Germination operator

Germination operators tend steeping and germination vessels where barley is germinated to produce malt.

The following job titles also refer to germination operator:

brewer
malster
steep vessel operator
maltster
brewery technician

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a germination 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.

Germination operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

cocoa mill operator
cider fermentation operator
cocoa press operator
malt kiln operator
cacao beans cleaner

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

malt house supervisor
animal feed supervisor
green coffee coordinator
water treatment systems operator
green coffee buyer

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

• Temperature scales: Celsius and Fahrenheit temperature scales.
• Malting process: The malting process consists of soaking cereal grains, usually barley, and then halting further germination by kilning.
• Airtight storage: Airtight storage techniques to prevent the entrance or escape of air or gas and to discourage moisture and vermin intrusion.

These skills are necessary for the role of germination operator.

• Comply with food safety and hygiene: Respect optimal food safety and hygiene during preparation, manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution and delivery of food products.
• Record malting cycle data: Record data concerning the malting cycle and its variables such as air, water temperature, and humidity content.
• Check processing parameters: Check processing parameters to keep under control the technological processes.
• Operate grain cleaning machine: Start automatic cleaning machine that blows as well as sifts foreign particles, like dirt, twigs, and also stones from whole grain conveys clean grain to storage tank for further processing.
• 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.
• Malt grains: Germinate the grain to produce and prepare malt for drying.
• Assess cereal quality for brewing: Assessing barley variety, germination potential, moisture content, nitrogen content, and screening for grain 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.
• 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).
• Monitor temperature in manufacturing process of food and beverages: Monitor and control required temperatures in the different phases of production until the product reaches suitable properties according to specifications.
• Tend fans for machines: Start fans that force conditioned air into drums or compartments.
• Tend agitation machine: Tend agitation machine ensuring that there is a uniform agitation of the batch.
• Exert quality control to processing food: Ensure the quality of all factors involved in a food production process.
• Adjust temperature gauges: Operate temperature gauges to maintain food and drink items at appropriate temperatures.

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

• Health, safety and hygiene legislation: The set of health, safety and hygiene standards and items of legislation applicable in a specific sector.

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

• Follow written instructions: Follow written directions in order to perform a task or carry out a step-by-step procedure.
• 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.
• Assess quality characteristics of food products: Assess quality characteristics of food products in terms of the main properties (e.g. physical, sensorial, chemical, technological, etc.) for raw materials, half-finished products, as well as finish products.
• Inspect insects in whole grain: Inspect loads of unprocessed grain to detect harmful insects, like grain beetles.
• 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.
• Follow verbal instructions: Have the ability to follow spoken instructions received from colleagues. Strive to understand and clarify what is being requested.

8160 – Food and related products machine operators

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References

1. Germination operator – ESCO