Liquor grinding mill operator

Liquor grinding mill operators run mills that grind cracked cocoa beans or nibs of cocoa bean paste as to obtain liquid chocolate of specified consistency. They operate hoppers by sliding their gates to release cocoa nibs which then go through grinding stones.

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a liquor grinding mill 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.

Liquor grinding mill operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

cocoa mill operator
chocolate moulding operator
yeast distiller
cocoa press operator
extract mixer tester

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of liquor grinding 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 liquor grinding mill operator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

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

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

• Types of chocolate: Types of chocolate such as milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate, unsweetened chocolate and raw chocolate.
• Cacao beans varieties: Variety of cocoa beans like criollo, forastero, trinitario and their properties and characteristics to foresee the type of chocolate the cocoa can yield.

These skills are necessary for the role of liquor grinding mill operator.

• Screen cocoa beans: Screen cocoa beans to select the appropriate beans for roasting and grinding. See to it that the selected beans conform to quality standards. Clean cocoa beans with minor defects.
• 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.
• Apply haccp: Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).
• 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.
• Separate by-products of pressed cocoa: Separate by-products of the cocoa pressing process, such as chocolate liquor and cocoa cakes, from the cocoa butter.
• Mould chocolate: Mould chocolate to make chocolate pieces that are of a certain shape. Pour liquid chocolate into a mould and let it harden.
• 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).
• 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.
• Pre-grind nibs of cocoa: Pre-grind cocoa nibs to a paste-like consistency.
• 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 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.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of liquor grinding mill 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.
• Process from cacao to chocolate: Process to transform cacao to chocolate where the seeds of the cacao tree are fermented to develop the flavour. Process from beginning to the end including the drying of the beans, cleaning and roasting, the grinding of the nibs to obtain cocoa mass and processing accordingly.
• Mill operations: Details of milling operations related to grind size, particle size distribution, heat evolution. Milling processes for different cereals and grains.

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

• Tend cocoa cleaning machines: Operate a machine that removes from cocoa beans such foreign materials as stones and dirt.
• 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.
• 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.
• Follow hygienic procedures during food processing: Ensure a clean working space according to hygienic standards in the food processing industry.
• Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
• Label samples: Label raw material/ product samples for laboratory checks, according to implemented quality system.

8160 – Food and related products machine operators

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References

1. Liquor grinding mill operator – ESCO