Heat Treatment Manager

PentagonPlus; Pahang; On-site; MYR 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent manufacturer in Malaysia is seeking a Heat Treatment Manager. This role focuses on leading and optimizing heat treatment operations, particularly kiln drying and thermal modification. Successful candidates will have extensive experience in managing heat treatment processes, ensuring product quality, and developing team competencies. The ideal candidate is skilled in machinery troubleshooting and familiar with moisture control. This position offers an opportunity for impactful leadership in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 5–12 years in heat‑based industrial operations.
• Strong reliability knowledge and leadership experience.
• Understanding of thermal modification and timber behavior.

Responsibilities

• Lead and optimize heat treatment operations.
• Ensure consistency in kiln drying and quality control.
• Train teams in proper techniques and safety.

Skills

Heat transfer knowledge

Humidity control

Machine troubleshooting

Analytical skills

Leadership

Education

Mechanical Engineering

Manufacturing Engineering

Materials Science

Job description

Heat Treatment Manager (Kiln Drying & Thermal Modification)

Location: Temerloh / Maran, Pahang

Reports To: Factory Director / Group Managing Director | Direct Reports: KD/Thermal Operators, Stacking Team, QC

Job Purpose

Lead, optimise, and control all heat treatment operations — including stacking, kiln drying, thermal modification cycles, quality control, equipment reliability, and yield improvement. This role ensures maximum net recovery, stable output, reduced defects, and consistent treatment quality for Maran Timber’s KD and thermal products.

The role exists to:

• Increase usable timber recovery
• Reduce defects from drying/thermal processes
• Maintain consistent machine, kiln, and boiler performance
• Improve cycle efficiency, temperature uniformity, and airflow
• Ensure stacking discipline and QC at every stage

Key Responsibilities

1. Stacking Standards & Material Preparation

• Develop and enforce correct stacking methods for different species and dimensions.
• Ensure even sticker spacing, airflow paths, board alignment, and load stability.
• Train stacking teams to minimise:
• warping
• twisting
• surface checking
• inconsistent drying
• Inspect all loads before they enter the kilns/thermal chambers.

2. Heat Treatment Cycle Management (KD & Thermal)

• Plan, run, and optimise heat‑treatment cycles for all species.
• Ensure accurate control of:
• temperature ramps
• humidity schedules
• airflow
• Adjust cycles based on board thickness, MC content, grain orientation, and defects.
• Monitor and analyse live data from sensors and probes.
• Maintain accurate documentation for every cycle.

3. Defect Prevention & Quality Control During Treatment

• Conduct QC checkpoints:
• pre‑loading moisture content
• mid‑cycle sampling
• final MC checks
• visual grading post‑treatment
• Reduce reject rates caused by:
• Warping/bending
• Inconsistent MC
• honeycombing
• internal /surface checks
• colour inconsistency
• Perform root‑cause analysis and implement corrective action.

4. Machine, Kiln & Equipment Reliability

• Oversee daily inspection and function checks for:
• kilns
• thermal modification chambers
• fans/blowers
• sensors
• moisture meters
• Work closely with engineering to minimise downtime from:
• faulty sensors
• boiler pressure drops
• air leaks
• fan failures
• temperature inconsistencies
• Implement preventive maintenance schedules (weekly/monthly).
• Ensure calibration of all instruments and controls.

5. Continuous Improvement & Yield Optimisation

• Analyse data to improve recovery %, reduce cycle duration, and lower energy usage.
• Optimise:
• airflow patterns
• chamber loading capacity
• energy consumption
• Lead small trials to improve:
• thermal modification performance
• deeper colour penetration
• durability performance
• Set and track KPIs:
• Net Recovery Rate
• Reject Rate
• Cycle Efficiency
• Cost/m³ Treated

6. Training & Team Competency

• Train kiln/thermal operators in proper control, safety, and QC.
• Build strong discipline for SOPs and documentation.
• Improve operator understanding of wood behaviour during drying.

Required Skills & Competency Profile

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of heat transfer, airflow, humidity control, and moisture diffusion.
• Understanding of kiln drying principles, thermal modification cycles, and wood behaviour.
• Hands‑on troubleshooting of machinery (fans, chambers, boilers, sensors).
• Ability to interpret moisture meter readings, thermal profiles, and temperature logs.
• Experience with industrial process control.
• Quantitative analysis for cycle optimisation.

Soft Skills

• Hands‑on and comfortable working in a factory environment.
• Good leadership for motivating stacking teams and operators.
• Analytical, practical, and disciplined.
• Clear communicator, especially during shift handovers and QC reporting.

Best Backgrounds for This Role (Ranked)

• Mechanical Engineer — ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Very strong for heat transfer, machinery, airflow, boilers, fans, reliability engineering. Perfect match for equipment + process.
• Manufacturing / Industrial Engineer — ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Strong for SOPs, QC, optimisation, cycle efficiency. Good operational mindset.
• Materials Science (Wood / Biomass) — ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Excellent for understanding drying defects & wood behaviour. Best for thermal‑modification science.
• Forestry / Wood Technology (FRIM/UAM) — ⭐⭐⭐ — Good for species knowledge, but needs stronger mechanical/ops exposure.
• Systems Engineer — ⭐⭐ — Good for optimisation, but less hands‑on with heat processes.

Ideal Candidate Profiles

Profile A — Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineer (Ideal)

• 5–12 years in heat‑based industrial operations
• Strong in equipment reliability, airflow, heat transfer
• Experienced in managing 8–20 operators
• Easily available from Pahang industrial base (UMP graduates)

Profile B — Timber Heat Treatment Specialist

• 7–15 years in timber kilns/thermal plants
• Deep knowledge of species behaviour and defects
• Strong hands‑on leadership for operators

Profile C — Wood Technology / FRIM Background

• Focused on wood science and thermal behaviour
• Strong QC and technical improvement mindset
• Needs mechanical team support for equipment issues

Top Industries to Scout Candidates From

• 1. Timber, Wood Processing & Kiln Drying Factories (Direct Match)
  Candidates already understand wood behaviour, kiln drying, thermal modification, stacking, and defect control.
  Typical Roles Found:
  • Kiln Drying Manager
  • KD Supervisor
  • Timber QC Manager
  • Thermal Modification Technician
• 2. Biomass Pellet Plants & Wood‑Based Energy Plants
  These plants run dryers, heat‑treatment systems, boilers, fans, conveyors, similar to timber thermal equipment.
  Typical Roles Found:
  • Mechanical Engineer
  • Boiler Supervisor
  • Drying Plant Supervisor
  • Process Engineer
  • Maintenance Engineer
• 3. Rubber Drying Factories & Smokehouses
  Rubber drying uses heat chambers, airflow, and controlled drying cycles, similar to KD.
  Typical Roles Found:
  • Drying Supervisor
  • Steam/Boiler Engineer
  • Rubber Process Engineer
  • Factory Manager
• 4. Palm Oil Mills (Boiler + Thermal Engineers)
  Palm oil mills have some of the best‑trained mechanical technicians in rural Malaysia, especially for:
  Strong departments:
  • Boiler House
  • Sterilisation Section
  • Mechanical Workshop