Abstract: This invention relates to a method for operation of a rotary hearth furnace in conjunction with an electric melter for production of high purity iron product having a range of silicon and manganese, with low sulfur and phosphorus content. The method includes producing high purity iron product and a range of carbon content product from iron oxide and carbon bearing compacts, including the steps of providing a furnace for direct reduction of iron oxide and carbon bearing compacts, pre-reducing iron and carbon bearing compacts in a furnace having a rotary hearth surface, producing intermediate carbon-containing metallized iron. An electric melter furnace is utilized for receiving intermediate carbon-containing metallized iron from the pre-reducing step, which is fed directly and continuously into a central interior area of the electric melter, with heating of the carbon-containing metallized iron in the electric melter under elevated temperatures of about 1300° C. to about 1700° C.