Clay products dry kiln operator

Clay products dry kiln operators manage drying tunnels that are meant for drying clay products prior to their treatment in kiln.

The following job titles also refer to clay products dry kiln operator:

drying tunnel kiln operative
dryer kiln operator
clay kiln operator
clay dryer kiln operator
clay roaster
tunnel drier operator
drying tunnel kiln operator
clay drying tunnel operator
kiln tender
dryer operator
clay dryer kiln operative
kiln worker
drying tunnel operator
dryer kiln operative

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a clay products dry kiln operator.

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.

Clay products dry kiln operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to clay products dry kiln operator.

clay kiln burner
kiln firer
tunnel kiln operator
soap chipper
plodder operator

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

chemical plant control room operator
air separation plant operator
chemical processing plant controller
gas processing plant supervisor
plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor

These skills are necessary for the role of clay products dry kiln operator.

• Optimise production processes parameters: Optimise and maintain the parameters of the production process such as flow, temperature or pressure.
• Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
• Monitor environmental parameters: Check the impact of manufacturing machinery on the environment, analysing temperature levels, water quality and air pollution.
• Tend drying tunnels: Tend the tunnels which are used to dry clay products such as bricks or roofing tiles prior to their further processing into the kiln.
• Manage waste: Manage or dispose of significant amounts of waste materials or hazardous materials. Ensure required licenses and permits are in place and reasonable management practices, industry standards, or commonly accepted farming practices followed.
• Operate drying blowers: Operate the portable air and heat blowers by placing them in the drying aisles in order to dry specific products.
• Follow production schedule: Follow production schedule taking into account all requirements, times and needs. This schedule outlines what individual commodities must be produced in each time period and encapsulates various concerns like production, staffing, inventory, etc. It is usually linked to manufacturing where the plan indicates when and how much of each product will be demanded. Utilise all the information in the actual implementation of the plan.
• Conform with production requirements: Conform with production requirements by reading the production schedule and adjusting temperature to the actual humidity, size and type of the products which will be dried.

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

• Advise on clay products handling: Advise other workers on the covering of end-products with tarpaulin.
• Adjust production schedule: Adjust work schedule in order to maintain permanent shift operation.
• Patch clay products: Patch damaged products using handtools and patch clay.
• Monitor end-product drying process: Let the end-products to cool and dry during the correct amount of time. If necessary, hasten the drying process using kilns or delay it by allowing water to humidify the products.
• Write batch record documentation: Write reports on the manufactured batches history taking into account the raw data, tests performed and compliance to GMP of each batch of product.
• Manage kiln ventilation: Managing a product specific and energy efficient kiln ventilation.
• Provide training: Provide training and orientation to new team members, or assign this task to an appropriately experienced team member.

8181 – Glass and ceramics plant operators

References

1. Clay products dry kiln operator – ESCO