Profession glass annealer

Glass annealers operate electric or gas kilns used to strengthen the glass products by a heating-cooling process, making sure the temperature is set according to specifications. They inspect the glass products  through the entire process to observe any flaws.

Personality Type

• Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

• 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.

Skills

• Position glass on trays

  Position the glass on the specific kiln trays using the tongs.

• Follow production schedule

  Follow production schedule taking into account all requirements, times and needs. This schedule outlines what individual commodities must be produced in each time period and encapsulates various concerns like production, staffing, inventory, etc. It is usually linked to manufacturing where the plan indicates when and how much of each product will be demanded. Utilise all the information in the actual implementation of the plan.

• Adjust burner controls

  Adjust the heat in the burner regulating the thermostat according to the prescribed temperature following each product specification.

• 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.

• Observe glass under heat

  Observe the characteristics of the glass already set into the kiln so that cracking, warping or blistering is avoided.

• Adjust oven temperature

  Adjust the oven temperature level and uniformity by correcting the fuel feed.

• Supply machine

  Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.

• 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.

• Observe products' behaviour

  Observe the color of fires and pyrometric cones under certain processing conditions such as high temperature.

• Troubleshoot

  Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.

• Form bed for glass

  Form a bed for glass on the metal trays by spreading plasters of paris using rollers or pallete knifes.

• Restore trays

  Restore the trays in order to be reused by removing them form the kiln and placing them into the lehr for gradual cooling and annealing.

• Use personal protection equipment

  Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.

• Consult technical resources

  Read and interpret such 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.

• Tend lehr

  Operate the temperature-controlled kiln used in annealing, the process of gradually cooling hot glass to avoid any internal stress.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB