Cut cigarettes to the appropriate length and attach a filter to the cigarette rod with tipping paper.
  • Carry out checks of production plant equipment: Carry out checks of the machinery and equipment used in the production plant. Ensure that the machinery is working properly, set machines before usage, and assure continuous operability of the equipment.
  • Perform flue-cured methods for tobacco: String tobacco leaves into tobacco sticks, and hang them from tier-poles in curing barn’s “kilns”. Slowly raise the temperature over the course of the curing process. The procedure will generally take about a week. Flue-cured tobacco generally produces with a high content of sugar and medium to high levels of nicotine.
  • Assess fermentation levels of tobacco leaves: Assess fermentation stage of tobacco leaves. Use thermometers, humidifiers, water, and your sense to test the level of fermentation.
  • Perform sun-cured methods for tobacco: Place tobacco in the sun uncovered to let it dry out naturally. Generally, oriental tobacco is low in sugar and nicotine and is very popular for cigarettes.
  • Blend tobacco leaves: Blend tobacco leaves by cutting, conditioning, and blending the leaves of tobacco before these are being wrapped in a cigar or cut for cigarettes.
  • Sort tobacco leaves: Sort tobacco leaves according to colour and condition. Select the leaves with the best specifications for rolling cigars and for quality assurance. Sort tobacco leaves for manufacturing of different products such as pipe tobacco and chewing tobacco.
  • Perform air-cured methods for tobacco: Perform air-cured tobacco by hanging the tobacco in a well-ventilated barn and allow it to dry over a period of four to eight weeks. Air-cured tobacco is generally low in sugar content, which gives the tobacco smoke a smooth, semi-sweet flavour. Air-cured tobacco leaves usually have a high nicotine content.
  • Exert quality control to processing food: Ensure the quality of all factors involved in a food production process.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of cigarette making machine operator. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of cigarette making machine operator. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Impart training on general quality management supervision: Provide training to production employees, in groups or individually, on standard operating procedures, product specifications, visual quality inspection criteria, production controls, formulas and food safety procedures.
  • Act reliably: Proceed in a way that one can be relied on or depended on.
  • Keep machines oiled for steady functioning: Oil or grease the parts of the machines and equipment that need to be lubricated. Follow safety procedures to do so.
  • Liaise with colleagues: Liaise with fellow colleagues to ensure common understanding on work related affairs and agree on the necessary compromises the parties might need to face. Negotiate compromises between parties as to ensure that work in general run efficiently towards the achievement of the objectives.
  • Lift heavy weights: Lift heavy weights and apply ergonomic lifting techniques to avoid damaging the body.
  • Follow given instructions: Follow instructions to achieve goals and meet deadlines.
  • Perform services in a flexible manner: Adapt service approach when circumstances change.
  • Work in a food processing team: Collaborate in a team with other food processing professionals in service of the food and beverages industry.
  • Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
  • Ensure compliance with environmental legislation in food production: Make sure to comply with environmental legislation in food production. Understand the legislation related to environmental matters in food manufacturing and apply it in practice.
  • Label samples: Label raw material/ product samples for laboratory checks, according to implemented quality system.

ISCO group and title

8160 – Food and related products machine operators


References
  1. Cigarette making machine operator – ESCO
  2. Tobacco Industry Worker Job Description – StateUniversity.com
  3. Featured image: By Vgenecr, CC BY-SA 3.0
Last updated on August 9, 2022

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