Food Batchmakers

What the job really is

Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.

At a glance

• Sector: Production
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-3092
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Record production and test data for each food product batch, such as the ingredients used, temperature, test results, and time cycle.
• Clean and sterilize vats and factory processing areas.
• Set up, operate, and tend equipment that cooks, mixes, blends, or processes ingredients in the manufacturing of food products, according to formulas or recipes.
• Mix or blend ingredients, according to recipes, using a paddle or an agitator, or by controlling vats that heat and mix ingredients.
• Follow recipes to produce food products of specified flavor, texture, clarity, bouquet, or color.
• Give directions to other workers who are assisting in the batchmaking process.
• Select and measure or weigh ingredients, using English or metric measures and balance scales.
• Press switches and turn knobs to start, adjust, and regulate equipment, such as beaters, extruders, discharge pipes, and salt pumps.
• Determine mixing sequences, based on knowledge of temperature effects and of the solubility of specific ingredients.
• Observe and listen to equipment to detect possible malfunctions, such as leaks or plugging, and report malfunctions or undesirable tastes to supervisors.
• Observe gauges and thermometers to determine if the mixing chamber temperature is within specified limits, and turn valves to control the temperature.
• Turn valve controls to start equipment and to adjust operation to maintain product quality.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Office software, Agitators, Balance scales, Ball mills, Beaters, Candy cookers, Candy stoves, Centrifugal clarifiers, Cheese cutters, Cheese finishing tables, Cheese presses, Cheese vats

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
• Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders
• Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Bakers
• Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
• Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders
• Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Food Batchmakers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.