through a colour sorter but the labour content at this point is minimal Intake staff Very considerable labour economies can be effected in the vegetable intakedepartment by the use of bulk loaders forpotatoesand root vegetables, 500kg tanks for peas and large crates or tote boxes for cabbage, leeks, celery etc. Green beans are perhaps the only vegetable for which bags or nets need Also, the use of storagesilos for potatoes and roots reduces the intake staff to one, or two at most, per shift, and this staff can be used for fluming the raw material into the plant. This presupposes that an adequate supply o cheap water is available from an adjacentriver, waterway or borehole, fmm which the processor has a prescribed right to abstract water. This need not be potable water, as it is only used as a means of moving the vegetables fmm the silos through flumes into a primary washer, and thence into the preparation plant. Such water is normally discharged from the washer into settling tanks, to remove silt and stones washed off the vegetables, before being returned to waste or recycled. In some instances, it may have to go through an effluent treatment plant before it can be discharged but the loca Authority will have to be consulted on this matter. A destoning machine isa necessary adjunct to this part of thesystem. The shiftquality controller has an important part to play at this point, as it is his responsibility to ensure that the quality of the intake measures up Typical bax
through a colour sorter but the labour content at this point is minimal. Intake Staff Very considerable labour economies can be effected in the vegetable intake department by the use of bulk loaders for potatoes and root vegetables, 500kg tanks for peas and large crates or tote boxes for cabbage, leeks, celery, etc. Green beans are perhaps the only vegetable for which bags or nets need to be Also, the use of storage silos for potatoes and roots reduces the intake staff to one, or two at most, per shift, and this staff can be used for fluming the raw material into the plant. This presupposes that an adequate supply of cheap water is available from an adjacent river, waterway or borehole, fmm which the processor has a prescribed right to abstract water. This need not be potable water, as it is only used as a means of moving the vegetables fmm the silos through flumes into a primary washer, and thence into the preparation plant. Such water is normally discharged from the washer into settling tanks, to remove silt and stones washed off the vegetables, before being returned to waste or recycled. In some instances, it may have to go through an effluent treatment plant before it can be discharged but the Local Authority will have to be consulted on this matter. A destoning machine is a necessary adjunct to this part of the system. The shift quality controller has an important part to play at this point, as it is his responsibility to ensure that the quality of the intake measures up Typical box tipper 26
to the contractual requirements of the buying department Potatoes must be examined for total solids, reducing sugar content, excess soil, blemish and grading Vined peas are examined for quality and tested for temperature and tenderometer reading Carrots, cabbage, celery, leeks, etc, are checked for the standard of dressing which is called for in the Procurement contract. Extraneous matter in vegetables, apart from the waste factor, can also do untold damage to preparation plant later in the process, and intake staff must be very vigilant on this score The period of intake will normally extend over twelve hours of each day, except during the season when highly perishable vegetables, such as peas and beans, are being handled, then intake and quality control staff will be required round the clock on three shifts. Adequate staffing at this point is Warehousing Staff The staffing of the warehousing and despatch departments will depend, as to numbers, on the nature and size of the packs being produced. and whether a bulk or retail consumer trade is being carried on. If the factory is concerned mainly with bulk packs, two men per shift for stock movement will be adequate, with a daytime superintendent in overall charge Maintenance Staff A part from the fitting staff detailed to cover the shift maintenance duties, it is necessary to provide for an adequate day shift maintenance st in the field of both mechanical and electrical engineering. Dehydration plant, operating round the clock for many months of the year, demands a high standard of maintenance, 'and there is invariably a heavy day shift Programme of servicing equipment, both mechanical and electrical temporarily taken out of service for a major overhaul. a minimum of six day shift fitters and three electricians would be required for the size of undertaking under review. These are supplementary to maintenance personnel working on the three shift rota. A carpenter, painter and bricklayer can also be usefull ed all the year round on the day shift maintenance staff because continuous shift operation levies a heavy toll on the buildings, particularly at the wet preparation end of the factory Laboratory and Horticultural Staff Laboratory staff required, excluding the shift quality controllers, will be three as a minimum, depending on the range of products being handled The main duties in the laboratory are the routine analytical tests on the dried
to the contractual requirements of the buying department. Potatoes must be examined for total solids, reducing sugar content, excess soil, blemish and grading. Vined peas are examined for quality and tested for temperature and tenderometer reading. Camts, cabbage, celery, leeks, etc, are checked for the standard of dressing which is called for in the procurement contract. Extraneous matter in vegetables, apart from the waste factor, can also do untold damage to preparation plant later in the process, and intake staff must be very vigilant on this score. The period of intake will normally extend over twelve hours of each day, except during the season when highly perishable vegetables, such as peas and beans, are being handled, then intake and quality control staff will be required round the clock on three shifts. Adequate staffing at this point is, therefore, imperative. Warehousing Staff The staffing of the warehousing and despatch departments will depend, as to numbers, on the nature and size of the packs being produced, and whether a bulk or retail consumer trade is being carried on. If the factory is concerned mainly with bulk packs, two men per shift for stock movement will be adequate, with a daytime superintendent in overall charge. Maintenance Staff Apart from the fitting staff detailed to cover the shift maintenance duties, it is necessary to provide for an adequate day shift maintenance staff in the field of both mechanical and electrical engineering. Dehydration plant, operating round the clock for many months of the year, demands a high standard of maintenance,' and there is invariably a heavy day shift programme of servicing equipment, both mechanical and electrical, temporarily taken out of service for a major overhaul. A minimum of six day shift fitters and three electricians would be required for the size of undertaking under review. These are supplementary to maintenance personnel working on the three shift rota. A carpenter, painter and bricklayer can also be usefully employed all the year round on the day shift maintenance staff because continuous shift operation levies a heavy toll on the buildings, particularly at the wet preparation end of the factory. Laboratory and Horticultural Staff Laboratory staff quired, excluding the shift quality controllers, will be three as a minimum, depending on the range of products being handled. The main duties in the laboratory are the routine analytical tests on the dried 27