Manufacturing & Production
Related Jobs or Working with these Jobs
Packers simply pack
various materials and products
by hand in many different industries and settings. A packer, or packager as
they are often called, is usually a part of a manufacturing operation or
material moving company.
Packers work on production lines, putting manufactured goods and products into containers like boxes, trays, bags and crates. Some packers work by hand at a conveyor belt, while others operate packing machines and load the raw materials, packaging and labels. Some jobs, such as packing medicines, are done in sterile conditions. Meat packing would take place in a chilled environment.
A packager helps ensure that manufactured items are ready for shipment by placing them into containers, sealing and labeling the items, and preparing the item for transport. Packagers are responsible for cleaning packaging materials, loading items into containers, and weighing and labeling the items appropriately. They also perform final checks for defective items, ensure all working items make it to the loading area or inventory, and keep detailed records of materials and shipments.
As one of the final checkpoints between buyer and manufacturer, packagers perform several important functions. They must ensure that all items are in proper working order. Any defective items must be discarded according to company procedures.
(Source:
Better Team)
ANZSCO ID: 8321
Alternative names: Packager, Product Packager, Packaging Technician,
Knowledge, skills and attributes
To be a packer you should have: 
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Attention to detail
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Excellent hand-eye coordination skills
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No formal education or training is needed
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On-the-job training is often provided by the employer
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The ability to stand/lift/etc. for long periods of time
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the ability to carry out repetitive tasks quickly and carefully
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good practical skills
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the ability to follow instructions
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a reasonable level of fitness
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clear handwriting for labelling
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an awareness of safety issues
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the physical strength and stamina in order to lift and move heavy items.
Duties and tasks
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Examine and inspect products, materials, and containers to ensure they are packed correctly
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Gather, move, and sort products and materials
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Mark and label containers and products
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Measure, weight, and count different materials and products
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Record packing, order, and product information for shipment
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Seal containers or materials using different types of adhesives
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packing goods with protective materials, such as bubble wrap and polystyrene chips
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sealing containers using glue, staples or shrink-wrap
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weighing and labelling packaged goods ready for dispatch
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cleaning work areas
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reporting any problems during the shift to supervisors.
Working conditions
Packers (packagers) are employed at material moving organisations. Packers
may work indoors or outside, often regardless of weather. Packers usually
work eight-hour shifts, though they can be longer, and their work is often
psychically demanding and very repetitive.
In the case of heavy goods,
such as washing machines or vehicle parts, you would use loading and lifting
gear. You might also operate a forklift truck to move goods to storage
areas.
You would follow health and safety regulations at all times, particularly
when working with hazardous materials.
As a packager, you typically work in a warehouse to assemble the right materials and ensure the safety of packages during transit. Your main duties are to pack and inspect items, label them correctly, and move them to the loading dock.
Tools & Technologies
They must be able to use hand tools, adhesives, padding, and other products to protect the item. Experience using a forklift or experience with pallet jacks, for example, is helpful for landing a job.
Education and training/entrance requirements
You can work as a Packer without formal qualifications. Some on the job training may be provided.
|
Did You Know?
Types of Plastics
|
Manufacturing & Production
Paper
technologists design and test the equipment and processes involved in
the production of paper, cardboard and other paper products.
Paper
technologists are responsible for controlling the processes involved in
the conversion of raw materials such as wood and bagasse (the dry refuse
from sugar making) into pulp, paper, cardboard and related products,
which are in turn converted to final products such as books, boxes, etc.
Paper bags are now being used again!
(Source:
Opal)
ANZSCO ID:
311413
Knowledge, skills and attributes
To become a paper technologist, you would need:
Specialised boxes for fresh produce
(Source:
Opal)
Duties and Tasks
Paper technologists are involved in:
- the processes to manufacture pulp from raw materials
- supplying the chemicals for the various processes
- the design, manufacture and operation of the paper machines
- paper and board making
- converting and coating
- research and development
- project management.
As a paper technologist, you would:
- work with raw materials such as recycled paper, wood pulp or plant-based fibres
- investigate the best way to combine raw materials, chemicals and additives for a particular product
- turn raw materials into a variety of products such as tissue, cardboard, newsprint or high-quality art paper
- measure how different factors affect the manufacturing process, such as liquid temperatures and pressures
- coordinate trials of new products
- analyse and interpret laboratory and trial production test results
- write technical reports
- monitor quality control to make sure products meet customer requirements, such as correct colour and finish
- check that finished products meet industry safety and quality standards.
| Do You
Know? Paper technologists apply their knowledge of chemical and mechanical engineering and paper factory technology to these processes to ensure high standards of quality in the final product. In the basic pulping and paper-manufacturing process, paper technologists are responsible for various tasks described below: Debarked logs of wood are converted into mechanical pulp, usually known as “ground wood”. To obtain chemical pulp, wood chips or bagasse are digested by means of a chemical solution and steam is used to remove the lignin, which cements the fibres together. The cellulose fibres that are obtained may be bleached in order to produce “white” paper, or used in its unbleached form to yield “brown” paper. Wastepaper is another raw material with which paper technologists work. Before it can be re-used, impurities such as printing ink must be removed. This can be done by separating the fibres in a pulper, followed by an intensive cleaning and screening operation. Paper technologists control the final finishing process in the manufacture of the paper. Depending on the use of the end product, surface sising is then applied in a size press. Further finishing is done by passing the paper web through a calendar stack, in order to polish the surface, after which it is wound into a “Jumbo” reel of several tons. The surface quality of the paper can be even further improved by applying a coating mix to the paper in a coating machine. The paper may then be super calendared to give it the required gloss. Jumbo reels are rewound, slit and/or cut to the customers’ requirements. Packed reels and reams are then dispatched to the customer.  (Source: Visy) |
Working conditions
In a full-time role, you would work a standard number of hours,
Monday to Friday, although you may also be required to be on-call to
attend to any out-of-hours problems.
Your working day would be split between the office, laboratory and
production areas of a paper mill / factory. Conditions in some parts of
the mill may be hot, humid and noisy. You would be expected to wear
protective clothing in the laboratory and on the factory floor.
The majority of paper production facilities in Australia are located in
rural and regional areas.
Education and training/entrance requirements
To become a paper technologist, you would usually need to gain a degree
in an area such as science, organic chemistry, physics or engineering.
You may have an advantage finding work if you also have some experience
of manufacturing or laboratory work.
Employment Opportunities
Employment of paper technologist in Australia is expected to continue to
decline or at best, remain static.
Employment in paper, cardboard and tissue manufacturing plants in
Australasia has declined over the last decade. Decreasing use of paper,
and the decline of the Australian manufacturing sector generally, will
continue to further limit opportunities for paper technologists.
| Did You Know? VISY is one of Australia's Pulp and Paper manufacturers. The following information taken directly from the VISY website: "We're proud of all the paper we produce, in particular our recycled paper. That's because, when we say it's recycled, we mean it. Our recycled paper even includes approximately 98% post-consumer waste. We have eight paper machines across Australia, and they're used to produce recycled corrugated and kraft paper for the packaging and building industries. In FY2022, our machines produced approximately 1.5 million tonnes of paper, including over 813,000 tonnes of 100% recycled fibre test liner, coated liner and plasterboard liner; and over 681,000 tonnes of unbleached kraft paper. That's a lot of paper, and a whole lot of recycling! OPERATING DIVISIONS Paper Coatings Using 100% recycled content paper and kraft liner, Visy produces high-quality, coated sheets for use in a wide range of applications. With its bright, smooth surface, our unique coated paper helps achieve exceptional print results from flexographic and offset lithographic printing. Coated products are available in a range of grades and are suitable for: Light-weight laminating Paperback book covers Plasterboard liners Corrugated and folding cardboard boxes Wax boxes Our coating machine offers flexibility not only in coating surfaces, but also in board callipers and weights, with a product range of Visycoat papers from 130gsm to 400gsm. This machine also allows us to produce a variety of functional coatings: Water resistant Anti-scuff Grease barrier Linerless meat boxes Laminates We also provide a laminating service, which involves heavy weight boards being given a PE film. This gives customers absolute water/humidity resistance for special packaging applications. Plasterboard Liner Visy has produced plasterboard liner since 1996 and supplies to gypsum board manufacturers in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, Middle East, India, Africa and the USA. Our plasterboard liner has been successfully converted in over 36 gypsum board plants around the world. Visy produces plasterboard liners for face, back, coloured and cove applications as well as clay coated liners for specialty ceiling and wall applications. These liners range from 220gsm to 150gsm. Our de-inking facility removes ink and other impurities from recycled magazines, office paper and newsprint, which results in plasterboard liner with an ivory or buff finish as well as white liner grades.  (Source: Plasterwholesalers) |
Related Jobs or Working with these Jobs
Materials sourced from
the
Open
Universities Australia;
CareerPlanner [Packer;
]
CareerHQ [Paper
Technologist; ]
Better Team [Packer;
Packager;
]
National Career Service, UK;
Workable [Packer;
]
Jobs OID [Packager;
]
Zippa [Packager;
]
Zip Recruiter [Packager;
]
Go Study [Paper
Technologist; ]
Your Career [Packer;
]
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