Leaf sorter

Description

Leaf sorters analyse colour and condition of tobacco leaves in order to determine whether they should be used as cigar wrappers or binders. They select leaves without visible defects taking into account colour variations, tears, tar spots, tight grain, and sizes as per specifications. They fold wrapper leaves into bundles for stripping.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to leaf sorter:

tobacco leaf separator
cigar leaf sorter
leaf inspector
leaf quality tester
tobacco leaf sorting attendant
tobacco leaf selector
tobacco leaf sorter
leaf quality inspector
manual leaf sorter
tobacco leaf sorters
wrapper leaf inspector
leaf sorter, tobacco
leaf quality analyst
hand leaf sorter
leaf selector

Minimum qualifications

A high school diploma is generally required to work as a leaf sorter.

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.

Leaf sorter is a Skill level 2 occupation.

Leaf sorter career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to leaf sorter.

cigar inspector
leaf tier
cigar brander
curing room worker
yeast distiller

Long term prospects

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

green coffee coordinator
animal feed supervisor
green coffee buyer
malt house supervisor
dairy processing technician

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of leaf sorter.

  • History of tobacco: The different stages and developments of tobacco cultivation, cultural particularities and trading through time.
  • 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.
  • Manufacturing of smokeless tobacco products: The processes, materials, and techniques to manufacture different types of smokeless tobacco products such as chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, tobacco gum and snus.
  • 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.
  • Manufacturing of by-products from tobacco: The processes, materials, and techniques to manufacture by products using tobacco leaves as a base such as tobacco paste for the skin and insecticides.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of leaf sorter.

  • Perform sensory evaluation: Evaluate the quality of a given type of food or beverage based on its appearance, smell, taste, aroma, and others. Suggest possible improvements and comparisons with other products.
  • Mark differences in colours: Identify differences between colours, such as shades of colour.
  • Assess the colour curing of tobacco leaves: Assess colour curing of tobacco leaves to determine the stage of curing and aging of the leaf.
  • 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.
  • Maintain updated professional knowledge: Regularly attend educational workshops, read professional publications, actively participate in professional societies.
  • Grade tobacco leaves: Grade tobacco leaves to reflect their quality and suitability for different tobacco products.
  • 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).
  • 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.
  • Assure quality of tobacco leaves: Assure quality of tobacco leaves by examining leaves for colour variations, tears, tar spots, tight grain, and size under specifications. Place leaves not suitable for wrapper in separate pile. Fold wrapper leaves into bundles for stripping.
  • 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 leaf sorter. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Tobacco products: The varieties of products that can be manufactured using tobacco leaves as a base. The types of tobacco products which are smoked tobacco products, smokeless tobacco products, and byproducts of tobacco leaves.

Optional skills and competences

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

  • Act reliably: Proceed in a way that one can be relied on or depended on.
  • Collect samples for analysis: Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.
  • Show confidence: Demonstrate degrees of maturity by fully understanding one’s own qualities and abilities which can serve as sources of confidence in different situations.
  • 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.
  • 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.

ISCO group and title

7516 – Tobacco preparers and tobacco products makers


References
  1. Leaf sorter – ESCO
Last updated on September 14, 2022

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