About the Role

The Sorting Machine Operator is responsible for the safe, efficient, and quality-compliant operation of the grain cleaning, sorting, polishing and bagging line — including the air-screen cleaner, magnetic separator, de-stoner, gravity separator, vibration grader, polisher, and bagging/packing scale. The role ensures every bag leaving the line meets contracted quality specification (purity, weight, hygiene) while the line runs within its rated throughput band, with strict adherence to SOPs, GMP, food-safety, and daily quality-recording requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Start, Start-Up & Machine Operation

• Carry out daily pre-shift inspection of all line equipment (air-screen cleaner, magnetic separator, de-stoner, gravity separator, grader, polisher, bagging scale) for damage, leaks, blockages, or worn parts before start-up.
• Follow lock-out/tag-out (LOTO) procedure whenever clearing blockages or working with guards removed.
• Confirm machine calibration status (scale, sorter/camera baseline, screen sizes) and load the correct recipe/settings for the grain variety being run.
• Start and run the line in the approved sequence, and maintain in-feed rate within the specified band per deck/hour to hold target throughput.
• Monitor touch-screen and gauge data continuously (rejection %, temperature, ejector frequency, aspiration pressure, wind pressure, amplitude) and adjust settings within permitted step-limits to keep the process on target.
• Track production and sorting data (e.g. batches run, throughput, bags produced) on Norming (the Sage ERP extension) as required, in addition to machine-level monitoring.

Quality Control, Testing & Sampling

• Perform the scheduled machine-level quality checks at the specified bag-count intervals for each unit, for example:
  • Magnetic separator: daily 10/10 metal-catch pass test before production; metal-trap fullness checks at set times.
  • De-stoner: 5 kg stone-count check (target: zero) and grain-loss check every 100 bags.
  • Gravity separator: 100 g damaged/broken-kernel count (target or engineering field (or equivalent hands-on experience).
  • Polisher: 100 g sample check for polish quality and foreign matter.
  • Bagging scale: 10 consecutive bag weight checks (target: average of 50kg +/- 0.5kg).
• Perform daily visual inspection of grain for foreign matter and quality defects.
• Record all quality checks and observations in the daily log sheet.
• Report any quality deviations or non-conformances to the Supervisor immediately.

Maintenance & Housekeeping

• Perform routine cleaning and lubrication of machinery as per the maintenance schedule.
• Identify and report any worn or damaged parts to the Supervisor for timely replacement.
• Maintain a clean and organized work area, adhering to 5S principles.
• Ensure all safety guards and devices are in place and functioning correctly.

Safety & Compliance

• Adhere strictly to all company safety policies and procedures, including LOTO and PPE requirements.
• Participate in safety training and toolbox talks.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, food-safety standards, and HACCP principles.
• Report any unsafe conditions or incidents immediately to the Supervisor.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Proven experience operating and maintaining industrial machinery, preferably in a food processing or agricultural setting.
• Familiarity with grain processing equipment (e.g., cleaners, sorters, polishers, bagging scales) is a significant advantage.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), food safety standards (e.g., HACCP), and quality control procedures.
• Ability to read and interpret machine manuals, technical drawings, and operating procedures.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in data recording.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to work shifts, including weekends and holidays, as required by production demands.

Working Conditions

• Grain-processing plant environment with moderate to high noise levels; hearing protection required.
• Exposure to dust; dust mask required during bin-emptying and cleaning tasks.
• Extended periods of standing, walking, bending, and occasional lifting.
• Shift-based work, including weekends and early/late shifts as required by production schedule.

• Carry out daily pre-shift inspection of all line equipment (air-screen cleaner, magnetic separator, de-stoner, gravity separator, grader, polisher, bagging scale) for damage, leaks, blockages, or worn parts before start-up.
• Follow lock-out/tag-out (LOTO) procedure whenever clearing blockages or working with guards removed.
• Confirm machine calibration status (scale, sorter/camera baseline, screen sizes) and load the correct recipe/settings for the grain variety being run.
• Start and run the line in the approved sequence, and maintain in-feed rate within the specified band per deck/hour to hold target throughput.
• Monitor touch-screen and gauge data continuously (rejection %, temperature, ejector frequency, aspiration pressure, wind pressure, amplitude) and adjust settings within permitted step-limits to keep the process on target.
• Track production and sorting data (e.g. batches run, throughput, bags produced) on Norming (the Sage ERP extension) as required, in addition to machine-level monitoring.
• Perform the scheduled machine-level quality checks at the specified bag-count intervals for each unit, for example: Magnetic separator: daily 10/10 metal-catch pass test before production; metal-trap fullness checks at set times. De-stoner: 5 kg stone-count check (target: zero) and grain-loss check every 100 bags. Gravity separator: 100 g damaged/broken-kernel count (target or engineering field (or equivalent hands-on experience). Polisher: 100 g sample check for polish quality and foreign matter. Bagging scale: 10 consecutive bag weight checks (target: average of 50kg +/- 0.5kg).
• Perform daily visual inspection of grain for foreign matter and quality defects.
• Record all quality checks and observations in the daily log sheet.
• Report any quality deviations or non-conformances to the Supervisor immediately.
• Perform routine cleaning and lubrication of machinery as per the maintenance schedule.
• Identify and report any worn or damaged parts to the Supervisor for timely replacement.
• Maintain a clean and organized work area, adhering to 5S principles.
• Ensure all safety guards and devices are in place and functioning correctly.
• Adhere strictly to all company safety policies and procedures, including LOTO and PPE requirements.
• Participate in safety training and toolbox talks.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, food-safety standards, and HACCP principles.
• Report any unsafe conditions or incidents immediately to the Supervisor.

• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in data recording.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure, follow LOTO and PPE requirements, and maintain composure during line stoppages.
• Comfortable using touch-screen machine interfaces and completing structured paper or digital log sheets.
• Good communication skills and ability to escalate issues promptly and clearly.

• Minimum of a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Proven experience operating and maintaining industrial machinery, preferably in a food processing or agricultural setting.
• Familiarity with grain processing equipment (e.g., cleaners, sorters, polishers, bagging scales) is a significant advantage.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), food safety standards (e.g., HACCP), and quality control procedures.
• Ability to read and interpret machine manuals, technical drawings, and operating procedures.
• Prior experience operating grain-processing, sorting, or packaging machinery is an added advantage.
• Working knowledge of, or willingness to be trained on, GMP, food-safety, and basic statistical sampling (square-root method).