Production workers, maintenance technicians, and food scientists are all examples of different types of food manufacturing jobs. Production jobs account for more than half of all food manufacturing jobs, and they involve the processing and packaging of various foods. Installation and maintenance of all the machinery required for the production side is another large sector of employment in this industry. Engineers and food scientists have been in high demand to design and lay out the necessary equipment, as well as to perfect the chemical makeup of manufactured foodstuffs. Salespeople play an important role in the food manufacturing industry because they are in charge of getting products in front of customers.
The majority of food manufacturing jobs are in production, which encompasses a wide range of job duties. While some production workers are highly skilled, many others operate semi-automated machines. Many of these food processing jobs entail the preparation of meat for delivery to butcher shops, grocery stores, or other processing facilities. In many cases, workers at a food processing plant will slaughter and prepare an animal to the point where a grocery store can sell it directly to the consumer without any further butchering.
Other jobs in the kitchen include operating or tending to various cooking machines. These machines are capable of frying, steaming, boiling, or otherwise cooking a wide range of foods in large quantities. Another large category of food production jobs is baked goods. Many of these jobs require large machines, which are essentially industrial ovens that bake products like breads and pastries.
Aside from production jobs, the food manufacturing industry offers a variety of other opportunities. A large number of food manufacturing jobs consist of various maintenance and repair technicians, as many production jobs require the use of machinery. Other technicians, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) workers, may be needed to keep the manufacturing facilities running. Engineers are frequently required to lay out new facilities and design the necessary equipment in addition to day-to-day operations.
The food manufacturing industry also employs scientists such as chemists. These food scientists may be responsible for a variety of tasks, such as developing new product lines or improving existing ones. They can also be enlisted to establish quality control procedures, such as pathogen testing and elimination.
Both wholesale and retail salespeople can be employed food manufacturing companies. Office workers, bookkeepers, and managers are examples of other support staff. Many of these jobs are unrelated to the manufacturing side of the industry, but they are necessary for businesses to function.