What Do Furnace Operators Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Furnace Operators operate or tend heating equipment other than basic metal, plastic, or food processing equipment. Includes activities, such as annealing glass, drying lumber, curing rubber, removing moisture from materials, or boiling soap. They also monitor equipment operation, gauges, and panel lights to detect deviations from standards.

Other tasks include:

• Confer with supervisors or other equipment operators to report equipment malfunctions or to resolve production problems.
• Press and adjust controls to activate, set, and regulate equipment according to specifications.
• Record gauge readings, test results, and shift production in log books.
• Stop equipment and clear blockages or jams, using fingers, wire, or hand tools.
• Read and interpret work orders and instructions to determine work assignments, process specifications, and production schedules.
• Examine or test samples of processed substances, or collect samples for laboratory testing, to ensure conformance to specifications.

We asked Furnace Operators how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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61% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Furnace Operators read and interpret work orders and instructions to determine work assignments, process specifications, and production schedules. They monitor equipment operation, gauges, and panel lights to detect deviations from standards.

A typical day for a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier and Kettle Operator and Tender will also include:

• Examine or test samples of processed substances, or collect samples for laboratory testing, to ensure conformance to specifications.
• Clean, lubricate, and adjust equipment, using scrapers, solvents, air hoses, oil, and hand tools.
• Weigh or measure specified amounts of ingredients or materials for processing, using devices such as scales and calipers.
• Record gauge readings, test results, and shift production in log books.
• Press and adjust controls to activate, set, and regulate equipment according to specifications.

We asked some Furnace Operators a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	16% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	44% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	68% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	3% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	8% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	57% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Furnace Operators also replace worn or defective equipment parts, using hand tools. They may also calculate amounts of materials to be loaded into furnaces, adjusting amounts as necessary for specific conditions.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Furnace Operators Confer with supervisors or other equipment operators to report equipment malfunctions or to resolve production problems. They might also Transport materials and products to and from work areas, manually or using carts, handtrucks, or hoists.

In addition, they Clean, lubricate, and adjust equipment, using scrapers, solvents, air hoses, oil, and hand tools.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Load equipment receptacles or conveyors with material to be processed, by hand or using hoists.

To some Furnace Operators, it is also their responsibility to Weigh or measure specified amounts of ingredients or materials for processing, using devices such as scales and calipers.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier and Kettle Operator and Tender, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes519051.htm