As a heat treat furnace operator, you are responsible for the operation and maintenance of a heat treat furnace, which is a common piece of equipment in metal manufacturing. You monitor and adjust the process control parameters, perform periodic inspections using special equipment, and ensure the furnaces are functioning properly to temper and harden metal and plastic objects. Employers require you to ensure safe operation of the heat treat equipment and temperature instruments to ensure that products stabilize as expected. You are in charge of product segregation and containment, and some positions require the use of a forklift or crane. If you have assistants, you are expected to supervise their work when loading and unloading production lines. In some heat treat furnace operator jobs, your responsibilities include using a plasma nitride furnace to heat treat tooling and using a sandblaster and parts washer to clean the tooling. Other duties include minor maintenance and troubleshooting.