Plodder operator

Plodder operators control the milled soap compression machine that produces specific shapes and sizes of soap bars, ensuring the products conform to specifications and quality requirements.

A plodder operator typically does the following:

• Unbolts head of machine and inserts specified plate that shapes and sizes bar.
• Opens valves to admit steam into heating coils, water to reduce heat caused by friction on compression screw, and create vacuum to draw soap through machine.
• Unbolts filter cap from machine and changes filter.
• Starts machine.
• Inspects compressed bars for specified color, size, and smoothness.

The following job titles also refer to plodder operator:

soap production worker
soap compression machine operative
plodding-machine operative
plodder operative
plodding-machine operator
plodding-machine minder
soap production operative
plodder worker
soap compression machine worker
soap compression machine operator
plodding-machine worker

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

Plodder operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

soap chipper
soap tower operator
clay products dry kiln operator
paint mixer
soap drier operator

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

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

These skills are necessary for the role of plodder operator.

• Optimise production processes parameters: Optimise and maintain the parameters of the production process such as flow, temperature or pressure.
• Use a computer: Utilise computer equipment or digital devices to facilitate quality control, data management, and communication. Follow instructions given by a computer programme, create computer files or documents.
• 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.
• Select soap shaping plate: Select the corresponding plate and insert it into the plodder machine. The selection of the plate must be done according to specifications so that the soap bars will have the correct shape and size.
• Change soap filter: Change the soap filter from the plodder machine by unbolting the filter cap, inspecting it and replacing it according to specifications.
• Tend plodder machines: Tend the plodder machine by setting it up and operating it in order to transform milled soap into soap bars.
• Monitor valves: Monitor and accordingly adjust the valves in order to allow a specific amount of liquids (such as ammonia sulfuric acid or viscous soap) or steam into the mixer or machine.

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

• Electrical instrumentation engineering: The way in which electrical and instrumentation engineering (E and I engineering) modernises the production infrastructure from design to preparation of execution phase and the execution phase itself followed by the after-sales services, improvements obtain by using the electrical and instrumentation engineering.
• Chemical processes: The relevant chemical processes used in manufacture, such as purification, separation, emulgation and dispergation processing.
• Basic chemicals: The production and characteristisc of organic basic chemicals such as ethanol, methanol, benzene and inorganic basic chemicals such as oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen.

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

• Handle bulk transfer of raw material: Transfer dry raw materials using suitable mechanical handling systems like screw feeders, or using gravity or pneumatic means.
• Monitor environmental parameters: Check the impact of manufacturing machinery on the environment, analysing temperature levels, water quality and air pollution.
• Transfer chemicals: Transfer the chemical mixture from the mixing tank to the storage tank by turning on the valves.
• 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.
• Monitor chemical process condition: Monitor the conformity of the chemical process, checking all indicators or warning signals provided by the instruments such as recording instruments, flowmeters and panel lights.

8131 – Chemical products plant and machine operators

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References

1. Plodder operator – ESCO
2. Plodder operator: Job Description – CareerPlanner.com