Overview
Process control and machine operators in food and beverage processing operate multi-function process control machinery and single-function machines to process and package food and beverage products. They are employed in fruit and vegetable processing plants, dairies, flour mills, bakeries, sugar refineries, meat plants, breweries, and other food and beverage processing establishments.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Process control operators
Operate multi-function process control machinery through control panels, computer terminals or other control systems to grind, extract, mix, blend, cook or otherwise process food products and to bag, box or otherwise package food products
Operate multi-function process control machinery to grind, extract, mix, blend, distill, ferment or otherwise process alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages and to bottle, can or otherwise package beverages
Observe gauges, computer printouts and video monitors to verify specified processing conditions and make adjustments to process variables such as cooking times, ingredient inputs, flow rates and temperature settings
Maintain shift log of production and other data.
Machine operators
Set up and adjust food or beverage processing and packaging machines
Operate single-function machines to grind, extract, mix, blend, dry, freeze, cook or otherwise process food or beverage products
Operate single-function machines to box, can or otherwise package food or beverage products
Check products to ensure conformance to company standards and clear machine blockages as required
Record production information such as quantity, weight, size, date and type of products packaged
Perform corrective machine adjustments, clean machines and immediate work areas.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$36,289
$41,712
$62,568
Job openings
Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.
British Columbia
1,036expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
Completion of secondary school may be required.
On-the-job training is provided.
Experience as a machine operator in food or beverage processing is usually required for industrial process control operators.
Additional information
There is little mobility among the various types of process control operators within the food and beverage processing industry.
Process control operators may progress to supervisory positions in food and beverage processing with experience.
There is mobility among machine operators within the food and beverage processing industry.
Certification requirements
Post-secondary programs in B.C.
No post-secondary education required
No post-secondary education required. You can work in this career without post-secondary education. Some on the job training may be provided. With additional training or experience, you may be able to progress into higher level, supervisory or management positions.