Glass and ceramics process operatives position articles ready for firing in kilns and operate and attend furnaces and kilns to make and treat glass and ceramic items.
directs loading of furnace with prescribed quantities and types of ingredients
sets timing and temperature controls, monitors pressure gauges, adjusts controls as necessary and regulates level of glass in furnace as required
operates controls to rotate rotary furnaces and create a vacuum in vacuum furnaces, ensures that static furnaces are correctly positioned and switches on current
monitors temperature of drying and annealing kilns and reports any significant deviations from schedule sheet
cuts off heat supply after firing/heating/drying and cleans furnace and kiln areas.
Academic qualifications are not normally required. Training is mostly on-the-job, the amount and extent depending on the equipment used and type of operations performed. NVQs/SVQs/vocational qualifications covering glass processing, glass manufacturing, kiln operations and manufacturing ceramic items are available at Levels 1, 2 and 3.