Sugar refinery operator

Sugar refinery operators tend and control refinery equipment to produce sugars and related products from raw sugar or other raw materials like corn starch.

The following job titles also refer to sugar refinery operator:

sugar production operative
sugar refinery operative
sugar worker
sugar plant operative

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as sugar refinery 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.

Sugar refinery operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

cocoa press operator
bulk filler
carbonation operator
cider fermentation operator
cocoa mill operator

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

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

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

• Enzymatic processing: Enzymatic processes used in food production as well as in other industrial biotechnological processes.
• Chemical aspects of sugar: Chemical aspects and constitution of sugar to alter recipes and provide customers with experiences of pleasure.
• Types of sugars: Variety of sugars and starches from different raw materials. Differences in texture and the level of sweetness that is provided by a measured amount of the refined product.

These skills are necessary for the role of sugar refinery operator.

• Measure sugar refinement: Measuring the level of refinement of sugars.
• Comply with food safety and hygiene: Respect optimal food safety and hygiene during preparation, manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution and delivery of food products.
• Disassemble equipment: Disassembles equipment using hand tools in order to clean equipments and to perform regular operational maintenance.
• Tend corn starch extraction machines: Operate corn starch extraction machines, following adequate procedure, and gather the extracted elements and glucose from the process.
• Perform cleaning duties: Perform cleaning duties such as waste removal, vacuuming, emptying bins, and general cleaning of the working area. Cleaning activities should follow health and safety regulations if required.
• Handle product separation in the sugar industry: Handling the products separated by centrifuge machines such as wash molasses, mother liquor (syrup), and sugar crystals. Packing the products in different containers depending on their characteristics.
• 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.
• Perform food safety checks: Carry out food safety checks in order to assure compliance with requirements, regulations, and other good food manufacturing practices.
• 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).
• 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.
• Monitor sugar uniformity: Monitor that the sugar and centrifuged products are uniform and comply with quality standards.
• Monitor centrifugal separators: Operating and monitoring centrifugal separators.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of sugar refinery 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.
• Financial capability: Financial operations such as calculations, cost estimations, budget management taking relevant commercial and statistical data into account such as data for materials, supplies and manpower.
• Food storage: The proper conditions and methods to store food to keep it from spoiling, taking into account humidity, light, temperature and other environmental factors.
• Food preservation: Deterioration factors, controlling factors (temperature, additives, humidity, pH, water activity, etc., including packaging) and food processing methods to preserve food products.

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

• Measure density of liquids: Measuring the density of liquids, including oils, using instruments such as hygrometers, or oscillating tubes.
• 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.
• 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.
• Dispose food waste: Dispose or collect food waste with the purpose of recycling or throwing away from the production process. Follow established procedures for their disposal taking care of the environment and the safety matters according to legislations.
• 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.
• 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.

8160 – Food and related products machine operators

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References

1. Sugar refinery operator – ESCO