BASIC FUNCTION:

The Product Metallurgist II provides technical coordination and support for the Melt Shop and/or Rolling Mill to advance the development and refinement of operating procedures to ensure quality standards.  Responsible for providing support in the coordination and evaluation of customer requirements and product specifications in accordance with the capacities and capabilities of the production departments. The Product Metallurgist II will, for the most part, be self directed. As directed, he/she will aid in corporate initiatives such as corporate quality projects or technical affiliation with Universities. 

NATURE AND SCOPE:

Under the direction of the Quality Assurance Manager, the Product Metallurgist II is primarily responsible for the identification, evaluation, and implementation of product enhancement opportunities.  These actions  involve the planning, supervision, evaluation and reporting of product trials, and on-site material review at customers’ plants. The Product Metallurgist II has a dotted line reporting relationship to the Manager Technical Services.

Qualifications for this position include possessing a working knowledge of steelmaking production, a four-year from an accredited institution in an Engineering discipline and a minimum of 5 years of experience in a steelmaking environment, preferably with quality control or metallurgy. The incumbent should have a strong knowledge of metallurgy and an understanding of steel manufacturing and techniques used in the melting, refining, and casting of molten steel and/or modern rolling practices.  The incumbent must be able to independently apply metallurgical fundamentals to the continuous improvement efforts of production and maximize the efficiency of the overall operation.

This position is responsible for developing, refining, and communicating the engineering and operating data needed to produce billets and finished products to meet customer

product specifications. Although there are no employees reporting directly to this position, the incumbent does have advisory and training responsibilities for other exempt and hourly production and maintenance employees. The incumbent will be considered a subject matter expert in the knowledge management system and will be expected to contribute to this system. Additionally, the incumbent will assist in metallurgical training of all employees, including employee advanced technical training processes.

The incumbent will visit customers as required when there is a technical issue with the product or new product development opportunities. Additionally, the incumbent will be a technical resource to customers for product requirements. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required for both reporting problems to the mill and reporting the analysis and solutions back to the customer. The incumbent will work with external customers to develop solutions that will make the products that they require and that the plant is capable of producing. Incumbent must demonstrate competency for being  customer-focused with a pleasant demeanor and approach.

The Product Metallurgist II shall review all Procedures, Job Aids, One Point Lessons, Specifications, Process Guarantee Tables and SAP – SKU’sPGT’s and SKU’s required to ensure products meet the customer’s expectations. The incumbent will receive/collect, interpret and extrapolate data from the production process in order to monitor current performance against established practices and capabilities, as well as make recommendations on how to improve product quality for the future. As needed, he/she will work in close cooperation with operational and quality leaders to insure correct and proper operation of all equipment to obtain the desired production, safety, and quality levels. This position is also responsible for developing proper engineering information to facilitate departmental requests and needs for cost justification.

Incumbent must stay abreast of current technologies to assist with recommending changes to effect continual improvement in the production and quality process. Shares best practices through involvement with Gerdau learning opportunities including the Knowledge Management System.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. Timely and cost-conscious evaluation of customer requirements.

2. Undertaking physical inspection of products and using judgement and/or making recommendations related to material disposition applied to the customer.

3. Investigation and evaluation of customer complaints, with the responsibility to formulate and implement corrective action procedures.

4. Collection and presentation of market intelligence information.

5. Travel is required, on an as needed basis, to provide direct technical support to sales and marketing efforts, and customer liaison duties.

6. Coordinate operational information and data for the operating departments.

7. Autonomously coordinate, with limited supervision during routine operations, and assist in solving production problems and training in the Melt Shop and Rolling Mill.
8. Comply with company policies and procedures.
9. Accountable for documenting, coaching and teaching team members, as well as other employees on quality process and principles to promote technical knowledge. 

The incumbent must perform the above mentioned duties and responsibilities in accordance with all Federal, State, and Local environmental regulations.  Employees must also report any situation which may have a detrimental impact to human health or the environment to their immediate supervisor.