Furnace Tender

Oversee the manufacture of machines and equipment that apply treatments to metals and metal components. These treatments remove defects and can be finished to specific products, for example, artificial aging. The Heat Treat Operator will be working with a variety of metals such as iron and stainless steel.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Loading the untreated product in an oven or a tank
• Adjusting temperature controls for a particular treatment
• Monitoring of the process, and adjusting times and temperatures according to the instructions
• Removing the products from the oven and air drying, or air conditioning in water baths, oil or chemicals
• Cleaning of oxides and scale of parts or sprinkler use steam-cleaning or chemical cleaning solutions
• Sampling for testing hardness and other properties to ensure they meet manufacturer's specifications
• Carrying out minor maintenance work
• Testing parts for hardness, using hardness testing equipment, and stamps heat treatment identification mark on part, using hammer and punch
• Removing parts from furnace after specified time and air dries or cools parts in water or oil brine or other baths
• Reducing heat and allows parts to cool in furnace
• Positioning part in fixture, pressing buttons to light burners and tending flame hardening machine, according to procedures, to case-harden metal part
• Adjusting speed and operating continuous furnace through which parts are passed by means of reels and conveyors
• Setting up and operating die-quenching machine to prevent parts from warping
• Activating and tending electric furnace that anneals base sections of hardened parts for subsequent machining
• Setting automatic controls, observing gauges, and operating gas or electric furnace used to harden temper, or anneal metal parts
• Loading parts into containers, closing furnace door, and inserting parts into furnace when specified temperature is reached
• Determining flame temperatures, current frequencies, heating cycles, and induction heating coils needed based on degree of hardness required and properties of stock to be treated
• Reducing heat when processing is complete in order to allow parts to cool in furnaces or machinery
• Moving controls to light gas burners and to adjust gas and water flow and flame temperature
• Repairing, replacing, and maintaining furnace equipment as needed, using hand tools
• Placing completed work pieces on tables, using cold rods, tongs, or chain hoists, or examining parts to ensure metal shades and colors conform to specifications, utilizing knowledge of metal heat-treating
• Heating billets, bars, plates, rods, and other stock to specified temperatures prior to forging, rolling, or processing, using oil, gas, or electrical furnaces




• Setting and adjusting speeds of reels and conveyors for prescribed time cycles in order to pass parts through continuous furnaces

NOTE: This list presents only the principal duties of the position and is not intended to be comprehensive. The duties and responsibilities listed above may be changed or supplemented at any time in accordance with business needs and conditions.

Education and Experience:

• High School/GED, prior experience working in a manufacturing environment
• Lean manufacturing experience is preferred.
• Must have proven ability to safely operate various manufacturing production machines

Competencies and Skills:

• Must be able to follow verbal and written multi-step directions for semi-complex machine operations
• Ability to multitask and resolve problems quickly
• Able to work effectively in a team environment
• Visual acuity and depth perception is required
• Must be able to communicate in English verbally and in writing (basic verbal instructions, simple written memos and instructions)
• Basic computer skills preferred

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, climb, bend, stoop, push, pull, carry, reach, twist
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds

NOTE: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment and Personal Protective Equipment:

Within the Smith & Wesson manufacturing facility, employees may be exposed to manufacturing noise, airborne liquid chemicals, fine particulate dust, ambient temperatures, and industrial lighting. Work environment is similar to most manufacturing operations. May be exposed to excessive noise, temperatures, hazards associated with working around moving machinery, work in confined quarters, exposure to vibrations and shop lighting, continuous exposure to hot temperatures, may be humid, odors, dust, continuous exposure to mechanical hazards, and occasional exposure to chemical hazards.

The following Personal Protective Equipment is required:

• Safety glasses with side shields and hearing protection required when on manufacturing floor

The use of additional personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required when a job task(s) is being completed in or around your assigned department or in another department, this includes safety eyewear, hearing protection, and safety footwear.

Revised 04/07/2021