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The food and drink manufacturing industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK, employing some half a million people and producing 11% of the UK's manufacturing output. Employers work in an increasingly competitive market where the quality and safety of products are of prime concern to the customer. It is essential then that employees are highly skilled and adaptable in their working practices and are highly motivated in their approach to work. National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are the key to developing a motivated and skilled workforce.
The Food and Drink Manufacturing Operations NVQ standards have been developed by working parties of employers and practitioners to create a standard of national best practice within the food and drink manufacturing industry. The key purpose of the industry has been defined as:
"To develop, produce and market food and drink products in ways that consistently meet customer and organisational requirements."
The NVQ standards are very wide ranging to reflect the breadth of activities that have to be encompassed to cover such a broad occupational area.
WHO ARE THE NVQs FOR?
Qualtech offers the Food and Drink Manufacturing Operations qualifications at both Levels 1 and 2. Occupational level in this industry is defined by the breadth of activities and their involvement, or otherwise, in dealing with operating problems and with product quality. For example, a Level 1 operator may control the same plant and machinery as a Level 2 operative, but a Level 2 operative will be able to control a wider range of operations, be expected to diagnose and overcome operating problems and have some direct responsibility for maintaining product quality.
To reflect this most of the units at Level 1 and Level 2 in Food and Drink Manufacturing Operations NVQs are the same, but the level 2 candidate would be expected to complete a greater number of units and must demonstrate their competence in problem solving and maintaining produce quality. In addition there are also a number of units available at Level 2 which are not available to a Level 1 candidate.
FOOD AND DRINK MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS NVQs
To gain the full qualification at Level 1 candidates are required to complete six units in total - three mandatory units and three optional units. The Level 2 qualification incorporates 10 units - five mandatory and five optional. The unit titles for each qualification are shown in the table below.
KEY: M = Mandatory, O = Optional, N/A = Not Applicable
Unit Title |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
| Contribute to health and safety in food and drink manufacturing operations |
M |
M |
| Maintain hygiene standards in food and drink manufacturing operations |
M |
M |
| Work with others in a food and drink manufacturing environment |
M |
M |
| Diagnose and rectify operating problems |
O |
M |
| Maintain product quality |
O |
M |
| Clean in place (CIP) plant and equipment |
O |
O |
| Contribute to improvements in the workplace |
O |
O |
| Prepare for and carry out product changeovers |
O |
O |
| Move and handle materials in the workplace |
O |
O |
| Carry out hygiene cleaning |
O |
O |
| Carry out task handovers |
O |
O |
| Receive and verify goods and materials entering storage |
O |
O |
| Intake bulk materials |
O |
O |
| Place goods and materials in storage |
O |
O |
| Despatch goods and materials |
O |
O |
| Maintain the quality of goods and materials in storage |
O |
O |
| Contribute to environmental safety in food and drink manufacturing operations |
O |
O |
| Control conversion |
O |
O |
| Control size reduction |
O |
O |
| Control mixing |
O |
O |
| Control heat treatment |
O |
O |
| Control separation |
O |
O |
| Control conditioning |
O |
O |
| Control forming |
O |
O |
| Control temperature reduction |
O |
O |
| Control manual size reduction |
O |
O |
| Control batching |
O |
O |
| Produce individual packs |
O |
O |
| Collate and pack for storage and distribution |
O |
O |
| Assemble different products to pre-determined pattern |
O |
O |
| Produce packs by hand |
O |
O |
| Assess candidate performance |
N/A |
O |
| Assess candidate using differing sources of evidence |
N/A |
O |
| Contribute to auditing |
N/A |
O |
Control and maintain quality within multi-stage manufacturing operations |
N/A |
O |
Please feel free to contact our marketing department for further information.
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