Plastic heat treatment equipment operator

Plastic heat treatment equipment operators manipulate plastic products using machinery such as furnaces or flame-hardening machines in order to temper, anneal or heat-treat. They set up the machinery and read the production instructions to determine the furnace temperature. Plastic heat treatment equipment operators remove products from machines, let them cool down, examine and test products to see if they conform to specifications.

The following job titles also refer to plastic heat treatment equipment operator:

heat treat operator
process engineer, metallurgical
heat treating operator
materials engineer
heat treat technician
heat treating equipment setter
heat treatment equipment engineer
metallurgical process engineer
heat treating equipment operator

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as a plastic heat treatment equipment operator. On-the-job training is usually provided by the employers.

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.

Plastic heat treatment equipment operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to plastic heat treatment equipment operator.

fibre machine tender
blow moulding machine operator
cake press operator
pultrusion machine operator
coking furnace operator

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

metal furnace operator
automated assembly line operator
plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor
pulp control operator
air separation plant operator

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of plastic heat treatment equipment operator.

• Plastic resins: The process of heating hydrocarbons, forming and combining polymers to create plastic resins which are used to make different kinds of products.
• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
• Types of plastic: Types of plastic materials and their chemical composition, physical properties, possible issues and usage cases.

These skills are necessary for the role of plastic heat treatment equipment operator.

• Optimise production processes parameters: Optimise and maintain the parameters of the production process such as flow, temperature or pressure.
• Measure furnace temperature: Monitor the product temperature using the available tools and measuring instruments and adjust furnace temperature if needed.
• Maintain furnace temperature: Monitor and govern the pyrometer to control the furnace temperature.
• Tend discharge conveyor: Operate and monitor the equipment used to move bulk material, such as blended granules, from one place to another.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Extract materials from furnace: Remove materials from the furnace using a crane, a conveyor, by tilting the furnace, or using other methods.
• Operate heat treatment furnace: Operate or tend furnaces such as gas, oil, electric to heat treat castings in order to reach the correct mechanical properties. Adjust furnace controls to heat parts the prescribed time to the right temperature.
• Use personal protection equipment: Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
• Load materials into furnace: Load materials in furnace with correct positioning, fastening and levelling when needed.
• Monitor automated machines: Continuously check up on the automated machine’s set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in order to identify abnormalities.
• Consult technical resources: Read and interpret technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.
• Record furnace operations: Log furnace time and production data.
• Set up the controller of a machine: Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.
• Prevent damage in a furnace: Provide damage and risk prevention in a furnace or a smelter.

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

• 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.
• Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

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

• Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
• Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
• Maintain equipment: Regularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.
• Mix moulding and casting material: Measure and mix ingredients for casting and moulding materials, according to appropriate formula.
• Feed hoppers: Feed hoppers with the required materials using various tools such as lifting equipment or shovels.
• Report defective manufacturing materials: Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.
• Check quality of raw materials: Check the quality of basic materials used for the production of semi-finished and finished goods by assessing some of its characteristics and, if needed, select samples to be analysed.
• Test chemical samples: Perform the testing procedures on the already prepared chemical samples, by using the necessary equipment and materials. Chemical sample testing involves operations such as pipetting or diluting schemes.
• Operate lifting equipment: Transport heavy objects using lifting equipment such as cranes, forklifts etc.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Cool materials: Manipulating or changing the structure of materials by cooling them or submerging them in water.
• Keep stock records: Keep written records of the amount of stock in storage, incoming and outgoing products required for the proper operation of services, repairs and maintenance tasks.

8142 – Plastic products machine operators

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References

1. Plastic heat treatment equipment operator – ESCO