Cocoa mill operator

Description

Cocoa mill operators tend machines to pulverise cacao beans into powder of specified fineness. They use air classification systems that separate powder based on its density. Moreover, they weigh, bag, and stack the product.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to cocoa mill operator:

cocoa mill worker
cocoa milling operator
cocoa miller

Minimum qualifications

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a cocoa mill operator.

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.

Cocoa mill operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

Cocoa mill operator career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to cocoa mill operator.

cocoa press operator
liquor grinding mill operator
blender operator
cider fermentation operator
cacao beans cleaner

Long term prospects

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

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

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of cocoa mill operator.

  • Mill operations: Details of milling operations related to grind size, particle size distribution, heat evolution. Milling processes for different cereals and grains.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of cocoa mill operator.

  • Check processing parameters: Check processing parameters to keep under control the technological processes.
  • Ensure public safety and security: Implement the relevant procedures, strategies and use the proper equipment to promote local or national security activities for the protection of data, people, institutions, and property.
  • Collect samples for analysis: Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.
  • Clean food and beverage machinery: Clean machinery used for food or beverage production processes. Prepare the appropriate solutions for cleaning. Prepare all parts and assure that they are clean enough to avoid deviation or errors in the production process.
  • Apply HACCP: Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).
  • 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.
  • Work in conveyor belts in food manufacturing: Work in rotating conveyor belt systems in food manufacturing.
  • Analyse milled cocoa density: Analyse milled cocoa density according to the requirements and product specifications. Apply findings to determine how much milling is needed to obtain the required fineness of the cocoa.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Apply GMP: Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
  • Operate weighing machine: Work with a weighing machine to measure raw, half-finished and finished products.
  • Work in a food processing team: Collaborate in a team with other food processing professionals in service of the food and beverages industry.
  • Exert quality control to processing food: Ensure the quality of all factors involved in a food production process.
  • Tend grinding mill machine: Operate a grinding mill that grinds grains such as cereals, cocoa beans or coffee beans to obtain powders or pastes with different consistencies and grain sizes.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of cocoa mill 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 cocoa mill operator. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Set up equipment for food production: Set up machinery and equipment for food production. Make sure that controls, settings, and input requirements are according to the required standards.
  • Act reliably: Proceed in a way that one can be relied on or depended on.
  • Manage corrective actions: Implementing corrective action and continuous improvement plans from internal and third party audits to meet food safety and quality performance indicators with adherance to agreed timescales.
  • Monitor milled food products: Monitor milled food products to make sure they comply with production requirements and quality standards.
  • 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.
  • Assess cocoa bean quality: Examining the type ofcocoa bean delivered by suppliers and matching it to the desired product.
  • 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.
  • Follow hygienic procedures during food processing: Ensure a clean working space according to hygienic standards in the food processing industry.
  • Lift heavy weights: Lift heavy weights and apply ergonomic lifting techniques to avoid damaging the body.
  • Perform services in a flexible manner: Adapt service approach when circumstances change.
  • 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. Cocoa mill operator – ESCO
Last updated on August 9, 2022

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