What Does the Lab Technician Do in a Bottling Company?

Laboratory technicians perform important health and safety and quality control functions.

Bottling companies use laboratory technicians in their operations to bottle alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Major beverage manufacturers have their own bottling plants and smaller beverage companies use the services of independent bottling companies.

Job Duties

In hiring laboratory technicians, some companies list the essential duties of the position as: performing product tests, calibration and troubleshooting test on equipment and performing other various tests, entering tests results into data systems and generating reports, lab chemical and raw material inventory performance, submission of product and water samples, maintenance of logs and records, and reconciliation of quality assurance holds.

Compliance

Lab technicians perform tests to ensure that the bottling company complies with Food and Drug Administration regulations under Code of Federal Regulations: Title 21. Regulations pertain to consumer safety and the prevention of illnesses caused by contamination during the bottling process.

Quality Control

It is important to companies that they maintain product consistency. Batches of products must contain the same ingredients in the same quantities and the finished products must taste the same and have the same chemical composition. Products must be completely free of contaminants and the bottled product must be clean and ready to be stocked on the shelves of sellers. Laboratory technicians test products from each batch produced to ensure consistency of quality.

References

• Cytiva: Lab Technician: Coca-Cola Bottling Company
• Food and Drug Administration: Code of Federal Regulations

Resources

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics: Science Technicians