The paper considers the current state of the metallurgical industry including the issues of automating the production of metallurgical silicon in ore-smelting furnaces. The main problem areas are revealed in the production cycle of obtaining metallurgical silicon, such as the lack of operational information on the moisture and ash content of the reducing agent, a static error in the testimony of furnace ammeters at different levels of the furnace transformer, the absence of a system of bypass electrodes under load. As a recommendation, the introduction of a three-tier control system, the modernization of the weighing and dosing system for charge materials, and the system for the automatic transfer of electrodes without shutting down the furnace are proposed.