A Food Production Worker is a professional who is the backbone of the culinary world, contributing to the creation and delivery of delectable dishes. These individuals operate behind the scenes, ensuring the seamless production of food items that tantalize the taste buds of consumers. In this blog post, we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Food Production Workers.

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Main Responsibilities of a Food Production Worker

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Food Production Worker:

Adhere to

• Adhere to safety and hygiene regulations.

• Adhere to the company's production standard operating procedures.

Adjust

Adjust machine settings for different recipes.

Aid

Aid in prevention and reduction of food safety hazard.

Apply

Apply properly order labels on boxes.

Assemble

• Assemble and disassemble production machinery.

• Assemble packing boxes and package finished products into packing boxes.

Assist in

Assist in maintaining sage, clean and organized work area.

Assure

Assure compliance with all sanitation and safety requirements.

Change

Change machine cutting blades configuration when required.

Check

• Check inventory and for any equipment, tools, machinery or container damages.

• Check products and packaging during production to ensure their conformity and quality.

• Check, verify, pick and pull products listed on the shipping order.

Clean

• Clean and organize work area as needed.

• Clean and sanitize workstations and equipment.

• Clean filling machine ad pumps after each production and at end of the day.

• Clean workspaces and equipment to meet health and safety standards.

Clear

Clear any product jams that may occur in the production line.

Collaborate

• Collaborate with kitchen staff for efficient operations.

• Collaborate with quality control inspectors.

• Collaborate with supervisors for production planning.

Collect

Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory testing.

Communicate

• Communicate and build relationships in a diverse team-based environment.

• Communicate clearly with co-workers.

Complete

Complete daily report and any daily, monthly, semi-annual, annual reports.

Conduct

Conduct routine maintenance on machinery.

Contribute to

Contribute to a positive and collaborative team culture.

Coordinate

Coordinate with the production team for workflow.

Distribute

Distribute supplies, utensils and portable equipment.

Document

Document production and inventory data.

Ensure

• Ensure all safety equipment is worn when specified by standard operating procedures.

• Ensure good manufacturing practices are adhered to at all times.

• Ensure product production is performed using correct measuring devices and all recipes are followed.

• Ensure temperature, time and mixing requirements are in compliance for each production.

• Ensure that machines are producing quality products by periodic checking on the output.

Examine

Examine incoming and outgoing shipments.

Feed

Feed raw materials into machinery.

Fill

• Fill boxes with bread to the specified pack size in an organized manner.

• Fill gaps in the cycle process as needed.

Follow

• Follow and adheres to the company's safety program at all times.

• Follow and comply with company established procedures and policies.

• Follow and comply with food, health and occupational safety procedures.

• Follow directions and properly communicate with others.

• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

• Follow health and safety rules and practices.

• Follow recipe guidelines for food preparation.

Handle

• Handle and store ingredients properly.

• Handle food allergens with care.

• Handle variety of products.

Help

• Help manage ingredient inventory.

• Help manage product inventory.

Implement

Implement portion control measures.

Inform

Inform supervisor when non-conformities occur.

Inspect

• Inspect and ensure the quality of raw materials.

• Inspect finished products for quality control.

• Inspect and monitor fruit and vegetables for various sources of contamination.

Keep

Keep the kitchen environment sanitized and orderly.

Label

Label and date food products accurately.

Maintain

• Maintain accurate inventories.

• Maintain all aspects of our food safety program to ensure compliance with CFIA.

• Maintain and separate all allergens apart from non-allergenic ingredients.

• Maintain general cleanliness and order in the work area.

• Maintain good housekeeping and clean work areas in assigned work areas.

• Maintain high standards of food plant sanitation in all production activities.

• Maintain inventory levels of ingredients.

• Maintain product consistency.

• Maintain quality and quantity estimated during the shift.

Make

• Make boxes and places finished bags into boxes, which are then placed on pallets.

• Make boxes from pre-cut cardboard to package products.

Manage

• Manage documents necessary for shipment in a timely manner.

• Manage time and prioritize tasks to ensure completion of daily production schedule.

• Manage waste disposal in compliance with regulations.

Measure

Measure and weigh ingredients accurately.

Monitor

• Monitor and report equipment malfunctions.

• Monitor cooking temperatures and times.

Move

Move stacks of pans and / or lids on wheeled dollies to pan feeding area as needed.

Operate

• Operate food processing equipment.

• Operate industrial ovens, grills, and fryers.

• Operate, process, fill and package materials on production line equipment.

Package

• Package and label finished food products.

• Package and palletize finished goods.

Pack

Pack and palletize finished goods in a safe manner.

Perform

• Perform any specified quality assurance checks designated for each job, function or assignment.

• Perform assignments in accordance with established company procedures and policies.

• Perform basic math functions.

• Perform consistent quality inspection of products.

• Perform general cleaning duties.

• Perform packaging size changes, minor repairs and adjustments on equipment.

• Perform prep work such as washing, peeling, cutting and seeding fruits and vegetables.

Place

Place bags in boxes and keep line full at all times.

Prepare

• Prepare boxes for packing products.

• Prepare for next day according to production schedule.

• Prepare fruits and vegetables using hand cutting knives for further processing.

• Prepare, presents and serves meals, ensuring the quality of the food and overall presentation.

• Prepare workstation for next shift.

Process

Process and Packing / Boxing Division Staff in Production Department.

Provide

• Provide relevant information regarding progress to supervisors.

• Provide service in all retail areas, including cashiering and line serving.

Push

Push or pull carts or bins of finished or semi-finished materials.

Receive

Receive, unload, and store incoming inventory items and deliveries.

Remove

• Remove the products from the machines and packaging the products pursuant to the production order.

• Remove trash and garbage to designated areas.

Report

Report all unsafe working conditions to the production supervisor immediately.

Resolve

Resolve customer concerns and relays relevant information to supervisor.

Rotate

Rotate duties and production lines when necessary.

Select

Select and measure ingredients.

Serve

Serve customers in a friendly, efficient manner following outlined steps of service.

Set-up

Set-up items for purchase on daily basis.

Store

Store food in designated areas following wrapping, dating, food safety and rotation procedures.

Transport

Transport materials within the production area.

Travel

• Travel between sites may be required.

• Travel between sites will be required.

Troubleshoot

Troubleshoot equipment malfunctions.

Update

Update specified forms for new lot of ingredients.

Use

• Use computerized inventory management system to select orders and input data.

• Use pallet trucks occasionally.

Verify

Verify the raw materials are in conformance to product recipe.

Weigh

Weigh and place ingredients in blenders.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Food Production Worker:

1. Food safety and sanitation knowledge.

2. Operation of industrial kitchen equipment.

3. Basic culinary techniques.

4. Inventory management.

5. Knowledge of food processing machinery.

6. Understanding of quality control standards.

7. Basic math skills for measurements.

8. Adaptability to different recipes and techniques.

9. Compliance with safety and hygiene regulations.

10. Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

11. Attention to detail in packaging and labeling.

12. Efficient time management in a fast-paced environment.

13. Troubleshooting equipment malfunctions.

14. Ability to follow recipes accurately.

15. Portion control techniques.

16. Inventory tracking and data documentation.

17. Handling and disposal of food waste.

18. Collaboration with a diverse team.

19. Multitasking in a dynamic production environment.

20. Basic equipment maintenance skills.

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Food Production Worker:

1. Teamwork and collaboration.

2. Strong communication skills.

3. Attention to detail and precision.

4. Adaptability to changing production demands.

5. Positive attitude and work ethic.

6. Time management in a fast-paced environment.

7. Ability to follow instructions closely.

8. Problem-solving and troubleshooting.

9. Flexibility in handling various tasks.

10. Stress management and resilience in a busy kitchen.

Conclusion

In the vibrant and demanding world of food production, the success of a Food Production Worker hinges not only on technical proficiency but also on the ability to collaborate, adapt, and contribute to a positive team environment. In this blog post we described the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Food Production Workers.