About the role
Operate and monitor ferroalloy furnace processes from the control room to support safe, stable and efficient production. The role is responsible for maintaining operating parameters within approved limits, identifying process deviations, coordinating with field teams and maintaining accurate shift records while contributing to production, quality and energy-efficiency targets.
Key responsibilities
- Furnace Operation & Electrical Control: Operate the furnace from the control-room HMI for start-up, normal operation, load adjustment and shutdown; monitor electrode position, current, voltage, transformer taps, power factor, cooling systems and hydraulic parameters; coordinate with the power plant/grid for load availability and tripping.
- Process & Quality Control: Maintain approved charge mix and charging parameters; monitor burden descent, furnace behaviour, slag/metal ratio, tapping temperature, product quality, specific power consumption, chrome recovery and production targets.
- Tapping & Casting Coordination: Coordinate furnace load reduction/restoration during tapping and work with the tapping crew to ensure tap-hole, launder, ladle and casting readiness while maintaining safe operating conditions.
- Utilities & Pollution Control: Monitor raw-material feeding, cooling water, compressed air, hydraulics, fume extraction, bag filters/ESP and emission parameters; record utility consumption and support energy-efficiency initiatives.
- Safety & Emergency Response: Ensure compliance with safety procedures, work permits and LOTO; never bypass safety interlocks; respond to furnace, electrode, gas, fire, water-leakage and electrical emergencies as per the emergency plan; participate in safety activities and drills.
- Documentation & Shift Handover: Maintain furnace logs, production, consumption, tapping, downtime and MIS records; update ERP/SAP; conduct proper shift handovers; support troubleshooting, RCA, SOP improvements, Kaizen/5S and training of junior operators.
Qualifications and experience
- The candidate must hold a Diploma in Metallurgy / Metallurgical Engineering from a recognized institute, with relevant knowledge of ferroalloy manufacturing, and have 3 years of hands-on experience as a CRO in ferroalloy furnace operations.
- The experience should include operating control-room interfaces, monitoring furnace parameters, responding to alarms and coordinating with production and maintenance teams.
Preferred, not essential
- Working knowledge of ferroalloy smelting, submerged arc furnace operation, raw-material charging, electrode operation and the relationship between process stability, product quality and power consumption. Candidates should be able to interpret SCADA/HMI screens, operating trends, alarms, interlocks and shift reports.
- Basic computer proficiency and the ability to maintain accurate electronic or written operating records are essential. The role requires operational use of control systems; it does not require PLC programming.
Skills we look for
- Furnace Metallurgy
- Carbothermic Reduction
- Chrome Ore & Burden Management
- Slag Chemistry & Basicity
- Product Grade & Recovery Control
- Three-Phase Electrical Systems
- HT/LT Distribution & Protection
- Furnace Transformer & Tap Changer
- Power Factor & Reactive Power Management
- PLC / SCADA / DCS
- HMI/Mimic & Process Trend Analysis
- Alarm Management & Electrical Interlocks
- VFD & Weigh-Feeder Control
- Industrial Instrumentation & Sensors
- Instrument Fault Diagnosis
- Cooling Water
- Hydraulics & Compressed Air
- Material Conveying & Dust Handling
- Fume Extraction
- Baghouse & ESP
- Work Permit
- LOTO & Emergency Response
- Shift Reporting
- ERP/SAP & MS Excel