Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jam Assembler

🎯 Role Definition

The Jam Assembler is a hands-on production role within a food manufacturing environment responsible for the accurate, sanitary, and safe assembly, filling, sealing, labeling, and packaging of jam products on automated and semi-automated production lines. The Jam Assembler ensures batch integrity and lot traceability by following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP controls, and company quality standards while meeting daily production quotas and maintaining a clean, safe work area.

Key SEO/LLM keywords: Jam Assembler, jam production, jar filling, capping machine operator, labeling, packaging line, food safety, GMP, HACCP, product traceability, production quotas, conveyor systems.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Production Assistant / Production Worker (Food Manufacturing)
Packaging Operator or General Assembler
Seasonal or Temporary Line Worker in food or beverage plants

Advancement To:

Line Lead / Shift Lead (Packaging or Filling Line)
Quality Control Technician or QA Inspector (Food Safety)
Maintenance Technician (Packaging Equipment)
Production Supervisor or Operations Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

Packaging Machine Operator
Warehouse/Inventory Associate
Sanitation Technician (CIP/COP)
Receiving and Raw Materials Handler

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate and monitor jam filling machines, rotary fillers, piston fillers, or volumetric fillers to accurately deposit specified weights/volumes of jam into glass and plastic jars per production batch instructions and product specifications.
Set up, calibrate, and adjust capping machines, torque settings, and cap feeder systems to ensure consistent seal integrity and to prevent leakage or contamination during storage and transport.
Perform labeling and coding operations, configuring applicators, printers (thermal inkjet or thermal transfer), and vision inspection systems to apply accurate labels, lot codes, and best-by dates in compliance with traceability requirements.
Inspect filled jars for correct fill levels, cap alignment, label placement, foreign material, and product defects; remove and document non-conforming product, escalating quality concerns to the Quality Assurance (QA) team.
Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and HACCP controls during every step of assembly, including proper handwashing, hair and beard netting, glove use, and cross-contamination prevention for allergens.
Conduct in-line quality checks and sampling per batch documentation—measure viscosity, check pH, verify weight tolerances, and record temperature logs when required by SOPs or regulatory standards.
Maintain accurate production records including batch sheets, fill weights, production quantities, downtime reports, cleaning logs, and corrective action documentation to support FSMA and supplier/customer audits.
Execute first-line troubleshooting for mechanical issues on filling, capping, or labeling equipment (e.g., jams, misfeeds, sensor faults) and perform minor mechanical adjustments using standard hand tools; escalate complex repairs to maintenance.
Perform equipment changeovers and line set-ups for new jam flavors, jar sizes, or packaging SKUs, following step-by-step changeover checklists to minimize waste and reduce downtime.
Follow FIFO and lot control procedures when staging raw materials, jars, lids, and labels to ensure outgoing product freshness and accurate traceability of ingredients and packaging components.
Conduct pre-operational and post-operational inspections and machine checks, documenting belt tension, guard placement, lubrication points, and electrical safety checks as part of shift handover responsibilities.
Participate in regular line balancing and production planning meetings to meet daily throughput targets, suggesting process improvements to increase yield and reduce stoppages.
Execute sanitation and clean-in-place (CIP) tasks as required by assigned area, including disassembly and reassembly of product-contact parts, sanitizing equipment, and verifying cleaning effectiveness through tool/visual checks.
Pack, palletize, and shrink-wrap finished pallets of jam jars to pallet-specifications, verify case counts, label pallets with correct shipping and lot documentation, and stage product for warehouse pickup.
Maintain a safe working environment by consistently following OSHA and site-specific safety protocols, wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE), and participating in safety audits and incident investigations.
Monitor and control allergen handling procedures—cleaning shared equipment between allergen and non-allergen SKUs, storing allergens separately, and documenting controls to prevent cross-contact.
Accurately weigh and measure additives, fruit chunks, or pectin per batch recipes when performing manual assembly tasks or small-batch runs, ensuring ingredient accuracy to maintain product taste and texture standards.
Perform regular visual and manual checks of packaging materials (jars, lids, cartons) for damage, cleanliness, and dimensional consistency prior to use, rejecting substandard materials and notifying procurement or QA.
Support continuous improvement initiatives by recording defect rates, downtime causes, and scrap reasons; participate in root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions to improve line efficiency.
Train and mentor new assembler hires on line procedures, safety practices, GMPs, and how to use filling and packaging equipment correctly, contributing to cross-training efforts across shifts.
Follow environmental and waste management practices by segregating recyclable materials, disposing of waste correctly, and participating in efforts to reduce food waste and packaging overuse.
Execute label reconciliation and inventory control tasks for consumables (labels, caps, jars), reporting low stock levels and assisting with receiving and storing supplies in designated areas.
Conduct final quality verifications and coordinate with QA to hold product when necessary, releasing product only after required lab results, in-house checks, or QA approvals have been completed.
Maintain an organized, clean, and hazard-free workspace, including workstation 5S practices — sorting, setting in order, shining, standardizing, and sustaining to support efficient operations and safety.
Assist in seasonal ramp-ups and special projects such as new SKU launches, pilot runs, or packaging innovations, including setting up trials, documenting outcomes, and implementing approved changes to production documentation.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc production needs such as rush orders, line swaps, and emergency rework to ensure customer delivery commitments are met.
Participate in scheduled and surprise internal and external audits (GMP, HACCP, BRC/SQF) by providing records, demonstrating processes, and implementing corrective actions.
Collaborate with maintenance, QA, and supply chain teams to coordinate preventive maintenance windows and minimize production disruption during scheduled repairs.
Contribute to small batch R&D trials by following test recipes, documenting process parameters, and providing operator feedback to product development teams.
Assist with basic inventory counts in the warehouse and reconcile production usage against recorded consumption to support inventory accuracy.
Provide feedback on ergonomics and workstation improvements to reduce repetitive strain and improve operator comfort and productivity.
Promote food safety culture by attending training sessions and encouraging peers to follow sanitation and allergen controls.
Participate in cross-functional meetings to translate production floor issues into actionable process improvements.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient operation of jar filling machines, piston/rotary/volumetric fillers, capping and sealing equipment, and automatic labeling machines.
Strong understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP principles, and basic food safety regulations (FSMA awareness).
Experience performing in-line quality checks: weight verification, fill-level inspection, pH checks, viscosity observations, and basic sensory checks for odor/appearance.
Familiarity with CIP/COP cleaning procedures and the ability to disassemble/reassemble product-contact components for sanitation.
Ability to read and follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), batch sheets, master formulas, and work orders accurately.
Basic mechanical aptitude for first-line troubleshooting, fitting/replacing simple components, sensor alignment, and using hand/power tools safely.
Competence in label applicator setup, coding/printing verification, and operating vision systems for label inspection.
Experience with lot tracking, batch documentation, electronic or paper-based batch record completion, and accurate data entry.
Knowledge of allergen control procedures, FIFO inventory practices, and lot traceability to maintain food safety and recall readiness.
Ability to perform accurate measurements using scales, calipers, and metering devices; basic arithmetic for weights, counts, and ratios.
Forklift or pallet jack operation (preferred in many listings) — safe palletizing and staging of finished goods for warehouse pickup.
Familiarity with basic preventive maintenance tasks and reporting requirements for packaging/filling equipment.

Soft Skills

Meticulous attention to detail to detect defects, maintain accurate records, and follow recipes and labels exactly.
Strong teamwork and communication skills to coordinate with QA, maintenance, supervisors, and warehouse personnel.
Dependability and punctuality to meet shift schedules, production demands, and hygiene requirements.
Problem-solving mindset for fast, practical troubleshooting on the line and participation in continuous improvement.
Adaptability to work variable shifts, extended runs, and fast-paced production environments.
Time management and organization skills to balance set-up, production, quality checks, and cleaning tasks within shift constraints.
Ability to learn quickly and coach new operators, supporting cross-training and multi-skill development.
Commitment to safety culture and willingness to participate in safety training and incident prevention activities.
Customer-focus mentality—producing product to consistent quality standards that meet internal and external customer expectations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:
High school diploma or equivalent (GED).

Preferred Education:
Certificate in Food Manufacturing, Packaging Technology, or vocational training in mechanical maintenance or food safety.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Food Science or Food Technology (certificate or associate)
Mechanical or Industrial Technology
Production/Manufacturing Technology
Quality Assurance / Food Safety courses (HACCP, GMP, SQF/BRC awareness)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–5 years in manufacturing or food production; many roles accept candidates with 6–12 months of line experience for entry-level positions.

Preferred: 1–3 years of experience operating filling, capping, or labeling equipment in a food manufacturing environment, or demonstrable experience with GMP and sanitation procedures.

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