Metallurgist

Metallurgists specialise in the extraction and processing of metals such as iron, steel, zinc, copper and aluminium. They work to mold or combine both pure and mixed metals (alloys) into new shapes and properties. Metallurgists handle the extraction of metal ores and develop their use in metal processing techniques. They may work in both manufacturing or do scientific research about the performance of metals.

The following job titles also refer to metallurgist:

consultant metallurgist
chemical tester
chemical technician
extraction metallurgist
forging engineer
metallurgist
steel industry experts
physical metallurgist

High school diploma is generally required to work as metallurgist. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Metallurgist is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to metallurgist.

chemical metallurgist
process metallurgist
chemical tester
foundry manager
assayer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of metallurgist. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of metallurgist with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of metallurgist.

Non-ferrous metal processing: Various processing methods on non-ferrous metals and alloys such as copper, zinc and aluminium.
Precious metals: Types of rare metal that occur naturally and have a high economic value.
Metal and metal ore products: The offered metal and metal ore products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
Alloys of precious metals: Types of material that consist of two or more metals or non-metals.
Ferrous metal processing: Various processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.
Metal forming technologies: The variety of technologies and techniques, such as forging, pressing, stamping, rolling and others, used for the forming processes of metal product manufacturing.
Types of metal: Qualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.
Types of metal manufacturing processes: Metal processes linked to the different types of metal, such as casting processes, heat treatment processes, repair processes and other metal manufacturing processes.
Precious metal processing: Various processing methods on precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum.

These skills are necessary for the role of metallurgist.

Join metals: Join together pieces of metal using soldering and welding materials.
Manipulate metal: Manipulate the properties, shape and size of metal.
Work in metal manufacture teams: Ability to work confidently within a metal manufacturing group with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole.
Prepare technical reports: Prepare technical reports that describe results and processes of scientific or technical research, or assess its progress. These reports help researchers to keep up to date with recent findings.
Assess suitability of metal types for specific application: Assess the physical nature and structural composition of various metals and alloys, and analyse how the materials behave in different circumstances.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of metallurgist. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Chemical technologies in metal manufacture: The chemical procedures and technologies used  in basic metal production.
Innovation processes: The techniques, models, methods and strategies which contribute to the promotion of steps towards innovation.
Design drawings: Understand design drawings detailing the design of products, tools, and engineering systems.
Physics: The natural science involving the study of matter, motion, energy, force and related notions.
Chemical processes: The relevant chemical processes used in manufacture, such as purification, seperation, emulgation and dispergation processing.
Manufacturing of jewellery: The manufacturing of different type of jewellery such as rings or necklaces out of various metal types such as silver, gold, diamond and other precious stones.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of metallurgist. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Ensure compliance with environmental legislation: Monitor activities and perform tasks ensuring compliance with standards involving environmental protection and sustainability, and amend activities in the case of changes in environmental legislation. Ensure that the processes are compliant with environment regulations and best practices.
Conduct metallurgical structural analysis: Perform detailed analysis related to researching and testing new metal products.
Design metal components: Design metal components in response to a need. Provide support by writing documents, manuals, metallurgical investigations, and reports in support of customer liaison.
Process incident reports for prevention: Verify incident information, complete reporting requirements and report to management and relevant site personnel, in order to enable follow-up and future prevention.
Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
Interpret extraction data: Process and interpret extraction data and send feedback to the development teams; apply learnings to concrete operational activities.
Monitor manufacturing quality standards: Monitor quality standards in manufacturing and finishing process.
Maintain ore processing equipment: Maintain and clean equipment; remove rubbish and spillages.
Ensure public safety and security: Implement the relevant procedures, strategies and use the proper equipment to promote local or national security activities for the protection of data, people, institutions, and property.
Extract materials from furnace: Remove materials from the furnace using a crane, a conveyor, by tilting the furnace, or using other methods.
Prepare extraction proposals: Prepare detailed extraction proposals by putting together subsurface information about extraction site and agreement of partners involved.
Ensure health and safety in manufacturing: Ensure health and safety of personnel during manufacturing process.
Make time-critical decisions: Pursue optimal time-critical decision making within the organisation.
Extract products from moulds: Remove finished products from moulds and examine them in detail for anomalies.
Liaise with quality assurance: Work closely with the relevant quality assurance or grading party involved.
Monitor extraction logging operations: Monitor logging operations and oversee formation testing and sampling operations; analyse and interpret results.
Perform sample testing: Examine and perform tests on prepared samples; avoid any possibility of accidental or deliberate contamination during the testing phase. Operate sampling equipment in line with design parameters.
Address problems critically: Identify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and alternative methods of tackling the situation.
Install monitors for process control: Plan and deploy a system of monitors for controlling specific processes in an organisation or a system.
Prepare samples for testing: Take and prepare samples for testing, verify their representability; avoid bias and any possibility of accidental or deliberate contamination. Provide clear numbering, labelling and recording of the sample details, in order to make sure that the results can be accurately matched to the original material.
Separate metals from ores: Apply various chemical and physical methods to separate minerals from their ores such as magnetic, electric or chemical methods
Develop new installations: Design and develop new facilities and installations, conduct feasibility studies.
Provide manufacturing documentation: Provide clients with the appropriate technical documents such as manuals, technical reports, metallurgical investigations, etc.
Test raw minerals: Take samples of mineral materials for testing purposes. Execute various chemical and physical tests on the materials.
Apply health and safety standards: Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.

2146 – Mining engineers, metallurgists and related professionals

 

 

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References

1. Metallurgist – ESCO