Monitor slaughter operations in meat processing

URN: IMPMP229
Business Sectors (Suites): Production and Control Operations in Food Manufacture
Developed by: Improve
Approved on: 2025

Overview

This standard is about the skills and knowledge you need to monitor slaughter processes in the context of an abattoir or meat processing business.
 
This includes monitoring the work of team members and ensuring that slaughter operations are carried out according to organisational and regulatory procedures and standards. You must also know how to address problems and be able to apply your skills and knowledge within food safety and health and safety regulations and any relevant international industry codes. You should also have an understanding of how the green circular economy supports repeated use of resources and products within your organisation.
 
This standard is for you if you work in a supervisory or team leader role within an abattoir or meat processing business.


Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. select personal protective clothing and equipment suitable for the slaughter processes
  2. contribute to the planning of the slaughter process to meet production requirements
  3. confirm slaughter processing requirements and output targets
  4. implement checks to ensure that slaughter equipment is working and is suitably calibrated for use according to organisational requirements
  5. check livestock are available to meet output targets
  6. arrange slaughter areas to ensure that resources are available to meet organisational requirements
  7. check that suitable tools and equipment are made available to meet the food business operating requirements for presentation, stunning and bleeding
  8. allocate skilled staff to specific tasks and duties
  9. identify and report any non-compliance or shortfall in resource or staff requirements
  10. check that food chain information is available prior to slaughter
  11. monitor the flow and yield of the slaughter process
  12. provide support to staff to ensure output and yield is maintained
  13. identify and address problems that may affect the quality and quantity of output from butchery processes according to the food business operating procedures
  14. dispose of products that deviate from quality specifications or throughput schedules according to the food business operating procedures
  15. complete and make available information relating to the slaughter process
  16. report faults and matters that affect processing performance
  17. check that maintenance and cleaning records are complete
  18. check that handover and shut down procedures are followed
  19. make recommendations for improvements in the slaughter process

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. the relevant legal and regulatory requirements, health and safety, hygiene and environmental standards and instructions and what might happen if they are not followed/met
  2. the regulatory requirements relating to animal welfare when presenting animals for killing
  3. the machinery, utilities and equipment used in slaughter operations
  4. how throughput schedules and output targets for slaughter operations can be planned
  5. how to organise livestock to meet output targets
  6. how to allocate specific tasks and duties in the slaughter process to make best use of staff competence and experience
  7. how to record, report and complete documentation for slaughter processes
  8. how to identify and deal with non-compliance in slaughter operations
  9. how to organise and control the slaughter area
  10. how to ensure that physical resources needed for the slaughter process are available and are functioning
  11. what the importance is of controlling the quality and quantity of output from slaughtering operations
  12. what the problems affecting quality or quality of output from the slaughter area can be
  13. how problems with animal welfare, technical issues, resource issues and compliance issues should be dealt with
  14. how to deal with products that deviate from quality specifications or throughput schedules to comply with food business operating procedures
  15. the limits of your own authority and competence and why it is important to work within those limits
  16. what recording, reporting and communication is needed, how to carry this out and the reasons why it is important to do so

Scope/range


Scope Performance


Scope Knowledge


Values


Behaviours


Skills


Glossary


Links To Other NOS


External Links


Version Number

1

Indicative Review Date

2028

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Improve

Original URN

IMPMP229

Relevant Occupations

Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Manufacturing Technologies, Plant and Machine Operatives, Process Operatives, Process, Plant and Machine Operatives

SOC Code

8111

Keywords

Meat, poultry, slaughter operations, supervising, monitoring, meat processing