Food technician to food production operator

• already held administer ingredients in food production skill
• already held apply GMP skill
• already held apply HACCP skill
• already held apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beverages skill
• already held be at ease in unsafe environments skill
• already held carry out checks of production plant equipment skill
• already held clean food and beverage machinery skill
• already held food ethics knowledge
• already held food safety principles knowledge
• already held food waste monitoring systems knowledge
• already held keep inventory of goods in production skill
• already held listen actively skill
• already held monitor ingredient storage skill
• already held monitor the production line skill
• already held promote ethical eating skill
• already held analyse samples of food and beverages skill
• already held check quality of products on the production line skill
• already held check quality of raw materials skill
• already held circular economy knowledge
• already held cleaning of reusable packaging knowledge
• already held energy efficiency knowledge
• already held ensure compliance with environmental legislation in food production skill
• already held fermentation processes of food knowledge
• already held follow hygienic procedures during food processing skill
• already held food canning production line knowledge
• already held mitigate waste of resources skill
• already held monitor coating specifications skill
• already held operate automated process control skill
• already held set up equipment for food production skill
• already held use resource-efficient technologies in hospitality skill

• optional, not held administer materials to tea bag machines optional
• optional, not held adjust drying process to goods optional
• optional, not held apply different dehydration processes of fruits and vegetables optional
• optional, not held apply extruding techniques optional
• optional, not held apply preservation treatments optional
• optional, not held check bottles for packaging optional
• optional, not held condiment manufacturing processes optional
• optional, not held conduct cleaning in place optional
• optional, not held dispose food waste optional
• optional, not held dispose non-food waste within the food industry optional
• optional, not held ensure correct goods labelling optional
• optional, not held execute chilling processes to food products optional
• optional, not held follow evaluation procedures of materials at reception optional
• optional, not held food homogenisation optional
• optional, not held food storage optional
• optional, not held handle kitchen equipment optional
• optional, not held hydrogenation processes for edible oils optional
• optional, not held label samples optional
• optional, not held measure sugar refinement optional
• optional, not held milk production process optional
• optional, not held modern brewing systems optional
• optional, not held monitor almond blanching process optional
• optional, not held monitor filling machines optional
• optional, not held monitor milled food products optional
• optional, not held monitor oil blending process optional
• optional, not held monitor sugar uniformity optional
• optional, not held mould chocolate optional
• optional, not held perform carbonation processes optional
• optional, not held project management optional
• optional, not held rectify spirits optional
• optional, not held tend bottle-washing machine optional
• optional, not held weigh materials optional
• optional, not held centrifugal force optional
• optional, not held examine production samples optional
• optional, not held health, safety and hygiene legislation optional
• optional, not held operate forklift optional
• optional, not held perform cleaning duties optional
• optional, not held tend packaging machines optional
• optional, not held work according to recipe optional

• not needed by the target role adjust production schedule skill
• not needed by the target role analyse packaging requirements skill
• not needed by the target role analyse production processes for improvement skill
• not needed by the target role analyse work-related written reports skill
• not needed by the target role apply control process statistical methods skill
• not needed by the target role apply food technology principles skill
• not needed by the target role assess the life cycle of resources skill
• not needed by the target role assist in the development of standard operating procedures in the food chain skill
• not needed by the target role calibrate laboratory equipment skill
• not needed by the target role combination of flavours knowledge
• not needed by the target role combination of textures knowledge
• not needed by the target role develop new food products skill
• not needed by the target role ensure finished product meet requirements skill
• not needed by the target role ensure full functioning of food plant machinery skill
• not needed by the target role ensure public safety and security skill
• not needed by the target role evaluate ingredient documentation from suppliers skill
• not needed by the target role fermentation processes of beverages knowledge
• not needed by the target role follow-up lab results skill
• not needed by the target role food and beverage industry knowledge
• not needed by the target role food legislation knowledge
• not needed by the target role food materials knowledge
• not needed by the target role food preservation knowledge
• not needed by the target role food product ingredients knowledge
• not needed by the target role functional properties of foods knowledge
• not needed by the target role handle delivery of raw materials skill
• not needed by the target role identify the factors causing changes in food during storage skill
• not needed by the target role investigate customer complaints of food products skill
• not needed by the target role laboratory-based sciences knowledge
• not needed by the target role legislation about animal origin products knowledge
• not needed by the target role manage all process engineering activities skill
• not needed by the target role manage corrective actions skill
• not needed by the target role manage packaging material skill
• not needed by the target role manage resources in food manufacturing skill
• not needed by the target role molecular gastronomy knowledge
• not needed by the target role monitor developments used for food industry skill
• not needed by the target role monitor freezing processes skill
• not needed by the target role monitor processing conditions skill
• not needed by the target role participate in the development of new food products skill
• not needed by the target role pathogenic microorganisms in food knowledge
• not needed by the target role perform food risk analysis skill

10 further entries not listed here

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

• still to learn food authentication techniques required
• still to learn food fraud required
• optional, not held condiment manufacturing processes optional
• optional, not held food homogenisation optional
• optional, not held food storage optional
• optional, not held hydrogenation processes for edible oils optional
• optional, not held milk production process optional
• optional, not held modern brewing systems optional
• optional, not held project management optional
• optional, not held centrifugal force optional
• optional, not held health, safety and hygiene legislation optional

Yes, and it is a substantial move. A food technician already covers 48% of what a food production operator is expected to do: 30 skills carry over, 15 of which the food production operator role treats as required.

8 required skills are missing, plus 39 optional ones. They fall into 10 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by handling and moving. The single most important is ensure refrigeration of food in the supply chain.

Its learning distance is 63.4 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.