1. Home
  2. Careers
  3. Furnace Kiln Oven Drier And Kettle Operators And Tenders
  4. Required Skills Responsibilities Activities

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Occupation Detailed Description

Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

The main tasks and work activities of Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders are to measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes, adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment, monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning, review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences. In general, for the Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders, operation Monitoring, speaking, active Listening, reading Comprehension and other 5 skills are required.
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders jobs. 55.94% of Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 15.92% of Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
21.43%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
55.94%
Post-Secondary Certificate
15.92%
Some College Courses
3.90%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.97%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
1.84%

Tasks and Work Activities of Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

  • Weigh or measure specified amounts of ingredients or materials for processing, using devices such as scales and calipers.
  • Press and adjust controls to activate, set, and regulate equipment according to specifications.
  • Monitor equipment operation, gauges, and panel lights to detect deviations from standards.
  • Read and interpret work orders and instructions to determine work assignments, process specifications, and production schedules.
  • Record gauge readings, test results, and shift production in log books.
  • Confer with supervisors or other equipment operators to report equipment malfunctions or to resolve production problems.
  • 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.
  • Transport materials and products to and from work areas, manually or using carts, handtrucks, or hoists.
  • Stop equipment and clear blockages or jams, using fingers, wire, or hand tools.
  • Remove products from equipment, manually or using hoists, and prepare them for storage, shipment, or additional processing.
  • Calculate amounts of materials to be loaded into furnaces, adjusting amounts as necessary for specific conditions.
  • Feed fuel, such as coal and coke, into fireboxes or onto conveyors, and remove ashes from furnaces, using shovels and buckets.
  • Melt or refine metal before casting, calculating required temperatures, and observe metal color, adjusting controls as necessary to maintain required temperatures.
  • Replace worn or defective equipment parts, using hand tools.
  • Load equipment receptacles or conveyors with material to be processed, by hand or using hoists.
  • Sprinkle chemicals on the surface of molten metal to bring impurities to surface and remove impurities, using strainers.
  • Direct crane operators and crew members to load vessels with materials to be processed.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or PeopleAssessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Measure ingredients or substances to be used in production processes.
  • Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
  • Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
  • Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
  • Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
  • Record operational or production data.
  • Confer with others to resolve production problems or equipment malfunctions.
  • Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products.
  • Lubricate production equipment.
  • Maintain production or processing equipment.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Move products, materials, or equipment between work areas.
  • Clear equipment jams.
  • Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
  • Calculate specific material, equipment, or labor requirements for production.
  • Load materials into production equipment.
  • Melt metal, plastic, or other materials to prepare for production.
  • Replace worn equipment components.
  • Skim impurities from molten metal.
  • Direct operational or production activities.

Skills and Abilities for Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders

  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Reaction TimeThe ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Basket strainere.g. Basket strainers
  • Cleaning scraperse.g. Cleaning scrapers
  • Forced air heating systeme.g. Continuous baking furnaces
  • Belt conveyorse.g. Conveyor belts
  • Paint systems ovense.g. Curing ovens
  • Moisture meterse.g. Dielectric power loss moisture meters
  • Bench scalese.g. Digital bench scales
  • Caliperse.g. Digital calipers
  • Hygrometerse.g. Digital hygrometers
  • Micrometerse.g. Digital micrometers
  • Drying cabinets or ovense.g. Drying ovens
  • Hoistse.g. Electric hoists
  • Moisture meterse.g. Electric moisture meters
  • Electronic toploading balancese.g. Electronic top-loading balances
  • Kilns for firing ceramicse.g. Glass kilns
  • Hand trucks or accessoriese.g. Handtrucks
  • Surface thermometerse.g. High-heat digital thermometers
  • Core drying ovense.g. Hot air core drying ovens
  • Air dryerse.g. Industrial air dryers
  • Electric furnacee.g. Industrial production electric furnaces
  • MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.