Food and drink advanced engineer - Mechanical Engineers

The range of electrical principles, control engineering that underpins the design and operation of electrical engineering systems

Automation techniques, robotics and materials handling

Manufacturing execution systems

How future product and process design and commissioning is impacted by legislative, regulatory and ethical requirements, including hygiene and food safety, employee health & safety law and environmental considerations

How to lead and nurture others to articulate reliability optimisation strategies, prevent failures through effective maintenance techniques and develop life cycle plans for key assets

Systems approach adopted, both in equipment design and optimisation

Techniques and tools to research, analyse, interpret and evaluate information and concepts; how to utilise ideas from existing systems and new applications to improve or change processes

The role and impact of food and drink engineering within the wider business context, needs of internal and external stakeholders and the wider legal, environmental, technical and economic environment

Financial aspects required to justify, develop and commission new process or equipment

Strategic leadership, project management techniques, theory and practice required to deliver change processes within a food and drink environment

Inter-relationships between food ingredients, product and packaging materials and their effects on food safety, quality and performance of food processing and packaging design and improvement

Principles and practices of hygienic design and cleaning systems appropriate to a food and drink environment

The range of mechanical principles that underpin the design and operation of mechanical engineering systems

Tribology and its application to food processing equipment

The use of computer modeling and simulation techniques to predict the behavior of engineering-based technologies

Computer aided design (Finite Element Analysis)

Process capability and thermodynamic analysis

Mass and heat balances, including material yield

System performance, for example line performance, production efficiency, V-curve and loss analysis

Production engineering practices and the management challenges related to production

Conduct failure risk investigations and apply Reliability engineering techniques to prevent or reduce the likelihood or frequency of failures

Control the operation of measuring instruments that are used in design and configuration of automated systems

Model a diverse range of dynamic systems and design controllers for these systems

Conduct failure risk investigations and apply Reliability engineering techniques to prevent or reduce the likelihood or frequency of failures

Demonstrate the ability to evaluate new techniques or technologies, and to recognise if these have value within their own food and drink environment

Apply appropriate theoretical and practical methods to design, develop and commission engineering solutions within a food and drink environment

Align engineering developments with wider business considerations including finance, commercial management, product innovation and sustainability

Define, articulate and justify the business case for food and drink engineering investment

Implement preventative and condition based maintenance procedures using a range of reliability strategies across engineering, use technical risk assessments to improve reliability, maintainability and availability

Use problem solving techniques and Continuous Improvement techniques to deliver change and improvement programmes in a food and drink process designed to advance business performance

Drive business environmental objectives through engineering solutions which advance and protect the business and industry reputation

Effectively research a number of different approaches to identify the right solution

Network across factories and suppliers to identify best practice

Lead, motivate and influence people within a project management matrix; articulating organisational purpose and values to create an inclusive, high performance work culture

Exchange information and provide advice to technical and non-technical colleagues

Design mechanical systems, analyse the performance of components, mechanisms and systems

Design key elements of a production line

Apply continuous improvement, problem solving and trouble shooting skills to increase efficiency in food production

Leadership in safe working: takes a disciplined and responsible approach to avoid risk through application of technical skills, exercises management and mitigation strategies

Ownership of work: takes responsibility for recommending the implementation of new practices, ensuring integrity of processes and raising site standards

Pride in work: embraces new ways of thinking and encourages others to do the same, displays a positive mind set demonstrated by willingness to learn, displays proactive approach and ability to act on their own initiative

Self-development: always gives their best, sets themselves challenging targets, confident decision maker, has ambition to continuously improve self

Integrity and respect: leads by example, acts as a role model and motivates others through actions and behaviour, shows respect for others and provides time and support

Leadership: committed to lead, manage and coach others effectively; works well with different functions and operations

Problem solving: willingness to take on new problems; maintains quality of thinking and creativity under pressure

Responsiveness to change: flexible to changing working environment and demands; resilient under pressure

Company/industry perspective: demonstrates curiosity to foster new ways of thinking and working; seeks out opportunities to drive forward change and improvements for the business