TS 12639

TS 12639 is an occupational standard for the combine machine operator, defining the profession and the people who perform it at different levels. It also addresses the minimum tools and equipment used in the job, together with the measurement criteria for the qualities expected from each class and the evaluation of those criteria.

The technical scope of combine operation

Combine operation is a task that requires the safe and efficient use of harvesting machinery while keeping crop losses under control. Because a combine brings cutting, threshing, separation and cleaning into one machine, the operator needs to consider machine settings, crop and field conditions, operating speed and maintenance needs as a connected whole. In technical terms, the role is not limited to driving the machine; it also includes using the equipment correctly, organizing the work properly and defining competence according to job level.

Classification, competence and evaluation

The standard’s scope covers the classification of operators, the definition of expected qualifications for each class, and the evaluation of criteria used to measure those qualifications. In general technical context, this type of framework helps distinguish experience level, practical skill, machine knowledge and work discipline as separate elements. That makes it easier to draw clear boundaries between responsibility levels within the same profession.

• Definition of the profession and the people who perform it
• Identification and classification of different levels
• Minimum tools and equipment used in the occupation
• Measurement criteria for the qualities expected from each level
• Evaluation of those criteria