Working on production operations, setting up, and performing operational maintenance on food and drink machinery
This occupation is found in the food and drink manufacturing sector.
Companies are in the main large. They may produce one type of food and drink product or a range of products. Products may include biscuits, cakes, confectionary, fresh fruit, ready-to-eat and ready-to cook food, sandwiches, salads, soft drinks, and wraps.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to support the manufacture of quality food and drink products. They conduct start-up, close-down, changeover, and handovers in the manufacturing process, often using highly automated equipment and technology. They keep the manufacturing process running through operating machinery, front-line fault diagnosis and resolution, asset care, and performing basic maintenance. A key focus for technical operators is food safety, through monitoring Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points and recording the results. As they operate in a regulated environment, they may be involved in conducting internal audits and supporting external audits to demonstrate compliance. Demonstrating compliance will also involve completing and updating documents, risk assessments, and completing traceability records. Food and drink manufacturing is often a team activity. Technical operators may help to develop and support others through training and setting an example. They strive to continuously improve performance and quality (considering safety, quality, driving value). They support the implementation of new products or processes. During incidents, such as fires, accidents or near misses, they implement incident management procedures. Manufacturing process technicians will spend time on the production lines and off-line while working on activities such as projects. They are likely to be required to work shifts, including unsociable hours.
In their daily work, they interact with process operatives, other technical operators and site teams. This may include engineering, maintenance, quality, research and development, and packaging teams. They also interact with auditors, regulators and customers undertaking site visits. They typically report to an operational manager. They work with minimal supervision.
An employee in this occupation is responsible for working as part of a team to manufacture safe and compliant products. They need to meet deadlines, productivity, efficiency, hygiene, and environmental requirements, and ensure the health and safety of self and others.
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Duty 1 Prepare and run food and drink manufacturing line including hygienic practices, start-up, close-down, changeover, and handovers of manufacturing process. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K6 K7 K8 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K24 K25 |
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Duty 2 Monitor and record results of Critical Control Points in food and drink manufacturing. |
K2 K3 K8 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 |
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Duty 3 Control stock for example, intake of goods, storage of goods, entering information into management systems. |
K1 K2 K3 K7 K8 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K23 K24 |
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Duty 4 Resolve ‘front-line’ faults, relating to machines, raw materials through to finished product, people or packaging directly or via escalation. Identify the root cause. |
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Duty 5 Assist maintenance engineers by conducting first line mechanical engineering maintenance – preventative and reactive. For example, planned maintenance, repairs and overhauls. |
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Duty 6 Perform asset care tasks for example, lubricate. |
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Duty 7 Monitor performance for example, efficiency, wastage and compliance with environmental standards. |
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Duty 8 Undertake quality assurance to ensure compliance with company/customer requirements, for example take product samples. |
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Duty 9 Complete documentation for example, traceability, accident reports (near misses). |
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Duty 10 Develop and support others. |
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Duty 11 Conduct internal audits, in accordance with food and drink industry standards. |
K1 K2 K5 K7 K8 K13 K14 K15 K22 K25 K26 |
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Duty 12 Support external audits for example, act as a guide for area of responsibility and/or provide information. |
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Duty 13 Develop, contribute to or update risk assessments and standard operating procedures for area of responsibility. |
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Duty 14 Support projects, such as the introduction of a new process, equipment or product, by trialling processes, new standard operating procedures, and training others and sampling new products. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K6 K9 K14 K15 K20 K21 K23 K24 K25 K26 |
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Duty 15 Undertake continuous improvement activities within area of responsibility for example, to improve quality, equipment efficiency, increase productivity, reduce run-time, reduce waste, or improve ergonomics of area. |
K1: The food and drink sector. Food industry regulators: British Retail Consortium, Food Standards Agency. Types of organisations: branded and non-branded, high and low care sites. Types of food and drink products. End-to-end supply chain. Customers and consumers. Seasonal impact on product demand. Current food and drink trends.
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K2: Food and drink technical operator’s role. Limits of autonomy. Different teams and functions involved in production. Business operation considerations: efficiency, customer satisfaction, competitiveness, minimising risks to production.
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K3: Food and drink manufacturing methods and processes. How technology supports production. Characteristics and properties of food and drink products: ambient, frozen, fresh, chilled, confectionery, liquid. Handling requirements. Effects of external influences. Packaging types and functionality.
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K4: Standard operating procedures. What they are and why they are important. What they need to cover and why: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), isolation and lock off, guarding, strip and assembly of equipment, step by step process. Use of visuals and symbols.
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K5: Food and drink industry quality management standards for example, British Retail Consortium. What they are and why they are important.
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K6: Food and drink tools and equipment: pumps, valves, lines, gauges, temperature controls, mixers, conveyors, depositors, sealers, touch screen technology, human machine interface, Programmable Logical Control (PLC) systems and handheld devices. Operating standards and equipment set points.
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K7: Customer specifications: purpose and consequences of non-compliance.
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K8: Line performance management. Key Performance Indicators. How line performance impacts profitability of the business.
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K9: Role of line trials in new product introduction.
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K10: Legislation and standards: Food Safety Act, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Threat Analysis of Critical Control Points (TACCP), Vulnerability Assessment of Critical Control Points (VACCP).
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K11: Food safety: microbiology, physical, chemical contamination hazards and control. Food poisoning. Personal hygiene. Design of food premises and equipment. Cleaning and disinfection principles and procedures, cleaning in place (CIP). Pest control. Control measures. Supervisory management.
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K12: Food integrity: temperature control, date code responsibilities, foreign object contamination. Documentation records.
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K13: Material and ingredient specification requirements: segregation, storage, maintaining product origin, integrity and traceability. Allergen identification and control methods.
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K14: Health and Safety at Work Act – responsibilities. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Risk assessments. Safe systems of work. Manual handling. Types of hazards. Near miss reporting. Due diligence. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Situational awareness. Isolation and emergency stop procedures. Emergency evacuation procedures. Slips, trips and falls. Safety equipment: guards, signage, fire extinguishers.
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K15: Environment and sustainability. Environmental Protection Act - responsibilities. Types of pollution and control measures: noise, smells, spills, and waste. Efficient use of resources. Environmental permits. Waste management. Recycling.
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K16: Types of incidents - fire, accidents, near-misses. Mitigation methods. Incident management.
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K17: Principles of mechanical engineering technologies and safe working practices: lubrication, hydraulics, fluid power, mechanical, bench fitting, pumps and valves, pneumatics, drives, fitting and hand tools, units and measurements, fault-location, stored energy and safe isolation.
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K18: Different types of maintenance activities: preventative, reactive. What they are and why they are important.
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K19: Food safety engineering: food grade oils, safe use of tools and equipment.
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K20: Problem solving techniques: root cause analysis, 6 thinking hats, DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control), PDCA (Plan Do Check Act). Fault finding techniques: root cause analysis, 5 Whys, fishbone, half-split.
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K21: Continuous improvement techniques: lean, 6-sigma, KAIZEN, 5S (Sort, set, shine, standardise and sustain), SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Dies).
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K22: Audit requirements - internal and external. Five stages of audit. Responsibilities of auditor and auditee.
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K23: Information technology: Management Information Systems (MIS), spreadsheets, presentation, word processing, email, virtual communication and learning platforms. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
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K24: Planning, prioritising and time management techniques. Work management systems.
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K25: Communication techniques: verbal, non-verbal.
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K26: Communication techniques: written. Writing using plain English principles.
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K27: Workplace training and buddying techniques.
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K28: Team working techniques.
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S1: Interpret, follow and implement food and drink production SOPs.
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S2: Interpret, follow and implement quality assurance procedures.
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S3: Monitor production performance, stock usage and rotation.
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S4: Operate or use food and drink production tools and equipment.
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S5: Identify hazards (Critical Control Points) and control measures to mitigate risks.
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S6: Comply with food safety regulations and procedures.
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S7: Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures.
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S8: Comply with environment and sustainability regulations and procedures. Segregate, recycle and dispose of waste.
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S9: Monitor and inspect production machinery.
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S10: Apply basic maintenance practices. For example, check levels, parts wear, pressure, and sensors, and grease and lubricate.
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S11: Select and use maintenance hand tools.
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S12: Follow food safe engineering standards and practices. For example, use of food safe chemicals, check out and in of components.
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S13: Follow site isolation and lock off procedures (lockout, tagout).
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S14: Diagnose and resolve issues. Escalate issues.
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S15: Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques.
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S16: Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
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S17: Collect and interpret information. Use data to apply changes
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S18: Record information - paper based or electronic.
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S19: Use information technology. Comply with GDPR.
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S20: Plan and organise self, others and resources.
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S21: Communicate with colleagues and stakeholders visually and verbally.
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S22: Communicate in writing.
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S23: Identify training needs. Train and buddy team members in the workplace.
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B1: Prioritise and promote health and safety, and food safety.
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B2: Prioritise and promote the environment and sustainability.
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B3: Apply a professional approach.
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B4: Take responsibility for work.
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B5: Team-focus to meet work goals.
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B6: Respond and adapt to work demands.
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B7: Committed to Continued Professional Development.
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Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
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