Batch & Furnace Engineer

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Furnace & Batch Engineer is accountable to establish and maintain processes and procedures to safely operate the batch house and furnaces to meet codes, specifications, and to continuously improve the glass making process by eliminating waste, improving safety, reducing cost, increasing capacity and productivity, and improving the product per customer requirements.

The position reports to: The Technical Leader

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Live the Safety stand, adhere to the safety responsibilities. The Batch and Furnace Engineer will have responsibility for:

• Ensuring a safe, clean and environmentally compliant work environment and building a culture where safety is first priority
• Establishing safe, efficient and effective methods for all critical tasks and audit performance
• Ensuring that all controls plans, work instructions, standard work, and other procedures related to the technical operation of the batch house and furnaces ensure the safety of employees
• Developing risk assessments for critical tasks including emergency response

Metrics

• Safety Metrics – RIR, TIRR, Risk Reduction

Knowing our Customers. The Batch and Furnace Engineer will have responsibility for:

• Identifying, understanding, and teaching others the Critical Process Characteristics require to provide our customers with a quality product, beginning with the base glass
• Developing and implementing procedures and systems to ensure glass/products consistently meet or exceed customer expectations, include supporting experiments or trials for new and existing products

Metrics

• Key Glass Related Product Characteristics

Process Performance. The Batch and Furnace Engineer will have responsibility for:

• Conducting process audits to review Critical Process Variables and implementing sustainable corrective actions for process shifts or upsets
• Responsible for determining condition and executing necessary maintenance on the batch, and melting assets and coordinates all available resources (internal and external) to execute the proper maintenance activities – this include but is not limited to hot repair, securing assets during upsets, and regular up-keep of critical equipment
• Partner with maintenance, operations and other members of the technical team to resolve equipment issues and improve equipment reliability
• Determining process and product capability (Cpk)
• Implementing control charting schemes for Critical product and process variables
• Developing and implementing control plans and standard work to ensure that all processes and products meet specifications at the lowest cost
• Identifying and eliminating special causes of process variation (troubleshooting)
• Analyzing process data, providing feedback and making recommendations to optimize performance
• Working with glass insulation melter network, identify and implement process best practices
• Lead plant technical representative during major capital projects in the batch and furnace areas
• Identifying and requesting capital funding for equipment, modifications, etc.

Metrics

• Operational Efficiencies – Production Line Uptime and Bushing Availability
• Batch System Performance Metrics
• Critical Glass Product and Process Variables
• Unit Cost
• Environmental Compliance

Leading and Developing Talent. The Batch and Furnace Engineer will have responsibility for:

• Educating, training, and coaching primary employees in the batch and glass melting process, process control procedures, autonomous maintenance requirements and emergency response procedures
• Coaching, counseling, and training of new engineers as part of their development plans
• Partnering with employees to develop and implement standardized work for critical tasks

Metrics

• Individual Goals and Objectives
• Employee Training Plans

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience within a manufacturing or technical environment or leadership development program.  Glass batch/melting experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree.  Engineering or Science preferred.

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Understands customer needs, environmental requirements, product specifications, basic cost drivers, Critical Product Characteristics, and the Critical Process Variables that impact these elements
• Understands and works with basic principles of engineering
• Understands statistical concepts including data analysis, control charts, process capability and design of experiments to drive continuous improvements
• Understands basic elements of producing fiberglass including raw materials, glass melting, processes and control systems
• Ability to communicate with and engage employees at all levels of the organization
• Ability to manage multiple priorities or projects at one time
• Ability to travel 5-10%

Leadership Capabilities:

• Ideation: Encourages ideas and future possibilities through candor, open discussion, and constructive debate.
• Evaluation: Understands and frames opportunities that are customer inspired, identifies alternative solutions to address these opportunities, and determines criteria necessary for execution. Uses this evaluative process to build markets and accelerate company success.
• ​Action: Gets results by testing and experimentation, fast pursuit, reflection, and adjustment. Creates the systems, structures, and environment to execute with speed.
• Connection: Collaborates across groups. Influences, inspires, and energizes others to engage in learning and achieve shared goals.​

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About Owens Corning  

Owens Corning is a residential and commercial building products leader committed to building a sustainable future through material innovation. Our products provide durable, sustainable, energy-efficient solutions that leverage our unique capabilities and market-leading positions to help our customers win and grow. We are global in scope, human in scale with more than 25,000 employees in 31 countries dedicated to generating value for our customers and shareholders and making a difference in the communities where we work and live. Founded in 1938 and based in Toledo, Ohio, USA, Owens Corning posted 2024 sales of $11.0 billion. For more information, visit www.owenscorning.com. 

Owens Corning is an equal opportunity employer. Except in limited circumstances such as formal apprenticeship programs, Owens Corning does not employ anyone under the age of 18.