this invention relates to a method of controlling the temperature of a heating furnace which has at least one furnace zone capable of being controlled by heating means and which conveys materials to be heated , that are introduced thereinto , by conveyor means such as a walking beam or a pusher so that the materials are heated to a predetermined temperature until they are withdrawn from the discharge side . more specifically , the present invention relates to a method of controlling set furnace zone temperature of the heating furnace when the materials to be heated , that are introduced into the heating furnace , have different temperature elevation patterns . the method of the invention is specifically characterized in that the predetermined set temperatures of each zone is used when the temperature elevation patterns of slabs are different with each other . the invention is directed to minimize the idle time inside the furnace when the materials having different temperature elevation patterns are sequentially introduced into the furnace , in order to conserve energy . the method is especially effective when the cold and hot materials are introduced into the furnace .