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Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: a task-based learning plan
Set up, operate, or tend continuous flow or vat-type equipment; filter presses; shaker screens; centrifuges; condenser tubes; precipitating, fermenting, or evaporating tanks; scrubbing towers; or batch stills. These machines extract, sort, or separate liquids, gases, or solids from other materials to recover a refined product. Includes dairy processing equipment operators.
Explore the complete task inventory first →
Understand the profile before choosing priorities
The table shows the ten highest importance ratings among 35 skills with usable ratings. Skills tied on importance can share a rank. Importance (1–5) and level (0–7) describe different dimensions. A level of 4 is not 4/7 of a course, and neither scale is your personal score. Source dates refer to the underlying rating, not the database release date.
| Skill | Importance / 5 | Level / 7 | Rating date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.75 | 3.75 | 07/2015 · Analyst |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.12 | 07/2015 · Analyst |
| Operation and Control | 3.12 | 3.12 | 07/2015 · Analyst |
| Critical Thinking | 3.12 | 3.00 | 07/2015 · Analyst |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.12 | 2.75 | 07/2015 · Analyst |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 3.00 | 07/2015 · Analyst |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.00 | 2.88 | 07/2015 · Analyst |
| Time Management | 3.00 | 2.88 | 07/2015 · Analyst |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.00 | 2.75 | 07/2015 · Analyst |
| Writing | 2.88 | 2.88 | 07/2015 · Analyst |
Anchor the plan in an actual task
Choose one reported task you want to understand better. Then choose one to three skills and describe an appropriate learning activity, evidence you will review and a date. For practical work requiring authorization, choose relevant coursework, observation or supervised training.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders.
Level 4: Monitor machine functions on an automated production line
Level 2: Monitor completion times while running a computer program
Which indicator would you observe, what is its expected range, and how would you record an exception?
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders.
Level 4: Monitor a meeting and revise the agenda to ensure important topics are discussed
Level 2: Proofread and correct a letter
What result or exception would you inspect during the task, and when would you revisit it?
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders.
Level 4: Adjust the speed of assembly line equipment based on the product being assembled
Level 2: Navigate the settings on an office printer to print on both sides of the paper
Which authorized training and documented operating limits would you need to understand first?
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders.
Level 2: Determine whether a subordinate has a good excuse for being late
Level 4: Evaluate customer complaints and determine appropriate responses
What assumption could change your conclusion, and what evidence would you check first?
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders.
Level 2: Inspect a draft email for errors (e.g., grammar, punctuation)
Level 4: Assess new parts for precision and accuracy to specifications
What is being checked, what defines a defect, and what evidence would be retained?
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders.
Level 2: Take a customer's order
Level 4: Answer inquiries regarding credit references
What would you ask the other person to clarify, and how would you confirm you understood?
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders.
Level 2: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
Level 4: Understand an email from management describing new personnel policies
Which instruction, constraint or exception in a document would you need to explain accurately?
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders.
Level 2: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
Level 4: Allocate the time of subordinates to projects for the coming week
What needs to happen first, where is the deadline, and what would you do if time runs short?
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders.
Level 2: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
Level 4: Evaluate a loan application for degree of risk
Which options, constraints and consequences would you compare, and what could change the choice?
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Read the scale examples
These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders.
Level 2: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
Level 4: Write an email to staff outlining new directives
What document would another person need, and how would you check that they could act on it?
Review the result
Your plan should explain why the selected skills matter for your chosen task, what you will do next and what evidence you will examine. Revisit the plan after that activity. Completing a worksheet or matching an occupation’s ratings does not establish professional competence.
Keep your worksheet
Download before leaving this page. Unsaved writing remains only in the page and is cleared on refresh. Notes and learning actions are not sent to a server. This guide describes an occupation and supports study planning; it does not provide clinical, legal or equipment-operating procedures.
Source and practice material
Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.
Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.