This Dairy UHT Packing Operator job description sets out the main duties, qualifications, skills and measures of success for the role, which is also known as UHT Filler Operator, Aseptic Filling Operator, Packing Line Operator or Downline Operator. Download it free as a Word or PDF template and adapt it for your own vacancy.
| Job title | Dairy UHT Packing Operator |
| Also known as | UHT Filler Operator, Aseptic Filling Operator, Packing Line Operator, Downline Operator |
| Department | Dairy processing |
| Reports to | Production Supervisor |
| Direct reports | None |
What does a Dairy UHT Packing Operator do?
Operates the aseptic filling downline and palletising equipment that follows the UHT plant, making sure every pack is correctly sealed, coded and palletised. Helps process operators run the UHT plant and works to customer specifications, food safety rules and production targets.
Dairy UHT Packing Operator duties and responsibilities
Downline and palletising operation
- Run aseptic fillers, case packers, shrink-wrappers and the palletiser to the production plan
- Set up and verify packaging and date code changes, and get them signed off before production starts
- Help process operators with UHT plant start-ups, sterilisation, product changes and shutdowns
- Spot developing faults on downline machines early and fix or escalate them before output is lost
- Keep packaging materials supplied to the line and move finished pallets by forklift
Quality and food safety
- Check pack integrity, seals, fill levels and code legibility at the set frequency and record the results
- Monitor critical control points on the downline and tell the supervisor about any new or changed CCPs
- Take samples for incubation and laboratory testing as set out in the sampling plan
- Quarantine and report any product that does not meet specification
- Clean and sanitise downline equipment to schedule
- Support customer, regulatory and internal audits and act on findings
Records and improvement
- Log production volumes, packaging waste, downtime and stoppage causes for every shift
- Enter batch and traceability information into the food safety and production systems
- Raise engineering requests in the CMMS and help with planned maintenance
- Take part in continuous improvement projects to cut waste and raise line efficiency
Health, safety and environment
- Follow safe systems of work, lock-out procedures and PPE rules at all times
- Report incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions without delay
- Maintain high standards of housekeeping around the downline and pallet areas
- Minimise packaging and product waste and follow site environmental controls
Dairy UHT Packing Operator qualifications and experience
Essential
- Good standard of secondary education, including literacy and numeracy
- Previous experience running high-speed packing, filling or palletising machinery
- Understanding of food safety, HACCP and quality control on a production line
- Forklift licence, or willingness to gain one
- Ability to work 12-hour rotating day and night shifts
Desirable
- Experience in UHT, aseptic or other liquid dairy packing
- A technical, dairy or science qualification
- Experience using an ERP system or CMMS
Skills and attributes
- Mechanical aptitude
- Careful record keeping
- Attention to detail, especially on codes and labels
- Clear communication at shift handover
- Punctuality and self-motivation
- Teamwork across production, quality and engineering
How success is measured
- Line efficiency and production targets met
- No product rejected for coding or packing faults
- Packaging and product waste within target
- No customer complaints traced to downline errors
- Accurate and complete shift and quality records
- No lost-time injuries
Working conditions and safety
Rotating 12-hour day and night shifts on a continuous production site. Factory-floor work in a hygiene-controlled area with noise, moving machinery and manual handling; full PPE is provided and required.
- Follow health and safety rules and safe systems of work, and wear the correct PPE
- Follow food safety, hygiene, HACCP and quality procedures at all times
- Report hazards, accidents, near misses and concerns promptly
Dairy UHT Packing Operator interview questions
Use these questions to assess candidates for a Dairy UHT Packing Operator role. Each one includes what a good answer shows.
- What checks do you make on aseptic packs during a run, and how often?
What a good answer shows: Knows seal integrity, fill level and code legibility checks at set frequencies, and records results accurately. - Talk me through a date code change on a filler.
What a good answer shows: Sets and verifies the new code, checks legibility on the first packs and gets sign-off before production. - How do you spot developing faults on downline machines before output is lost?
What a good answer shows: Watches for changes in noise, jams and pack quality, and acts or escalates early. - How do you record downtime and stoppage causes so the data is useful?
What a good answer shows: Records times and causes accurately and consistently, using agreed categories rather than vague notes. - You notice the filler producing occasional poorly sealed packs. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Stops or isolates the problem, quarantines affected packs, investigates or escalates and records everything. - The palletiser jams repeatedly and cases are backing up. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Stops safely, clears the fault using lockout, manages the backlog and reports repeated jams for a permanent fix. - Why are packs incubated before release, and what would you do if one failed?
What a good answer shows: Understands sterility checks, and would quarantine the affected product and report it immediately. - How do you clean and sanitise downline equipment safely?
What a good answer shows: Follows the schedule, isolates equipment, and uses the correct chemicals and PPE. - How do you support process operators during a UHT plant sterilisation and start-up?
What a good answer shows: Communicates clearly, prepares the downline in good time and follows their lead on timings. - What do you cover when handing over to the next shift?
What a good answer shows: Covers output, faults, quarantined product and open actions clearly and accurately.
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Frequently asked questions
Operates the aseptic filling downline and palletising equipment that follows the UHT plant, making sure every pack is correctly sealed, coded and palletised. Helps process operators run the UHT plant and works to customer specifications, food safety rules and production targets.
Employers usually look for: good standard of secondary education, including literacy and numeracy; previous experience running high-speed packing, filling or palletising machinery; understanding of food safety, HACCP and quality control on a production line.
A Dairy UHT Packing Operator usually reports to the Production Supervisor.
Yes. Download the free Word template, add your location, contract and salary details, and adapt the duties to your site. You can then advertise the role on Dairy Jobs.
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