What does a Process Operator - Wood Products (246W) do?

Wood products processing operators monitor and maintain the equipment in wood products and pulp and paper plants.

Job Related Skills, Interests and Values

  • Using and maintaining tools and equipment for measuring, testing and assessment
  • Operating a central control room to control process operations
  • Monitoring and controlling process equipment and materials
  • Maintaining processing equipment and components and vessels
  • Controlling chemical composition
  • Carrying out quality and statistical process control
  • Working diligently to ensure the workplace is safe, clean and organized

What Preparation and Training Do You Need?

  • Secondary school diploma with math, chemistry, and English credits
  • Knowledge of physics and blueprint reading would be an asset
  • While not mandatory, completion of a 6,720-hour apprenticeship, including a combination of on-the-job and in-school training, is recommended

What's Your Future as a Process Operator - Wood Products (246W)?

  • Employment opportunities vary based on strength of economy, global competitiveness of industry, demand for wood products, and environmental trends
  • Impacted by the development of new technology in digital communications and recycling and natural disasters that can lead to increased product demand
  • Potential employers include wood products companies and pulp and paper processing firms

Wage Rate

Apprentice wage increases with skill and experience. The average salary is $25 per hour.

Self-Rating

Process Operator: Wood Products (246W)

Ask Yourself: Yes No
Do you have good manual dexterity, and enjoy working with and maintaining measuring, testing and assessment tools?
Do you have an eye for detail and enjoy keeping accurate written records?
Are you able to follow Health & Safety guidelines? Are you willing to follow strict safety procedures, particularly around the use of moving equipment, and hazardous chemicals?
Do you enjoy researching and finding out about how systems, processes and equipment should function?
Do you enjoy being a part of a process that creates a larger finished product? Do you enjoy seeing your finished project?
Would you enjoy interacting with site supervisors, customers, suppliers, co-workers and other tradespeople to get the job done?
Are you good at geometry and algebra?


If you checked YES to the majority of these questions, a career as a Process Operator: Wood Products may be for you!

You might want to look at these similar trades as well;

  • Process Operator – Refinery, Chemical & Liquid
  • Process Operator – Food Manufacturing
  • Chemical Engineer
  • Chemist

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