How to become a metal production process controller

Official title: Metal production process controllers

Also called: Blast furnace operator, Central control caster, Rolling mill control operator

Metal production process controllers operate and monitor multi-function process control machinery and equipment to control the processing of metal converting and refining furnaces, metal-rolling mills, metal heat-treating or metal-extrusion plant.

Main tasks

• Coordinating and monitoring the operation of a particular aspect of metal processing production through control panels, computer terminals or other control systems, usually from a central control room
• Operating multi-function central process control machinery to grind, separate, filter, melt, roast, treat, refine or otherwise process metals
• Observing computer printouts, video monitors and gauges to verify specified processing conditions and to make necessary adjustments
• Coordinating and supervising production crew such as machine and process operators, assistants and helpers
• Starting up and shutting down the production system in cases of emergency or as required by schedule
• Providing and organizing training for members of production crews
• Maintaining shift logs of production and other data and preparing production and other reports

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: HK$27,000 a month
• About 1,542,900 people in 2025, and about 1,639,100 projected by 2028. (+6.2%)
• Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Related jobs

• Power production plant operators
• Chemical processing plant controllers
• Process control technicians not elsewhere classified
• Incinerator and water treatment plant operators
• Petroleum and natural gas refining plant operators

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Questions people ask

Do you need a degree to become a metal production process controller?

Not always. 41% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a metal production process controller?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

• Census and Statistics Department (2021 Population Census): 2021 Population Census, Interactive Data Dissemination Service: working population by occupation (38 groups) and sex, age, education, income; median income and field of education (9 groups) (2021 Population Census), retrieved 4 October 2026
• Census and Statistics Department (General Household Survey): Median monthly employment earnings by occupation (9 groups), excluding foreign domestic helpers (Table 210-06317A); employed persons by occupation, age and sex (210-06307A) and by industry (210-06308A) (2025 annual (series to 2026-07)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• Labour and Welfare Bureau; tables published by C&SD: Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection to 2028: supplementary statistical tables (5 occupation groups, 17 selected industries) (2025 to 2028 (published 2026-09)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026